Photo Credit: University of St. Michael’s College
A guide to taking the school year by storm
Rosie McDonald, Copy Editor
Making the most of your first year at the University of Toronto can be difficult. With the stress of attending a top-ranked school combined with the new environment, new people, and a vibrant city like Toronto, it can be difficult to know where to start. Rest assured that feeling overwhelmed is normal. However, there are many things you can do to take control of your first year at U of T and, more specifically, at St. Michael’s College. This guide provides some helpful advice on how to overcome those negative feelings and start enjoying your experience at your new (and spectacular) school.
Number one: Go to class.
One of the biggest changes you will encounter when transitioning from high school to university has to do with class attendance: it becomes optional. This means no calls home to your legal guardians and no late slips. For many first-year students (my first-year self included), this concept is intriguing… too intriguing. Although missing class is sometimes unavoidable, as in the case of a broken alarm clock, family emergency, appointments, and so on, missing class should never become a regular habit. It’s widely acknowledged that once you start, it’s hard to stop.
Attending class is the easiest way to study: sit there, listen, follow along, take notes, and maybe even participate if you’re so inclined. Before you know it, you’ve had a two-hour, structured study session. The same thing goes for your professor’s and TA’s office hours. Office hours are a great way to make an impression and have chats about the course content.
Attending class also has great social benefits. If you’re looking to make friends, attending class is a great way to get to know others with similar goals and interests. The key, though, is consistency. Show up as much as possible. Find some familiar faces, learn some names, and sit with the same group of people every time. This is how the ice truly gets broken and bonds are formed in a class setting.
Number two: Explore Toronto.
U of T has many attractive qualities, but one of its more substantial benefits is that it’s in Toronto. Toronto is filled with things for newcomers to see and do.
Just a short walk off St. Mike’s campus will bring you to the Royal Ontario Museum. The ROM is free on Tuesdays for post-secondary students, so be sure to check out all the museum has to offer, from dinosaur bones to baroque-era fashion and furniture.
If you’re one for art galleries rather than museums, the Art Gallery of Ontario offers a free annual pass for visitors 25 years old and younger. This pass gives you access to everything the AGO has to offer and can be renewed every year until you turn 26 years old.
A bit of a longer walk will take you to Yonge-Dundas Square, a great spot to shop, eat, and even see a movie. The Eaton Centre is an iconic Toronto mall, and the world food market is just across the street. If Yonge-Dundas isn’t quite your style, Queen Street West is a trendy place to shop, with hidden-gem thrift stores such as Black Market Vintage, and even name brands like Aritzia and Brandy Melville.
Exploring Toronto means exploring campus, too! U of T campus is a beautiful and historic place. Use it! Robarts Library may seem intimidating at first, but it is an incredible place to study, with 14 floors. Fun fact: U of T’s library system is ranked among the top three in North America. Who wouldn’t want to explore it?
Hart House is like a recreation centre that looks like a castle. It offers places to study, a library, a fitness centre and gymnasium that is free for U of T students, a chapel, and so much more. Hart House is great to explore, but is also very useful and convenient, especially to those living on the St. Mike’s campus.
Number three: Get involved!
If there’s one mistake you don’t want to make your first year, it should be avoiding clubs and teams. Avoiding clubs and teams your first year is very easy as you settle in and feel slightly out of place for a while. You’ll realize quickly, though, that we only have so much time during our undergrad to get involved. It’s best to start in your first year. Run for a position on your house’s residence council, attend the clubs fair, and apply and write for The Mike! You’re a valued member of the St. Mike’s community and your voice needs to be heard.
U of T is intimidating, exciting, stressful, and beautiful all at the same time. But there are many ways you can take your first year by the horns and show it who’s boss. These are just a few starting points. You’ll find your own footing and, when you do, you’ll see St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto as your new and beloved home!
