Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Toronto (St. George)

Arfa (Year 4)

arfa.saif@mail.utoronto.ca

What did you wish you knew before going to your university? What made you choose this institution over all others? What are advantages and disadvantages of your institution or campus? List any advice for incoming first-year students about your university.

I chose UofT over other institutions because it is Canada' s most prestigious university and has received high rankings at a world-scale. The advantages of going to UofT is the competitive atmosphere really pushes you to give your best and learn to your full potential. The disadvantage of going to UofT is the marking is a little strict, and it can demotivate some students. Advice I would give to first-year students is to believe in yourself and your capabilities, and to stay strong.

What did you wish you knew before choosing your specific program? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your program? List any advice for incoming first-year students about your program of study.

Advantages of my program is the co-op opportunity allows you to gain industry experience while also being a student. Another advantage of the ECE program at UofT is the concepts learnt in class are applied to practicals and labs. This really helps to solidify your learning. One disadvantage is that the course workload is a little tough in the first two years of university.

What was your favourite university experience?

My best experience at university was working on design projects within my program of study. It really helped me to apply textbook knowledge to real life applications, and it really helped me to gain confidence in my engineering skills.

What was your least favourite university experience?

Not really a bad experience, but in third year, when I had back-to-back midterms, labs/practicals occurring every week for every course, and bi-weekly quizzes on top of that, it kind of got hectic, and it was kind of stressful.

What is the hardest part about your program and what were the steps that you took to overcome any difficulties?

The learning curve is very steep compared to high school. You will really need to be on top of your coursework. One tip is to get enough sleep and eat well, so you're ready to learn.

If you were able to take electives, what was your favourite elective? If you were not able to take electives, what was your favourite course and why?

My favourite course was ECE243 because this course covers the fundamentals of computer organization. The labs really test your understanding but a great learning experience overall.

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