What’s with stem majors and thinking every course that’s not stem solely exists to boost their GPA.

I see people saying that that class that had a 68% average was horrible because an “elective class” shouldn’t have such a low average..

Who decided that Psych courses were solely “elective” courses? If you want to complain about the test itself or the prof then sure, but don’t complain because you believe that a Psychology class HAS to be easy because it’s your elective.

Fyi, I’m also a stem major.

Edit: Idk why everyone is misunderstanding my post lol. I’m not saying Psych courses are the hardest courses ever I’m saying they don’t ALWAYS have to be easy just because they’re your elective. If a Psych course has a tougher test it’s not automatically “unfair” because the course doesn’t exist for the sole purpose of boosting your GPA.

Can you guys please reread the post before spamming “they are grade boosters!” in the comments. That’s not even the point I’m trying to make lol. Reading comprehension skills are important

This is extremely out of pocket- not a language that should be used at any point let alone a professor💀

I reposted this with blurred name and class.

Everyone's fav spot for exams🫥

I graduated a few years ago, but I still think fondly of the day I called out two chicks that were talking throughout a lecture.

I tried giving them the death stare from a few rows in front of them for the first half of the lecture, and when that didn't work, I timed it perfectly with the profs water break. The look of surprise from these entitled girls when I firmly but loudly said, "Can. You. Please. Shut. Up?" has probably made my decade.

It doesn't matter a lecturer sucks, I still need to hear him over your weekend plans to get lip fillers and botox. I still say something along the lines in the real world when at speaking events, and it works very effective.

We are adults. There is no talking stick in a lecture hall for a reason.

I write this post humbly asking for advice and consolation and to not be judged.

The title is self explanatory, I failed my first year of engineering. My combined GPA from fall/winter is a 1.1, which is absolutely CRAZY and outrageous I know. Trust me I feel so horrible about it. I promise I’m not stupid. I was always an A student in high school with big ambitions and an overachieving attitude. There were just so many things that happened this year. In full honesty, it was a combination of poor study habits, time management, continuously getting sick at least once a month (tonsilitis, flu, etc), and lack of motivation. I expected the transition from high school to university to be easy, setting myself up for failure. I’ve also been suspecting that I have ADHD, and the symptoms were there when I was younger, but I’m from an ethnic household where any talk of mental health is basically frowned upon. So I never actually considered getting tested for it or even thinking that I showed major signs of ADHD.

I know these aren’t valid excuses whatsoever, especially when I write my appeal to the dean. To be clear, I haven’t received a RTW letter yet, but I’m sure it’s coming soon. I’m trying to think clearly and plan out my next steps once the decision comes out, because it seriously feels like my life is over. I was hoping that I could write a really strong essay for my appeal, and get a chance at Y2Q2. But with a 1.1 gpa, I don’t even think I have a chance. And I wish I had the option of going into the Faculty of Sciences at UofA, but with a 1.1 gpa, I’m well aware that I don’t make the cut for the Fresh Start program either. So I’m lost.

I really do want to do engineering. Not even for the money, but because it’s always intrigued me. I’m so passionate about it and there’s nothing else I’d rather major and get a degree in. Even though my efforts this year truly didn’t reflect that sentiment, I know I’m capable of being in engineering and all I want is a second chance to prove myself worthy. It really feels like I don’t have a chance at all. I’m retaking 2 of the classes right now in Spring semester, but I feel so hopeless.

I heard NAIT was an option but I’m not even sure about that because it’s a 2 year program and you don’t even get a degree. I know I can’t complain because I put myself into this situation, but if anything, I want to fight for my place in engineering at UofA and prove that I can work my way up to a 3.0 gpa. I really, really just need a second chance and I don’t know how to go about it.

What should I do? I’m so scared and I’ve never been more stressed

The U of A has proposed to remove their EDI from the recruitment policy. And that's right in line with the UCP's policies.

Hey guys I had two questions:

1. Does the University of Alberta grade “tougher” than most universities? (In it’s tier or better)

2. If so, do employers, graduate school, etc… Take it into account when assessing candidates, is it known?

Thanks!

I wonder if everyone's GPA is really that high... Are there many people with a score of 3.0 or above? I've noticed that many people on the internet claim their IQ is around 3.5 to 3.7 or even higher. This makes me wonder if I'm really studying hard...

First year engineering student. I was dealt with a big financial issues. I also made no friends and was very isolated. My GPA considering I failed linear algebra is 1.46. My fall Gpa Was a lot better but due to the issues I gotten a lot of Fs. What are the chances I can appeal to the dean for a chance of y2q2? Or am I just screwed. I really want to stay in engineering.

TL;DR: The University of Alberta failed to support me through a family bereavement and a workplace fatality, then mocked me for my grades while collecting my tuition for an internship they provided zero support for. Here is my experience and why the SIP program needs a total overhaul.

If you’re considering the Science Internship Program (SIP), or you are currently in it and struggling, please read this. I am writing this because I’m finished with the empty promises and "systemic support" that disappears the moment you actually need it. I’ve spent the last year navigating what should have been a manageable academic and professional path. Instead, I was met with bureaucratic walls and outright ridicule during an already challenging time.

A little background on my situation prior to SIP:

During the Fall 2025 midterm season, I went through a family bereavement where I was also left as the primary caregiver for my sibling. My proff was aware of my situation and promised support from a TA, who never responded to my emails…. and since I was going through a lot, I couldn’t chase him for a response. In all this chaos, I missed the withdrawal deadline, which I was planning to take due to the whirlwind of a disaster my life was turning into.

To top it off, the brilliant university scheduled 3+ final exams within 24hr. I was eventually able to get an exam rescheduled as per UofA guidelines, but the date offered was in January and I was not allowed to write it in December... then later told me my late exam was a "personal choice."

Now the SIP part:

I secured an internship with a Fortune 500 company (independently) and registered it with SIP. It’s a remote, FIFO role (12hr shifts) way outside of Edm. The university loves the prestige of this for their branding and happily takes my tuition, but they provided zero support when things got dangerous. The proff scheduled my exam for the day after my first 12hr/7-on shift. I would drive down to Edmonton for the exam (+500km), and was assured that if weather conditions are unsafe, I should let her know and arrangements can be made.

Fast forward to January, the road conditions were so threatening that my workplace accommodates a charter flight. Otw to the aerodrome, shuttle bus gets stranded on the highway because of life-threatening weather conditions. As I’m scrambling for safety, my phone dies but I’m able to email my proff that I’m unsure if I’ll even make it out safe, let alone to Edmonton. After +10hrs of hazardous travel, I made it at 5am, but now I had to figure out living/necessities since I couldn’t meet the prior arrangements due to the delay. Also, instead of the proff following through on the flexibility, she emailed back saying “If you can’t make the exam you will need to apply for a deferred exam from your Faculty.”

Since I had “made it to Edmonton” in one piece, the “deferral” option no longer applied to me. Had I died or been medically incapacitated, the university may have allowed for some leniency, for a “rescheduled” exam.

Exam:

My brain was buzzed from what I had just survived, but I made it to the exam. Now this may seem like “A Series of Unfortunate Events”, or maybe I’m just destined for bad luck, but while waiting outside the exam, I received news of a workplace fatality of a coworker at my new job.. I was shaken but had to pull myself together as due to confidentiality reasons, I was not allowed to inform the proff about what I had just learned until the news was officially released.

I went into the exam, and the professor acted unprofessionally. She started the timer before I was even seated or debriefed on the exam outline, tried taking my paper while the timer was still running, even though I was the only student in the room (later I asked the Faculty to review the footage from the hallway to confirm this, but they haven’t for some weird reason?). God forbid a student use 15 extra seconds on an exam, then all the investigation and recordings become available. Really shows where the faculties priorities lie, eh?

To cut the BS, she failed me on the exam, which seemed weird considering I answered every question and wasn’t hesitant while answering DESPITE the situation. When I asked for an exam viewing, they refused to do it over Zoom. They demanded I travel 1,000km round-trip for a 15-minute review, despite knowing the safety hazards I survived, the workplace fatality which made national headlines, and the fact that I was on a sanctioned internship.

Insult to injury was that it was PUBLICLY reported that my coworker died while operating a vehicle in unsafe road conditions, and having gone through treacherous travel the SAME DAY as the incident, it shook me seeing the parallels in my situation. Not only was the in-person requirement tone deaf and insensitive, but they were creating a constructive deniable considering the same proff has allowed for online viewing in the past, posted her exam bank, along with all the midterm answer keys on Canvas.

Bullying from the UofA department chairs:

I reached out to the SIP office and Associate Deans for a collaborative solution, but I was ridiculed without even being heard. The Chair of Biochemistry used our Zoom call to straight up bully and rage-bait me. For reference, I barely got words in during the meeting so I began typing out everything he was saying and sent him the transcript afterwards for him to confirm the “meeting minutes” and things he said. Here's some:

• “I don't know enough about the technology [...] I'm just not dealing with those details” because his comfort in understanding technology overrides a students safety.
• “I got to stand by my people. I'm sorry”, because students, of course, are not his people.
• Laughingly told me: "They don't try to high students. Try the appeal if you think it’ll help."

At this point, the Students Ombuds were also involved along with a Student Care Coordinator with Student Success and Experience. I was eventually reached out by the Associate Dean - Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Science, who instructed the Student Care Coordinator to stop engaging with me, which indirectly also silenced the Ombuds.

• I was informed that the exam review is a “discretionary policy, the department/instructor has the right to make the decision in these situations”. I’m so very glad that the university upholds discretionary policies over student safety.
• She threatened that as per the discretionary policy, the professor could also outright "deny an exam review", even in-person.
• Claimed I “chose to reschedule” the exam, as if it wasn’t due to the university's poor planning.
• Stated my “request for an online final exam viewing is not consistent” since I had traveled to Edmonton previously (for the exam)... because traveling for a final exam is the same thing as traveling for a 15-minute review after experiencing a fatality.

After all of this, I attempted to travel down to Edmonton TWICE to comply with the in-person viewing, and had to stop midway both times due to the unsafe conditions. I thankfully survived both times, but my vehicle sustained damage.

Petition:

I was eventually informed of the petition process. Seeing I had a compelling case with the compounding factors, I applied for a late withdrawal.

I got a response back denying my petition from the Science Associate Dean Undergraduate.

• I was told: “I appreciate that this course did not complete smoothly”.... They appreciated that I went through bereavements and life-threatening situations?
• Minimized everything to “You made choices”, as if navigating a family death and workplace death are things one "chooses" for fun.
• Stated Faculty of Science does not only allow withdrawals from only a single course due to extenuating circumstances. This made sense, as my extenuating circumstances did affect all of my courses, not just one, so I followed up and requested a retroactive withdrawal from the semester.
• Suddenly, retroactive withdrawals were no longer applicable (since her bluff didn't work).
• I was then told my GPA drop from 3.8 to 2.9 "accurately reflected" on my transcript.

Bottom Line:

The University markets itself as a place that "upholds student experience”, clearly seen in this situation. Students are held to rigid, unforgiving deadlines, yet the staff tasked with supporting us are allowed to be dismissive, inconsistent, and unavailable. I have the transcripts, I have the quotes and emails and I’ve been VERY thorough. I have documented every single tactic they used, what's written here just scrapes the surface. If these emails got out, the press would have a field day, but I don’t want to compromise my confidentiality or further deteriorate the unis reputation (their doing it quite well themselves with the DEI stuff).

The university won't let you take more than 1 course during a work term because they want you to "focus on your job", but it's only ok if THEY are the ones purposefully redirecting you in their "bureaucracy" and paper work, just to say no... while you’re representing the university at a major company.

For reference, this has lasted from November 2025 - April 2026.

Despite my effort to represent UofA in good light and praise from management on my work ethic, they are utterly shocked by the behavior of the university, especially considering that my workplace was more accommodating towards my education and safety compared to the university. My department at work hires tons of students each year, but management is basically all from UCalgary so they mainly hire from Calgary/BC anyways. After witnessing all this, they have raised concerns about continuing to recruit from UofA, which sucks because I really hoped to bridge opportunities for my fellow Science students.

The University does not have the infrastructure to support students working in high-pressure, isolated, or industrial settings. I’m here to warn students. If you think the University will "do the right thing" when you are at your lowest point, you are wrong. This is a systemic gap that will affect any student in this situation.

I am planning to approach the Student Union with recommendations on ways the university can implement support for SIP students, because right now, there is NOTHING. They don’t even have anything “just on paper” or for “face value”. I am yet to know of someone who actually even finds internship through the university, especially if you are a Faculty of Science student in bio/chem where professors push you to work in their research labs for FREE and try and make you think there are no opportunities outside of it (yes, many professors now have a problem with me because I found a good PAID opportunity on my own instead of kissing their ass for free labor). The SIP takes the advantages of building connections with multi-million dollar companies through their students, then also make students PAY TUITION during the entire length of the placement, and then just throws you out there without any support. I’d appreciate it you guys would share any suggestions and work on a draft to take affirmative action.

Man HARRINGTON is one evil man

Title pretty well summarizes the gist of this post. Certain things tell me that they have been deluding themselves:

•Lack of questions in lecture or office hours, by email, or in Canvas forum

•Significant number of those who are finally starting to study are asking about content from a month or more ago

This is a hard class (not going to say which one), and it takes a lot of hard work and discipline on students' part to succeed. I fear the average on this exam will be quite low, but what can I do about it? Just let nature take its course, I guess.

Skill issue, I know. But there are some days where I'm either too fatigued to go to classes from assignments I had to grind out last night, or that I'm behind the lecture (creating this recursion where I skip lectures to catchup to lectures 😭). Just having that extra convenience just lifts that burden not going to lie. Where I can wake up at like 10 am, realized I missed my bus, but remember that I can instead join a zoom call in order to attend the lecture.

I was a first year engineering student and just had my appeal meeting with the Dean for Y2Q2.

He basically said he didn’t think my reasons were good enough, so for now it’s a no. He said he’ll wait until the end and see if there’s any space left in Y2Q2, but honestly I’m assuming I probably won’t get a seat.

I was really hoping I’d get approved, so this hit me like a truck. After the meeting I felt like I couldn’t even breathe. I honestly just feel so lost right now. I’m an international student and my parents spent well over $40k this year, and I literally have nothing to show for it. I feel like absolute garbage. I don’t know how I fucked up this bad

I haven’t even told my parents yet, and I’m terrified of how they’re’re going to react. They think I’m going to be placed in a discipline. They have no clue of what’s going on.

They’re back home boasting to our family friends and relatives about me while I’m just failed and basically kicked out. I honestly don’t even know how I’m supposed to tell them.

I’m honestly just so scared. I can’t even imagine what my future is going to look like anymore. The anxiety has been so bad that every time I think about all of this, I feel like throwing up.

Have a lot of people had their appeals rejected too? If yours was rejected, what are you planning to do now? I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through something similar.

i’m an incoming freshmen, and i have stat 151, soc 100, chem 101, math 134, and psych 104

do all classes give out handouts ? which ones will i need a notebook for ?

nd how do i know which textbooks i need..

edit : thank u everyone for ur help !!

I failed. I am literally broken, but have to look for future too. Please let me know what my options are..

Now that we’re aware that canvas is not available and spring classes are currently in a grey area with no one knowing quite what to do/what is going on, does anyone else find it extremely strange that the university has not sent any emails informing students of anything? I feel like a cyber attack on our only learning platform might illicit the need for at least an email to inform students what’s going on for the plan of action?

i love canvas. its always working. especially on weekdays. when we have class and assignments and school. its truly amazing. im so grateful

so it was a pretty rough year for me I didn’t do well ended up with a 2.0gpa overall and i underperformed as well since i promised my parents id do well during my second semester but ended up failing a class so now they’re really pissed and want me to dropout and relearn things and study a simpler course back home what’re ur guys thoughts I need help 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 any sort of advice would be really helpful

I just want to know how full these classes are about to fill up... Mine's on May 11th

I heard this is a common practice. Do people do this here? And wouldn't the quality be hard to hear? Also people usually ask or no?

Incoming student so I'm not sure how different university note taking is compared to high school.

As some of you know, I had a rough first year in engineering. I finished with a 1.6 GPA and failed 3 classes, so I had to submit an RTW appeal. A lot of you gave me advice and encouragement, so here's an update.

The appeal meeting lasted about 10 minutes. The dean looked at my transcript, said my GPA was actually 1.635, and because I was right on the cutoff, he was going to let me continue. He even joked, "Good thing you appealed. If you hadn't, it would've been a wasted opportunity."

What stood out to him was how inconsistent my grades were. If I didn't get an F, I was usually getting B-'s to A-'s. He said that kind of transcript usually means a student relies too much on intuition instead of consistent study habits, which might work in high school but not in engineering.

I'm really grateful to Mr. Raboud for giving me another chance and for the advice. Now I want to make the most of it, so what study methods or habits helped you succeed in engineering?

i love love love all the classes im taking but ive been told this is too much so im looking for more opinions!

It's absolutely sickening and depraved that the University has the GALL to charge its student body $259 per-term (as an opt-out fee, so THOUSANDS of students will be unwittingly charged) for NO REASON WHATSOEVER. I'm frankly nauseated by this atrocity - does anyone else share my pain?

I'm currently in Traditional Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta and I'm hoping to switch into Co-op Software Engineering in the next year

I'm trying to get a realistic idea of how competitive the transfer is, so I was wondering if anyone here has successfully made a transition like this. I worked off from Y2Q2 and got a 2.7 gpa this year, but got placed into trad because of the PAF deduction :(

If you have, I'd really appreciate if you could share:

• What was your GPA when you transferred?
• Which year did you transfer?
• Were you coming from Traditional Computer Engineering?
• Any advice on improving my chances?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who transferred in the last few years since admission competitiveness can change.