Would I Be Having A Hard Time This Year? (UTSG)

[Aznsilvrboy]

I've planned out my timetable and tentatively I have:

Fall: 15 hours/week
CSC148H1 (Intro to Computer Science)
MAT137Y1 (Calculus I)
GGR100H1 (Introduction to Physical Geography)
POL103Y1 (Canada in Comparative Perspective)
HUM199Y1 (First year seminar: China vs. USA in the Asian arena)

Winter: 17 hours/week
CSC207H1 (Software Design)
CSC258H1 (Computer Organization)
MAT137Y1 (Calculus I)
POL103Y1 (Canada in Comparative Perspective)
HUM199Y1 (First year seminar: China vs. USA in the Asian arena)

UPDATE:

Fall
Monday: CSC148 lecture 10am-11am
Tuesday: MAT137 lecture 10am-11am, GGR100 lecture 2pm-3pm, MAT137 tutorial 3pm-4pm, GGR100 lab 4pm-5pm, POL103 lecture 6pm-8pm
Wednesday: CSC148 lecture 10am-11am
Thursday: MAT137 lecture 9am-11am, HUM199 seminar 11am-1pm, GGR100 lecture 2pm-3pm
Friday: CSC148 tutorial 9am-11am

Winter
Monday: CSC258 lecture 11am-12pm, CSC207 lecture 1pm-2pm, CSC258 lecture 6pm-9pm
Tuesday: MAT137 lecture 10am-11am, MAT137 tutorial 3pm-4pm, POL103 lecture 6pm-8pm
Wednesday: CSC258 lecture 11am-12pm, CSC207 lecture 1pm-2pm
Thursday: MAT137 lecture 9am-11am, HUM199 seminar 11am-1pm
Friday: CSC258 lecture 11am-12pm, CSC207 lecture 1pm-2pm

I'm not that good in math (high 60s in gr12 calculus), i wont have a job when school starts, I'll be commuting downtown every day by TTC. I'm pretty good with history/politics/writing and soso (or above average) in programming. I should also mention that I'm a transfer student, and that I didn't take calculus during my first year at another university so I've pretty much forgotten everything about calculus. What should I do?

[abc123]

hey as I've noticed that you're planning on taking MAT137Y1... do you know the differences between MAT133Y1 and MAT137Y1, besides what is written in the calendar?

[scottmcl]

It's hard to say without seeing a weekly schedule.

Also factors such as your academic strengths; job, commute and other commitments would come into play.

More info needed :|

[Aznsilvrboy]

hey as I've noticed that you're planning on taking MAT137Y1... do you know the differences between MAT133Y1 and MAT137Y1, besides what is written in the calendar?

Sorry I have no idea lol...I'm just taking MAT137 because I need to.

[DeltasInTheSky]

Sorry I have no idea lol...I'm just taking MAT137 because I need to.

The name "Joel Chan" will make you cringe....

[heat]

hey as I've noticed that you're planning on taking MAT137Y1... do you know the differences between MAT133Y1 and MAT137Y1, besides what is written in the calendar?

Higher the number = harder the course.
MAT133 is for commerce students. Pretty easy stuff, seen the book for utm, its a joke.
MAT137, i believe it is for computer science students. From what I hear, not a walk in the park.

[Aznsilvrboy]

It's hard to say without seeing a weekly schedule.

Also factors such as your academic strengths; job, commute and other commitments would come into play.

More info needed :|

Fall
Monday: CSC148 lecture 10am-11am
Tuesday: MAT137 lecture 10am-11am, GGR100 lecture 2pm-3pm, MAT137 tutorial 3pm-4pm, GGR100 lab 4pm-5pm, POL103 lecture 6pm-8pm
Wednesday: CSC148 lecture 10am-11am
Thursday: MAT137 lecture 9am-11am, HUM199 seminar 11am-1pm, GGR100 lecture 2pm-3pm
Friday: CSC148 tutorial 9am-11am

Winter
Monday: CSC258 lecture 11am-12pm, CSC207 lecture 1pm-2pm, CSC258 lecture 6pm-9pm
Tuesday: MAT137 lecture 10am-11am, MAT137 tutorial 3pm-4pm, POL103 lecture 6pm-8pm
Wednesday: CSC258 lecture 11am-12pm, CSC207 lecture 1pm-2pm
Thursday: MAT137 lecture 9am-11am, HUM199 seminar 11am-1pm
Friday: CSC258 lecture 11am-12pm, CSC207 lecture 1pm-2pm

I'm not that good in math (high 60s in gr12 calculus), i wont have a job when school starts, I'll be commuting downtown every day by TTC. I'm pretty good with history/politics/writing and soso (or above average) in programming. I should also mention that I'm a transfer student, and that I didn't take calculus during my first year at another university so I've pretty much forgotten everything about calculus. What should I do?

[flygo]

it looks good to me.

if you had 90%+ in grade 12 calculus and functions, mat137 should be fine (although, that depends on how much calculus the ontario government actually teaches now)

edit - if you had high 60s in grade 12 calculus, i'd recommend sticking with MAT133.

[Aznsilvrboy]

it looks good to me.

if you had 90%+ in grade 12 calculus and functions, mat137 should be fine (although, that depends on how much calculus the ontario government actually teaches now)

edit - if you had high 60s in grade 12 calculus, i'd recommend sticking with MAT133.

I can't take MAT133, I need to take MAT137 to get into the Software Engineering specialist subject program of study.

[flygo]

I can't take MAT133, I need to take MAT137 to get into the Software Engineering specialist subject program of study.

hmm, you can always try mat137 first and drop down afterwards, but to be honest, I'm a bit skeptical.
if you have some of your old grade 12 tests lying around, compare them to the first or second midterms in MAT137 (they should overlap somewhat), and see the difference in difficulty (if any)

[HBP]

You're gonna have loads of trouble with MAT137, with a 60 in gr. 12 calc you'll also have trouble with MAT135.

Work diligently, make sure you spend lots of time on 137.

[abc123]

Higher the number = harder the course.
MAT133 is for commerce students. Pretty easy stuff, seen the book for utm, its a joke.
MAT137, i believe it is for computer science students. From what I hear, not a walk in the park.

I'm required to take MAT133 (I'm commerce) but I was thinking I might also do Actuarial Science, so for that I need MAT137 and MAT223/240.

[DeltasInTheSky]

hmm, you can always try mat137 first and drop down afterwards, but to be honest, I'm a bit skeptical.
if you have some of your old grade 12 tests lying around, compare them to the first or second midterms in MAT137 (they should overlap somewhat), and see the difference in difficulty (if any)

Yeah they might overlap, but the nature of the tests will be totally different. High school is essentially, do this/solve that/find that. 137 will be, prove this, prove that, express that, find values such.

[TheFuteballer]

Yeah they might overlap, but the nature of the tests will be totally different. High school is essentially, do this/solve that/find that. 137 will be, prove this, prove that, express that, find values such.

I'm pretty sure 137 doesn't have any proofs

[flygo]

I'm pretty sure 137 doesn't have any proofs

aren't there a whole load of delta-epsilon proofs at the beginning?

[TheFuteballer]

aren't there a whole load of delta-epsilon proofs at the beginning?

i thought that's only for mat198 which is for ECE / Track 1 engineers only... could be wrong though since I've never taken it

[jhan]

I'm pretty sure 137 doesn't have any proofs
MAT137 is full of proofs, and that's the main reason why people struggle.

[jhan]

To OP, if you got high 60's in gr 12 calculus, I'm willing to bet money that you are going to fail MAT137 at first attempt.
If you fail midterm #1 or #2, drop it immediately and re-take it during the summer.

[hoon]

good luck with the 20 problem sets too...(every week)
i suggest you get to know some people..

[Aznsilvrboy]

aren't there a whole load of delta-epsilon proofs at the beginning?

My friend who just finished first year CS in UTSG said the same thing. I'm not that bad with proofs (induction/deduction) but I'm not sure if these will be of the same nature...

[IBOPM]

The name "Joel Chan" will make you cringe....

LOL, I wonder who else gets this.

[hoon]

joel chan is actually a great TA..
but he's the one that makes all the tests..

[IBOPM]

To OP, if you got high 60's in gr 12 calculus, I'm willing to bet money that you are going to fail MAT137 at first attempt.
If you fail midterm #1 or #2, drop it immediately and re-take it during the summer.

I got 60 ON THE DOT for calculus in grade 12. I am now cruising along with 88 in Differential Equations in second year and really enjoying my time here. High school marks mean NOTHING.

[IBOPM]

joel chan is actually a great TA..
but he's the one that makes all the tests..

His tests are killer from what I recall. It was a major departure from the course-coordinator before him. That's why everyone who studied past exams were like WTF when they saw the exam.

[Aznsilvrboy]

Is this "Joel Chan" the only TA for MAT137? I'm scared now.

[hoon]

haha...
no there are many TA's
i believe he's still the course coordinator..
but he was also a TA for tutorials..
if you were to get him..you'll learn a lot during tutorial...
i had a diff TA and he wasn't so great..
but then he'll be marking your problem sets.

[Rishi]

It is not important what marks you got in high school. What is important is how much effort you are willing to expend NOW in order to succeed. You can get 3.5 GPA but you will have to work for it.

You say you are so-so at programming, why are you planning on Software Eng?

[jhan]

I got 60 ON THE DOT for calculus in grade 12. I am now cruising along with 88 in Differential Equations in second year and really enjoying my time here. High school marks mean NOTHING.
First question I have is.. how did you get into a program @ UTSG with 60 in calculus? Also, did you take MAT137? Did you find it challenging?
Anyways, you've clearly worked your arse off to do well @ UTSG right now, and that's more than great.. but come on, you are probably one of the rare cases.

The reason why I said that people with 60's will struggle is because.. well, think about it. You are probably working your arse off to get the best marks possible in high school trying to get into a good university. All you could do was high 60's? In high school math, which involves NO proofs? That tells me that the person is either not good at math, or doesn't have the best work ethic. Some people will change (like you), but many won't. Either way, MAT137 will be a struggle for many.

[jhan]

Is this "Joel Chan" the only TA for MAT137? I'm scared now.
Joel Chan is the guy in charge.. he's been in charge of MAT137 for like forever (something like 13 years, I'm told). He's obviously a bright man, but the course is tough. I heard that Arts and Science faculty intentionally makes MAT137 tough in order to deter people from applying to some programs.. it's probably one of the toughest first year courses around.

Anyways, you have an idea of how tough the course is, so do your best! CSC148 and MAT137 will eat up LOTS of time, so make sure you manage your time well.