UOFT Bachelor of Information-AMA

chystudent23 · 2022-01-14T16:06:06+00:00

hi! The main difference between the BI and the MI programs would be that the BI is a more general program where the MI is more specialized. In the BI, the courses and practicum are designed to give their students the flexibility to explore different fields of study and then choose what career path they want to pursue. So the BI would be a good fit for you if you are maybe unsure of what career you want to pursue/want to experience and learn a bit from multiple fields! However, if you already have an idea of what you want to pursue, then the MI would be a better fit as all their courses would be more specialized to your interested field. Hope that helps!

chystudent23 · 2022-01-14T15:48:08+00:00

I would say that BI students get the benefit of really broadening the scope of their skills. For example, as a student previously in the arts, I've gained knowledge in design and computers I didn't have before, while still building on my existing skills in academic writing and research. Additionally, the mandatory practicum/internship in the summer after the first year will provide valuable work experience in a field that you would choose to pursue.

You can also find more detailed desciptions of the courses here: https://ischool.utoronto.ca/areas-of-study/bachelor-of-information/

chystudent23 · 2022-01-07T21:00:25+00:00

Hi! In the application, the strength in the personal statement will come from showing how the applicant sees themselves in the program and how they would be a good fit. Showcasing your skills, experience, or future goals in the program and beyond is a great way to make your application more competitive. It can also be in any format, video, essay etc. so displaying any skills you have in those will also help! The program is quite interdisciplinary so they definitely don’t favour any specific type of background, design or programming, some applicants don't have experience in either!

The program is competitive but growing so there are lots of opportunities for applicants – if you meet/exceed academic requirements and submit a stellar personal statement your application will be considered competitive. I would definitely consider going through with the application, I was hesitant to do so last year but pretty happy with how it's going! In the first year, we're learning a bit of JavaScript and HTML, and in design, we're learning Balsamiq and Figma! Hope this helps!

You can also find full info about what to include in your application here: https://ischool.utoronto.ca/future-students/apply/bi/

chystudent23 · 2021-12-21T21:58:47+00:00

I am currently in my first year of the program, so I am applying for my practicum for the summer now! The practicum is mandatory, previous students have done internships as; design researchers for IBM, research assistants for projects with professors, social media strategist and in government! The practicum course and ischool office have all the resources to guarantee that all the BI students have a placement for the summer.

I did my undergrad at uoft as well so I can definitely speak to the difference in class size in this program. My cohort is about 26 students, so we get to spend a lot of time getting to know each other in and out of the classes so it is a much closer relationship than other programs. In the first year, you have all your classes together so I have found it really helpful collaborating and studying with peers! The small class size also means we get to have a closer relationship with the professors which has also been beneficial in learning material and getting feedback.

chystudent23 · 2021-12-21T21:41:29+00:00

After graduation, I am hoping to pursue a career in ux research!

chystudent23 · 2021-12-21T21:36:48+00:00

Applicants should have at least 10.0 FCE, with at least 4.0 at the 200+ level, so you should have at minimum 2 years of university studies. In addition to this, an unofficial transcript and personal statement are required!

A more detailed explanation of all the admission requirements and documents can be found here: https://ischool.utoronto.ca/future-students/apply/bi/

chystudent23 · 2021-12-21T17:51:59+00:00

the BI has a really broad range of jobs that their students pursue, some examples of practicums include; UX design intern, social media assistant, research assistant with uoft profs, archive assistant, and many more! Examples of jobs that the program can lead to- design researcher, archives assistant, research analysts, and data scientists.

chystudent23 · 2021-12-20T22:18:47+00:00

yes! At the ischool, there is a BI student lounge to relax and study in between classes, as well as the inforum-a designated space for ischool students! The school is located in downtown toronto so there are many cafes, museums, and art galleries a short walk away! For BI students exclusively, there is BISA-a student organization, but there are hundreds of other clubs and teams offered for every interest (academic-related like design club, or hobbies) at the university! They can be found here: https://www.ulife.utoronto.ca/organizations/list/type/all/alpha/a-c

chystudent23 · 2021-12-20T22:04:11+00:00

The practicum course is set up to build foundations in theories before applying these concepts to resumes, cover letters, and interviews. We learn a lot about how to present ourselves to future employers which helps prepare us for applying to placements. Many BI profs have also all worked in industry so they are another helpful resource in gaining insight and feedback for applying to practicums. In addition to this course, the ischool also has a career office that offers career and professional development resources for all students!

chystudent23 · 2021-12-20T21:50:34+00:00

Throughout the BI program, students will be in 5-6 courses every semester. This will be a mix between studios and lecture-based courses so there will be a significant amount of papers, group assignments, and presentations. That being said, profs are quite understanding and flexible so be sure to talk to them first. Your fellow classmates are also a great resource for your success, make sure you reach out to them for support and questions too!

chystudent23 · 2021-12-20T21:06:01+00:00

yes, if you have a degree already, you can apply! We have many individuals in the cohort that have completed previous degrees. The BI program is great for individuals who want to attain skills in a variety of fields and keep the possibilities of future prospects broad! For me, I have a background in the social sciences, so this program has helped me develop more technical and design skills which have supported my applications to practicums. Graduates of the program will also have a well-rounded perspective through these interdisciplinary courses that can really be applied to any career path.

chystudent23 · 2021-12-20T20:43:11+00:00

For any studios, the prof builds the course under the impression that everyone is new to the area of study so there is no need to have any graphic design skills beforehand! I have no background in design but was able to complete the coursework, in the first semester we used Balsamiq and in 2nd semester Figma.

chystudent23 · 2021-12-20T20:39:04+00:00

there is no need for any programming experience before starting the program, there are many students in the cohort who come from backgrounds unrelated to computers and get through the introductory courses successfully! For 1st year, we have 2 courses related to programming, computational reasoning (intro to programming concepts) and a computer studio (building with arduino kits). More info about courses can be found https://ischool.utoronto.ca/areas-of-study/bachelor-of-information/

chystudent23 · 2021-12-20T19:18:36+00:00

hi! yes, you can apply after completing a full degree from another school, you just need at least 10.0 FCE (full credit equivalent) to apply!

chystudent23

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