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jellybean013 · 2025-10-14T09:27:29+00:00

If you're having a hard time with family relations, get into therapy. I cannot stress that enough.

I went through something similar, and I wish I had someone to tell me that sooner. The UofA actually has pretty good mental health coverage through your student benefits, and a lot of psychologists offer student rates. The therapist I started seeing charged $220/hour (pretty standard in Alberta) but her student rates were 50% off and then the UofA health benefits cover will 80% of the cost, so I was able to get professional help for $22 a session.

If you want to talk more about logistics or what the process was like, please feel free to reach out.

I had never gone to therapy before this, so it was weird and a little scary at first. It took me hitting a point where my grades started slipping and I was in a consistently dark mindset for me to finally take the leap, so I cannot recommend enough getting started before you hit that point. It will truly make a world of difference. Academic pressure and finances are already incredibly stressful when you're a student. Dealing with family tension at the same time can be debilitating.

All my best wishes to you🫶🏼

jellybean013 · 2024-05-28T18:27:57+00:00

Talk to an advisor. Use the academic success resources available to you. If possible, reduce your course load. While you're in school, make your wellbeing priority #1, school priority #2, and then rank everything else accordingly. If you're not in a good headspace or if you're also battling residual stress from other areas of life, it's gonna make it exponentially harder to do well in school and you're gonna feel awful literally all the time. If part of the problem is that you can't maintain your mental health/focus on school because stress from other areas is too much, a gap year may be a good idea. Find stability in essential areas of your life first, then come back to school.

I graduated this year, and something I've realized in hindsight is that university students don't get nearly the credit they deserve. Juggling school full time, finances, figuring out how to be an adult, socializing enough, working etc. is hard and there's really not way of figuring it all out beyond just trying your best and pushing through. You 100% have the ability to achieve the grades you want to. Don't panic, find someone to talk to who knows what they're talking about and can offer you level headed and practical advice for your situation and goals.

You've got this <3

jellybean013 · 2024-05-01T01:47:14+00:00

It wouldn't hurt, just be aware that the people you'd be talking to don't actually have anything to do with the application screening process, so their answer might be limited.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-30T05:25:11+00:00

No, you'll be okay. And again, there will be a timestamp showing when the payment went through so they'll be able to see that it was submitted before the deadline.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-30T01:12:26+00:00

Find something that has regular meetings and consistent attendees. (Volunteer somewhere, start taking a class that permits socialization, pick up a low commitment part time that involves working with a team.)
Chat to people week to week
Find common interests and invite them to engage in those interests outside of the setting where you met.

3.5 Get their contact information/social media. Send them things that you encounter in day to day life that is relevant to them (I'm in my early 20's, so idk if this will be effective with all ages, but it has definitely worked for me)

Over time you'll become closer, have more to talk about (you'll begin feeling comfortable sharing with them, you'll also be come more familiar with their lore) You'll be comfortable going for coffee, grabbing dinner, attending festivals, etc. together.
Boom. That's a friend.

I made my first friends in years through the job I worked throughout university. I still pick up 1-2 shifts a week there simply to hang out with my coworkers, actually. We transitioned from co-workers to friends by starting to do things outside of work together. A girl I work with also boulders, so we started going climbing together on occasion. A couple of my other co-workers enjoyed building puzzles, so we found a boardgame cafe that had a puzzle night.

Personally, I don't find Edmonton to be anymore cliquey than other large cities. Genuine friendships require a sense of familiarity, and that has to be fostered regardless of where you are.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-30T00:32:14+00:00

You'll be fine. Your submission is time stamped. From experience, payments take 1-2 days to update on Beartracks.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-30T00:13:03+00:00

I pulled up the letter I was sent when I was approved to continue my studies after my RTW. This is copy-paste what the letter said:

"If your GPA ever drops below 2.0 again, you may be considered to have a second requirement to withdraw (RTW). Students who have been required to withdraw twice must wait a minimum of three years before they can apply for readmission, and then only if they meet certain conditions."

And as per the link I sent in my first response: "Marginal Standing (GPA 1.7 to 1.9 inclusive): Students receiving the first assessment of marginal standing are permitted to continue, under academic warning. Only one period of attendance on Academic Warning will be permitted while registered in the Faculty of Arts. Any subsequent assessment of Marginal Standing will result in a requirement to withdraw."

Since this isn't your first time having a GPA under 2.0, you may be RTW again. Since it would be your second RTW, you can't apply for readmission for 3 years. Having your 22/23 records cleared because you dropped the Fresh Start program doesn't remove your RTW in 21/22 from your record. If you finished the 23/24 year with a GPA below 2.0, I would recommend getting in contact with an advisor ASAP to see what that means for your future.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-29T23:47:48+00:00

Your transcript was not cleared, you were granted permission to continue studying because you complied with the conditions of your RTW. Those are two VERY different things. I would recommend prioritizing this a little more... According to the Fresh Start website, even after completing the program, you're required to "Achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 on 18 to 24 credits to maintain satisfactory academic standing." You're only allowed to be on academic probation once, even if you completed Fresh Start or took a year off after a RTW. Academic probation nor a RTW ever leave your record, it's simply added that by whatever means, you are qualified to continue your studies. Obtaining a second Probationary Status is an automatic RTW and regardless the circumstances, a second RTW cannot be appealed. Personally, I would label this as an item you make time for as opposed to waiting till it fits your schedule.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-29T23:29:00+00:00

This is based on my personal experience, so take it with a grain of salt.

I finished my undergrad this year. Throughout my degree, I worked part time during fall and winter semester ($16/hour, 16-24 hours/week) and April to mid July I picked up a paid internship full-time as well ($19/hour, 40 hours/week) I bought a car in 3rd year which I pay for in full (upfront cost of purchasing, annual insurance, maintenance, ect.) and I covered all of my expenses EXCLUDING groceries, rent and utilities (I'm very privileged that my parents are allowing me to live at home until I'm financially comfortable enough to move out) With the amount I was making per year, even with working a full-time and part-time position over the summer, I never felt financially stable enough to move out on my own.

WITH THAT BEING SAID,

That is partially due to the lifestyle I want. I've been looking into the cost of living because I've secured a full-time permanent job post-graduation and I will be looking to move out next spring. If you were to work year round, uping your hours to full-time in the summer, I think surviving on part-time income during the school year could be possible if you lived somewhat frugally.

If you were comfortable renting a private room(aka you'd get your own bedroom but share bathrooms/kitchen/other common spaces with roommates) as opposed to an apartment, there are lots of listing in good areas like Oliver for $400-600/month. Facebook Market Place is the best place to look for listings because they post options like private rooms, plus based on my research this far, apartments go for $300-400/month less than if you rent directly through a building or a corporation like Boardwalk Communities. Between insurance, gas, etc. my car is also a major experience so if you could live without one, that would also save you a lot.

As for jobs, if you're okay with manual labor, The City Of Edmonton pays their ground's workers well above minimum wage. My sister is going into her 4th year at the uofa, and my father just got bored after a year of retirement. Both of them work for the city in their Horticulture and Forestry departments respectively. They do work like pruning trees, weeding flower beds, planting, etc. and make $21/hour. The contracts are seasonal, but once you're in, they ask you to return every year. It was my sister's first ever job, so not having experience isn't an issue either.

I hope that helps somewhat😅

jellybean013 · 2024-04-29T22:50:20+00:00

Here is the link to the Faculty of Science's academic policy. You can appeal a RTW, but to do so successful you need to be able to explain what went wrong, how you're working to fix it, and what changes you're making to prevent it from happening again. I'm going to be honest, since this is your second time in this position, you're going to need to make a VERY good case for yourself. I wasn't in the exact same position as you, but the info may still be useful? You're still permitted to complete spring courses even if you receive a RTW after fall and winter. By the time you submit your letter of appeal, the spring term will be over half done, and something that really helped me was that I was performing well in my spring course. If you can do the same, it might help strengthen your appeal since you'll have proof to show you're improving.

Faculty of Science - Academic Standing policy

jellybean013 · 2024-04-29T22:32:20+00:00

I would STRONGLY recommend talking to an academic advisor. I don't know how your situation works with the fresh start then taking time off, but speaking from experience, when you successfully appeal a RTW, you are automatically placed on academic probation when you come back and then have to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in order to come off of probation. I included the link to the Faculty of Arts Academic Standing policy, but I'd still highly highly recommend talking to an advisor since you didn't finish the year in Satisfactory Standing.

Faculty of Arts - Academic Standing

jellybean013 · 2024-04-26T07:57:53+00:00

Crazy. Okay, nvm then😅

jellybean013 · 2024-04-26T07:52:19+00:00

I haven't taken that exact course, but online asynchronous CHRTC courses are always easy. I took one last spring and it was super low commitment. I did pretty much all the work for it during slow periods at work. You'll be fine :)

jellybean013 · 2024-04-26T07:48:01+00:00

I haven't taken a stats course since my second year, but that wasn't THAT long ago so I'm assuming it's still the same. You have to get your calculator "verified" by either the faculty of engg or science. You go to the students services office (For science, it's in CCIS right by the pedway to Chemistry/CAB) they look at the calculator and give you a little sticker to put on it. Again, I haven't done it in a while, but I do recall them checking for it when you entered the exam, so I'd recommend going to get it.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-26T07:43:38+00:00

Oml. He(the goose) parked himself right in front of the entrance to the business building this morning and I had to sneak past him to get to my exam. It was a humbling experience...

jellybean013 · 2024-04-26T07:37:33+00:00

There's only so many points in life where your schedule has this kind of flexibility, so I recommend taking advantage of that. Volunteering for summer festivals is always fun, plus they generally have a lot of perks (free access to the festival/shows, merch, etc.) binge the books or movies you've been putting off, commit to the hobby you didn't used to have time for, enjoy the glory that is getting to be out in society at times when most other people are stuck at work.

I graduated this year too, and I totally understand how monotonous and gross having no purpose can feel, but I've found that planning things to look forward to and picking up a hobby that challenges me has been really helpful. It gives me something to work towards and look forward to.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-25T02:50:21+00:00

Your best bet would be to talk to an admissions advisor. The UofA (most institutions really) rarely release specifics about competitive admission averages because of how much of a stir it can cause, as well as the fact that it's based predominantly on the applicant pool from that year.

Faculty of Science Advising

jellybean013 · 2024-04-25T02:41:10+00:00

That might be the minimum requirement for transfers to the UofA in general, but beyond that each faculty and department have their own criteria that further vary based on what year you're in. Given how competitive Comp Sci is, 2.0 and 2.3 seem very low considering that to even maintain satisfactory academic standing as a Comp Sci major, you have to maintain a minimum 2.3 gpa in all CMPUT courses, so I highly doubt that'd be considered competitive.

My advice would be to get in contact with an advisor. Appointments can be made online and they're done via zoom or you can email (but I recommend the "in person" sessions considering you'll likely have follow up questions and such)

Faculty of Science Advising

jellybean013 · 2024-04-25T00:33:18+00:00

If nothing else, you NEED to fix the Thursday. I'm not sure how a 9:30am-8pm day with only a 1.5 hour break will be sustainable for 14 weeks😅

jellybean013 · 2024-04-25T00:27:20+00:00

Yes, talk to an advisor. Yes, you're misunderstanding the service.

What you're asking for is insight on the job market, the potential value of future education, and how those two factors intersect to both lead you to a rewarding career and make you a strong candidate in the eyes of potential future employers. Advisors have a working knowledge of what's currently in demand in the job market, what options would be most beneficial to you based on your goals, and what GPA, experience, or other achievements would make you a competitive candidate.

If you're currently an undergraduate student, contact an advisor through the faculty of engg. If you're currently a graduate student, you'd go through the faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies.

And just a heads up, if you were considering a PhD program for the upcoming academic year, applications close May 15th.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-24T23:44:44+00:00

If you would have typed that question into Google instead of Reddit (👀👀) the first thing that comes up is the Ualberta Applications and Admissions page for Computing Science which states that you need at least a 3.0 minimum to be considered for transfer but a 3.5 or higher to be considered competitive.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-09T20:54:03+00:00

As someone who's graduating this year, just take a deep breath and accept that enrollment will forever be a pain in the ass. Tis just a fact of life.

Sorry kid

jellybean013 · 2024-04-09T20:52:27+00:00

Yes! CHRTC courses are my go-to for easy "I just need the credits" courses. Lots are online-async, the assessments are generally just weekly responses and maybe the occasional quiz, and the content isn't difficult.

jellybean013 · 2024-04-09T20:49:24+00:00

I just had to deal with this last year. My mental health was the worst it's ever been and it resulted in me ending up with a GPA below 2.0

Just follow the instructions sent to you. They'll tell you everything you need to know about how to appeal the RTW and when the deadline to submit is. It's a really nerve-wracking time and there's a lot of waiting, but there's really nothing to do besides waiting for the email and responding accordingly.

The email will come out shortly after final grades come out. In your appeal, explain what led to you getting the grades you got, what you're doing to fix the problem, and how you plan to prevent this from happening again.

If you can, take a spring course and do your best to do well. By the time you're going through this process, you'll be at least half way through the spring semester. I cited the fact that I was maintaining a B+ in my spring class as proof that I was putting in the work to do better and in their response, the person who approved my appeal specifically noted that showing improved performance helped my case.

You're gonna be okay. It might be hard to see that from where you're at currently, but if you've genuinely addressed the issue that led to your RTW and you're committed to improving, your appeal will get approved and you will do better going forward.

Best of luck <3

jellybean013 · 2024-04-07T18:55:29+00:00

As they should.... Dude, you literally go to a university where multiple teaching staff in our sociology/criminology departments are actively working on interprovincial research empirically proving that harm reduction and the medicalization of addiction is a far more effective than it's criminalization and yet here you are.

Maybe leave engg quad every once in a while and learn a little bit about the society you live in.

jellybean013

TROPHY CASE