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Rotman Commerce at University of Toronto (St. George)
Francis (Year 2)
francischen47@gmail.com
What made you choose this institution over all others? Did the university exceed your expectations?
I wanted to be in downtown where I know I can find endless opportunities and resources to allow me to be successful in my university career. I know UofT provides students with world-class learning and will prepare me for the world of work when I graduate. The university has exceeded my expectations by providing amazing professors and extraordinary student experiences.
Do you have any lingering thoughts or regrets in your year as a whole (ex; application process, mistakes going into first year). If so, describe them.
I really wish I got more involved in extracurricular activities because I think it definitely would have made my first year better. I am learning from this mistake and I will definitely be joining clubs and going to more events in my second year.
Briefly describe the academic rigour of your program (in terms of competitiveness, courses, professors, etc.)
Course work can be quite hectic and stressful at times but if you work hard, you can excel. The course grading is very fair. The professors are very good at what they do and are always ready to help.
Describe the social life at your campus based on your own experiences (making friends, clubs + extracurriculars, party culture etc.)
The people at UofT are very friendly. At first I heard the students at UofT can be competitive and toxic, but from my experience that is totally not the case. It’s a very supportive environment where students are more than happy to help each other. I’ve made some really good friends that I know I can count on. There are so many clubs at UofT that you can explore and find what interests you. The parties at UofT are pretty good but don’t expect a party culture like Western or Queens.
What are some of the best and worst parts of your university experience so far?
The best part of my experience at UofT was meeting people because everyone is so friendly and approachable. The worst part was probably exam season and post exam stress. In my program I had to reach grade requirements for certain courses and it was quite stressful waiting for marks to come out. I remember constantly checking my phone to see if they posted the final marks yet. In the end everything turned out okay and I made all the grade requirements. Rotman Commerce says that 90% of students make it past first year so that should be a good sign that you will be fine.
List three effective study techniques and/or habits:
A planner is very good for organization
An iPad really helps in taking notes and you can have your textbooks online instead of carrying all those heavy textbooks
Studying at the library instead of at home or in your dorm makes sure you’re around less distractions and makes you more motivated
List three pieces of advice for first-year students:
Join clubs and extracurriculars
Don’t stress too much about academics because you want to have fun in your first year
Don’t procrastinate because you don’t want all your course work to pile up
Additional comments:
The change in lifestyle from high school to university is very big but there’s no need to be scared. As you transition to university it will soon become the new norm for you. UofT is an amazing school with endless amounts of resources. Make use of those resources and you will have a great university experience.
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