Has anyone here completed a CRI395 Independent Study?

I'm planning to do a CRI395 Independent Study this upcoming academic year for the fall term. I've already developed my research topic and research question, completed a preliminary proposal, and found a professor who is willing to supervise the project.

I'm hoping to hear from anyone who has completed CRI395 (or another independent study course at U of T) about what the experience was actually like.

A few questions I have are:

• Is the course mostly self-paced, or are there regular deadlines and milestones throughout the semester?
• How often did you meet with your supervisor? Was it weekly, monthly, or only when needed?
• How much guidance did your supervisor provide versus how much was expected to be done independently?
• Were there any required presentations, progress reports, or other assignments besides the final research paper?
• Approximately how long was your final paper, and how extensive was the research expected to be?
• How manageable was the workload alongside your other courses?
• Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known before starting your independent study?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience—both the positives and the challenges. I'm excited about the opportunity to conduct independent research, but since this is my first time doing a course like this, I'd love to get a better idea of what to expect. Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!