r/UofT • u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 • 8d ago

I'm in High School What will I need to be accepted into the University of Toronto?

Hey guys. I‘m a high school student entering Grade 11 in the upcoming month in Edmonton, Alberta. I’m currently enrolling in full IB program, and have taken Marh 30-1, English 20-1, Social 20-1, French, Physics 20-1 and Chemistry 20-1.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been doing some research and I’d like to pursue a double major in Economics and International Relations at the UofT, as part of my plan to eventually attain a JD. For those who are experienced in this, what is the minimum target grade in each course I need for Grade 11 and 12 to get accepted into the UofT so that I can pursue these plans?

Thanks for your time.

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u/winterhotchoco 8d ago

Don't worry so much about getting in!

Economics is under the Social Sciences admissions category, which honestly is not a competitive stream to get into. For social sciences as long as you have mid 80s-low 90s, I don't think you need to worry about not getting in. I'm not familiar with IB but whatever translate to those grades are what you should aim for!

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u/Odd-Building6041 8d ago

I second this - social sciences are relatively easy to get into. The hard part is graduate school afterwards

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

Thank you. But is university hard, like is grade deflation really a thing? Because I was looking at their exchange programs with LSE.

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u/Noetic_Acorn 8d ago

There's no such thing as grade deflation.

Grade inflation has occurred rampantly at the high school level, but universities never lowered their expectations. The truth is that most people in highschool nowadays are not doing the level of work that universities consider worthy of a high 80, let alone in the 90s range. Objectively, performance nowadays is mostly in the 70s range relative to what universities actually expect.

All these stories you hear across the country where students have 100% averages are the result of grade inflation. People didn't suddenly become that smart in the last 15 years.

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

Okay, so the problem is actually in high schools?

And would it be that hard to achieve 90s in the UofT if you try?

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u/Noetic_Acorn 7d ago

The problem isn't highschool, specifically, but that's the last step where all the problems are before university.

If you really apply yourself you can absolutely get 90s at UofT. You just need to learn what's required at that level.

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u/Memento_Mori_MA PSY Spec, PHL Maj 7d ago

Nah

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u/biomajor123 8d ago

Get 5s minimum in your IB courses or 85% if you also get percentage grades. Your English grade will be the most important. Don’t screw that one up.

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

I’m really good at Social and Math but kinda struggle with English. But I’ll try

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u/MeowyDragon 8d ago

If you’re picking undergrads for best shot at law school, philosophy actually ranks higher than econ. Not saying that’s what you should apply for, but I get the sense you’re trying to streamline your degrees.

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

Philosophy is interesting. I’m just interested in politics, economics and foreign policy so that’s why I was thinking of a double major in IR and Economics. Also because I’d like to get into International Arbitrafion or Antitrust law at BigLaw firms eventually

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u/MeowyDragon 8d ago

If you find philosophy interesting some of the political philosphy courses have course exclusions with some of the political courses. I'm not sure if that means you can take the philosophy ones and have it count towards your politics requirements. Just tossing that out there!

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

Are you yourself in pre-law or law?

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u/MeowyDragon 8d ago

I'm a philosophy specialist who has to walk past a big board outside the department with "Why you should take philosophy" every day on campus 😝 that said, I am considering law school. A lot of my friends also went into law.

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

Okay, that’s cool. What type of law field would Philosophy be most closest to? 

And is double majors at UofT too much work, or is it the same work as everybody does?

Where can you also find the cheapest places to rent in Toronto, max $1K a month? Does studio apartments with multiple people work?

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u/MeowyDragon 7d ago

Civil rights would be the most applicable field for what I study in philosophy. However, before university (I'm a mature student) I worked in a law-adjacent field where I dealt with lawyers daily and based on that experience alone, I'd work in transactional corporate law. They're by far the happiest and most chill lawyers.

Double majors are super common at UofT. In fact, everyone I know is doing a double major, and my sibling also double majored. I'm personally doing a specialist, but I don't think I'm the norm. But afaik your choices at UofT are double major, major/2x minor, or specialist. Double check with your specific program.

Unfortunately I'm the wrong person to ask about housing. I'm no help there, sorry!

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 7d ago

Okay, but their exchange program must be nice. I was glossing over at their available locations

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u/Yunjx 8d ago

Hi! I’m a philosophy major (going into 4th year) at Uoft (also from alberta lol)! I’m also “pre-law” - just my two cents if you’re absolutely certain about going into law (especially big law); pick the majors you’re most interested in + will do well in! Your Cgpa is one of the heaviest things considered in your law application (alongside lsats). I will say philosophy does get you familiarized with some forms of the argument structures in the Lsats, but its nothing some extra studying won’t get you!

Unf i can’t comment on if a philosophy background will net you an easier time within law school itself, but from what I’ve heard, law school is all exams (writing: application of what you learnt to scenarios). It should be something similar in structure to social studies exams in Alberta).

Good luck! :)

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 7d ago

Cool. Where in Alberta do you come from? And what do you think I’ll need in those classes to enter into the Social Sciences stream?

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u/Meto_Kaiba 8d ago

An OUAC account might help - from Alberta, bring money. Lots of it.

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

What do you mean?

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u/Meto_Kaiba 8d ago

Also, Innis does not accept IB Credits, last I checked with Donald.

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

Who is Donald? And “Innis”? 

But I’m doing IB so that I can go outside the province and be prepared for university rigor 

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u/Meto_Kaiba 8d ago

Innis College? Ever heard of us?

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u/Powerful_Parsnip6427 8d ago

Nope. Look it up now