Gateway first semester

Part-time or full-time?

Once admitted, students take a pair of specially-designed courses that lay the groundwork for academic success: 01-01-120, Understanding the Contemporary World and 01-01-150, Foundations of Academic Writing I. Additional first-year support is provided in the form of individual course advice, academic skills development, help with objective-setting, and campus resource utilization. In their second term, students must take 01-01-151, Foundations of Academic Writing II.

Students whose skills need further development are admitted part-time, with course choice limited to the two required courses. As one course is double-weighted, this adds up to three part-time credits. With three credits students are still eligible for OSAP financial aid, university residences, and varsity athletics.

Students whose skills are determined to be sufficiently strong are offered full-time admission, and can take two courses in addition to those two required. Since one course is double-weighted this totals five credits.

Toward the end of your first semester (November 2011), you will meet with the Gateway Coordinator about the courses you should take in the winter semester. Students then meet with the Gateway Coordinator before March 2012 to ensure their academic progress. These consultations are very important to your success in first year.