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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 8/21/2011
Posts: 9
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Hello! I am really having trouble deciding where I want to go. I have visited all the campuses and like then all. I have been accepted into : Cell and Molecular Biology Co-op at UTSC Life Sciences at UTSG Biological Medical Sciences at UWO Life Science at Mac Health Science at Mac and Life Science at Queens My grade 12 average is in the 90s. I am still exploring my options but at the moment, I am looking into a future career in the research or medical field. I really like UofT and I live fairly close to the Scarborough campus but I have heard scary rumours about how UofT will destroy my GPA. Does any body have any suggestions? Are the rumours really true? Will it be very hard to obtain a GPA above 3.7 at any of the universities mentioned above? Cell and Molecular Biology Co-op
University of Toronto Scarborough
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Rank: Valedictorian  Joined: 12/24/2010 Posts: 624
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It is indeed hard to get a good GPA at UTSG. You may be more recognized for a high GPA there, but ask yourself if you think you can be at the top of the class and if you're willing to put in relatively more effort. To give you some perspective, I'll tell you what my friend told me. Apparently, UTSG life sci covers orgo chem in a 0.5 course first year, while I think most other schools (Queen's, Mac, UWO) all cover orgo chem in a 1.0 course in second year. I would also immediately discredit UTSC compared to the other schools, I don't think their science program is another stellar. Queen's/UWO are pretty interchangeable overall, but having seen the UWO material itself, I can tell you that getting a 4.0 is not difficult or out of the ordinary. There are plenty of people in both programs with a 4.0, but it's not to say that you should be expecting one when you enter the program. I think the main reason that this occurs is that UT has a lot stricter bell curving rules. Lastly, my one big qualm with Mac Life Sci is that it's forever overshadowed by the Health Sci program. Personally, I'd pick UWO/Queen's (probably UWO just because I attended their this past year and enjoyed myself), but I think the most important determinant should be your perceived "fit" with each school. The University of Western Ontario
Class of 2015
BMOS with AEO Status
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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 8/21/2011
Posts: 9
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onlymatthew wrote:It is indeed hard to get a good GPA at UTSG. You may be more recognized for a high GPA there, but ask yourself if you think you can be at the top of the class and if you're willing to put in relatively more effort. To give you some perspective, I'll tell you what my friend told me. Apparently, UTSG life sci covers orgo chem in a 0.5 course first year, while I think most other schools (Queen's, Mac, UWO) all cover orgo chem in a 1.0 course in second year.
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I would also immediately discredit UTSC compared to the other schools, I don't think their science program is another stellar.
Queen's/UWO are pretty interchangeable overall, but having seen the UWO material itself, I can tell you that getting a 4.0 is not difficult or out of the ordinary. There are plenty of people in both programs with a 4.0, but it's not to say that you should be expecting one when you enter the program. I think the main reason that this occurs is that UT has a lot stricter bell curving rules.
Lastly, my one big qualm with Mac Life Sci is that it's forever overshadowed by the Health Sci program.
Personally, I'd pick UWO/Queen's (probably UWO just because I attended their this past year and enjoyed myself), but I think the most important determinant should be your perceived "fit" with each school. Thank you for replying!! I was wondering if you would like to share some information on Western life/classes/profs. Is it difficult with getting to know your profs? Is it true that Western is a "party school"? Cell and Molecular Biology Co-op
University of Toronto Scarborough
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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 8/21/2011
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lyx wrote:lisas8 wrote:Hello! I am really having trouble deciding where I want to go. I have visited all the campuses and like then all.
I have been accepted into :
Cell and Molecular Biology Co-op at UTSC
Life Sciences at UTSG
Biological Medical Sciences at UWO
and Life Science at Mac and Queens.
My grade 12 average is in the 90s. I am still exploring my options but at the moment, I am looking into a future career in the research or medical field. I really like UofT and I live fairly close to the Scarborough campus but I have heard scary rumors about how UofT will destroy my GPA. Does any body have any suggestions? Are the rumors really true? Will it be very hard to obtain a GPA above 3.7 at any of the universities mentioned above? I have a different perspective on this than Matt. I think it is pretty easy to get a 3.7+ GPA in LifeSci. Maybe they changed up the curriculum recently, but this year was a joke. I did, however, study on a consistent basis. Nothing too crazy, just an hour or two of easy review every day, without fail. The vast majority of the students admitted to UofT are complete slackers. They are intelligent enough to get As but they don't study AT ALL! If you put in even a tiny iota of effort on a consistent basis, you'll find it rather difficult to not get all As. Regarding 1st year OChem (Chm138), the half unit course we take first year covers only the basic fundamentals. The 2nd half unit is taken during the 2nd year (Chm247/249). Those two classes combined end up being equivalent (more or less) to a full unit course taken in other schools. A few of my buddies attend Mac, Western, and Queens and are doing the same major. Relatively speaking, their curriculum and exams are a lot more straightforward and don't go into as much detail or depth. It seems to be a bit easier to get the same marks at those schools. With all that said, if you want to go to med school and have a fun time doing it, go to Western or Queens. For grad school and research, UTSG might have more to offer. Otherwise, it's a toss-up based on less academic preferences. Good luck with you decision! Thank you so much for your reply! Your reply has been very helpful! :) I am guessing you go/went to UofT? Which campus did you go to? Is there a particular reason why you chose one over the other?? Would you like to share some information on school life/profs/classes?? Cell and Molecular Biology Co-op
University of Toronto Scarborough
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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 12/28/2010
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I agreed with lyx, after actually attending first year life sciences at UTSG, I can say that it is not impossible to achieve 3.7+ gpa. And those that are actually at the top do work hard to get such mark (might sound cliche but its true, they did work for it).
Professors are very approachable, the physics prof gave us the 'hunting license' which basically is a 'if you find me, feel free to ask question' permission. I'm never a party person, nor that I'm active in any clubs, but I can tell you something. If you at least go to the colleges (I'm in New College), there will be regular attendees there and you can make friends that way. The upper years are friendly at those colleges.
I was once a regular attendee at New College but since I had some troubles with friends outside UTSG, I stopped going to New College. Going back after half a semester was a bit awkward since there are more people and they are close to each other already.
In terms of test difficulty, UTSG's tests are not straight out of the textbook unlike some other school, [I'm looking at you York MATH1013 (the prof even let them use a calculator for the first semester test)], our tests are challenging, goes pretty deep into the material.
There are ways to get around these however. The tests questions :IF ITS FROM THE SAME COURSE COORDINATOR FROM PREVIOUS YEARS: usually follows a specific trends. For example the famous MAT135/MAT136 Anthony Lam (Prof/coordinator) last question on the exam, is a question that very small group of people gets. There are tutor service that goes through his style of questions and tells you very helpful tricks and tips to solve them. If you have the money GO TO THE TUTOR SERVICES. Take advantage of their promos, free tutor service.
Other than that, don't be lazy and look around the campus/internet for help.
LASTLY, the infamous bell curves at UTSG. I have never experienced my mark being curved down. My physics term test was bell curved up from a 40 to a 57, final math mark curved up 91. Bio was also curved up for me, they added 2 bonus marks. Very fair for first year life sci.
I can't tell you how UTSC/UWO is, but I have a friend that went to Queen's Science and he like it there. Close knit community, helpful people. We have that too here at UTSG, but you got to look for them if you are commuting.
If you are looking forward to become a medschooler, other school than UTSG would be a wise choice. You have to have a very solid work ethic coming to UTSG, well same with every school you go to, but having to experience YorkU for almost half a year, I'd say UTSG is more demanding of good work ethics in order to achieve the highest mark possible.
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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 8/21/2011
Posts: 9
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Thank you Iyx and Senioriatultraman for replying! I am so glad to hear that UofT is not as scary as many people make it seem. I was wondering if you guys would like to share how well you did in high school and how big of a difference of marks/work habits was between high school and first year? (So I can see where I stand and maybe have an idea how difficult it would be for me) Also, how many electives per year do you typically get? Do you mind sharing a typical first year schedule with me or know where I can obtain one? Cell and Molecular Biology Co-op
University of Toronto Scarborough
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Rank: Frosh
Joined: 8/21/2011
Posts: 9
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Thank you so much Iyx for your responses! You don't know how helpful your responses has been to me and some of my friends. I have been talking to other UofT students as well. I think I have at least narrowed down my choices to UofT. Now I have to decide between the two campuses. I will definitely try to study on a scheduled basis and avoid procrastination! I am currently looking at four years at UTSC for undergrad with coop and then a few more years at UTSG for graduate. A few more days to decide!! Thank you soo soo soo much! :) Cell and Molecular Biology Co-op
University of Toronto Scarborough
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