Why should you apply to the University of Toronto Mississauga?

Smile! Wherever you may be reading this, smile! The days are beautiful, the nights are fresh and I hope what’s in between is amazingly wonderful!

Yasir here! I am writing to tell you more about myself and what compelled me to apply to and attend an amazing educational institution such as the University of Toronto in Mississauga. I would also like to provide you with a few pointers that may assist you in your decision making process, along with some motivational points here and there.

Before anything, let me introduce myself! I am currently a 2^nd year student, with a double major in Biology for Health Sciences and Chemistry, working towards an HBSc. I am also a part of the Residence Life Staff team as a Residence Don. My journey to UTM started a very long time ago. I was born in Iraq, raised in the United Arab Emirates, which is where I did most of my schooling, and I travelled to Canada last year as a first year student. For anyone who is making the transition from high school into the realm of higher education, It can at times be stressful, difficult, slow and even disheartening but at the University of Toronto, it was the complete opposite and for that I will forever be grateful!

Ever since I walked through these doors I was shown nothing but support, positivity and a pedestal for me to stand on to progress and become the person I would like to become. Something that I have always said is that, university gives you all the doors, but you need to be smart, and choose your own pathway. The University of Toronto in an inclusive, supportive, modern and effective environment for your skills and qualities to grow and thrive – this is one of the few characteristics that drew me to it. Let me explain further.

The whole feel of the university is something that I would not replace for anything. Towards the end of my high school years, I began to think of where I would like to do my higher education studies, and as a student looking for a reliable pathway to take up what do you look for? You aim for quality education; you aim for wonderful, credible and experienced faculty, great facilities and a program that captures your aim and desires. That is exactly what I found at the University of Toronto, which is why I chose it. The coziness of the campus which allows all of us through the years to form the biggest family that we ever had is another aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked, not to mention the academic ranking domestically and on an international level. U of T has it all.

Here is a wonderful quote, which I always live by;

"Teachers Open Doors, You Walk Yourself Through"

Whether your aims and desires drive you towards this wonderful place or not, always dream, always let your passions lead your path. Never get caught up in the result, breathe the journey and live in the moment. You can have anything you work hard towards – as cliché as that may sound, it is very much true. YOU CAN DO IT!

As for me personally, I am a student, a student of learning, a student of science, I can talk to you for hours about scientists, amazing experiments, theorems and equations! Due to this love, I can never pinpoint exactly what I aim to become in the next few years however I am fully aware that it is going to be something in the realm of scientific research whether it be geared towards a more chemical or biological theme.

There is no shame in not knowing, once you reach university you will see a whole new world of opportunity. A world so diverse and interesting that you wish you could do everything. That is the dilemma I am in, however, I know I will figure it out very soon and if you ever want to talk to a student who will ramble on about science then I am your man! Also, if anyone reading this wants to know more about transitioning from such a far place and how to adapt, or even about what it is like to live the university experience here or as a staff member of Residence Life, then again I am your man.

Finally, I would always cherish the choice I made in coming here, the friends I made, the relations I built and the connections that I have started make the experience as memorable as anything that has ever happened to me.

As you begin to make your own choices about post-secondary education, always remember the quote above; universities open doors, but we (me included) walk ourselves through.  Here is a door; walk through, you won’t regret it.

Yasir

Yasir is a second-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, working towards a Bachelors of Science with a double major in Biology for Health Sciences and Chemistry

Fall Campus Day

Happy autumn everyone! My name is Molly, and today I'm going to tell you all about our upcoming Fall Campus Day at University of Toronto Mississauga, so be sure to read on to get all the details on what Fall Campus Day is and how you can attend!

 First things first though, I will introduce myself! I am currently a third-year student specializing in Biology here at UTM and a Student Ambassador for UTM’s Office of Admissions and Recruitment. I was born and raised in British Columbia, but attended school in the US for many years before I found my home in Mississauga at UTM. So, if you’re a student in the US and are interested in attending school in Canada, you should definitely talk to me about it! 

School work is always a priority, but when I’m not studying, you’ll find me cooking up all sorts of things in the kitchen—most often, I’m trying to replicate my favorite Chinese dishes that my mom and grandma made for me when I was a child. I also like to reward myself after lots of studying with a trip to the mall! Right now, my efforts in school are split between getting good grades and figuring out what career path I want to follow. I still have a lot of thinking to do, but I do know that I am really interested in Genetics and may want to pursue Genetic Counseling after I graduate.

Just as many students spend a lot of time during university thinking about what they want to do after they graduate, you are probably spending a lot of time thinking about which school you should attend and whether or not you will like being there. That is why you should come to our Fall Campus Day on October 27! Fall Campus Day is an open house where you and your family and friends can come to the U of T Mississauga campus and get to know the school, the programs we offer, and receive more information on how to apply to UTM. 

This is a great opportunity for all prospective students because representatives from every academic department we have will be there, as well as our student services departments such as Admissions, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Residence, and much more. You will get the chance to talk to professors who are currently teaching courses at UTM and meet students who can share their experiences with you! If you have any questions about the application process during your visit, we can answer that as well! Our open house will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and we will be having sessions throughout the day for the different academic programs that you might be interested in. Be sure to register here http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/fall-campus-day so that we know you’re coming and make sure to read the webpage so you don’t miss out on any important details!

As a student who was in your shoes, I would definitely recommend that you attend our Fall Campus Day because it will give you an idea of the environment you will be in for the next couple of years. The most important thing about the school you choose for yourself is that YOU have to feel comfortable with it! By walking around our campus and talking to other students and staff that spend every day here at UTM, you’ll be able to get a feel of whether or not it’s the right school for you. We will also be offering tours all day, so be sure to join a session—you might even see me! Save the date: October 27, 2013, and I promise you won’t regret it!

I hope that I will be seeing you at our Fall Campus Day. Enjoy the rest of your year, and talk to you soon!

-Molly

Molly Wei is a third-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, working towards a Bachelors of Science with a specialist in Biology.

March Break!

Hello everyone! My name is Jason and I am a fourth year student currently completing a double major of Biology and Psychology. I hope to graduate this year (fingers crossed everybody) and after that, I have decided I’m going to try to grow up and get a real job. But I don’t really want to grow up that much, so currently I am applying for jobs within student life positions at universities and colleges. When I’m not studying hard or pretending to read my books I like to spend my time watching The Simpsons or playing guitar. I also sometimes try to play sports (I even was on the UTM Quidditch team for a brief period of time!).

But that’s enough about me. What I’d really like to talk about is our upcoming March Break events. What we're doing this year is something a little different, but still really cool. Instead of one big open house, we've decided to split the week into different subject areas. What this allows us to do is give you some more specific course information as well as a tour of our great university. If you’d like to learn more about this week, or sign up for a day (do it, please), I encourage you to visit this website http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/march-break. One question you may have is, “what if my section is full, did I miss out?” And my answer to that is, “No (name), I still encourage you to sign up for another time, even if it isn't in your program area”!

So with that being said, I hope you come to see our lovely campus! To be honest when I was first applying for universities I had no idea where I wanted to go, and my preference for the University of Toronto Mississauga didn't come until seeing the university for myself and realizing that it just felt right (also we have all single rooms on residence and I loved that). It sounds really cheesy and unscientific but trust me it’s the place to be (or don’t I’ll never know, but hopefully the former).

That’s all from me though! And if you are to visit and see a person with a name tag that says “Jason” please come and say "Hi!" Or give me a job, that’s cool too.

See you soon,

Jason

Student Ambassador, University of Toronto Mississauga 

Jason Summers is a fourth year student working toward an Honours Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in Biology and Psychology. He lives and works on residence as a Don and happens to be pretty good with a guitar.

Reading Week!

Hi there! My name is Molly Wei, and I am a second year student here at the University of Toronto Mississauga, working towards a Bachelors of Science Specializing in Biology.

Home for me has been many places over the years. I grew up in British Columbia, but I've attended schools in Richmond, Coquitlam, and Vancouver. Then, I moved all the way to the United States and lived in New Jersey until I came here to the beautiful city of Mississauga. However, I am pretty far away from home and I miss my parents and my little Pomeranian puppy so, so much. Thank goodness for reading week!

Reading week?! What’s reading week?

Here at UTM, reading week is a week during the middle of the winter term when students get a break from classes and can study for midterms but also take a breather. For me, this means that I either get to go home and visit my family or they can take a road trip to Mississauga and visit me!

A lot of students go on trips with their friends to give themselves a de-stressing break from the hard work they've been doing, and the UTM Student Union even plans a reading week trip to Montreal every year so that those who don’t have any plans have something fun to do! For most students, though (myself included!), reading week is like a gift of time for us to catch up on our studies and prepare for midterms and finals.

Wait…midterms?

Yes, yes, as University students, we all have to anticipate the dreaded time of midterms. However, as awful as the word “midterm” sounds, midterms are a great way of letting you know whether you’ve been keeping up with your classes or whether you will need to spend your reading week catching up.

A student catching up on his readings.

For reading week studying, I start my day off with a little bit of yoga to relax my body and open up my mind, and I make sure I eat a really big, yummy breakfast! Then, I have an extra burst of energy to get lots of work done.

For those courses that require hardcore memorization, I like to focus on one lecture or one chapter at a time, making logical connections between the points that I need to remember. That way, when you think of one point, you will automatically remember what comes after it or is connected to it. Making concept maps is one of the easiest ways to do this, and it forces you to actually read and know your material.

The most important thing, though, is to allow yourself to take breaks! Your brain can only take so much at once, and during reading week you can definitely afford to have a snack or even watch an episode of your favorite TV show before you continue. Studying can be really hard work, but it definitely pays off! I’m going to be rewarding myself at the end of reading week by taking a trip to Niagara Falls with my friends! What would you do during reading week?

Talk to you soon,
Molly :)

Explore Mississauga!

Hello prospective UTM students,

My name is Maria Christina and I’m a third year student here at the University of Toronto Mississauga. I’m pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Human Resources. The past three years at UTM have been some of my greatest. I've made wonderful friends, learned so many interesting things, and have thoroughly enjoyed living in Mississauga.

Our beautiful campus offers a wide variety of options for students, whether one is looking for study space, places to eat or merely a place to hang out with friends. It is important to remember the whole city of Mississauga is at your disposal too. If you ever want to escape the campus looking for adventure, I want to suggest a few cool places to check out.  Each of these places is within walking distance of the campus or can be reached easily by MiWay, Mississauga's transit system. Full-time undergraduate students receive a MiWay pass for unlimited travel during the term.

For you nature lovers out there, there is a beautiful park called Erindale Park, only 15 minutes from campus. It’s located at 1695 Dundas Street West, bordering the Credit River, and it's composed of over 200 acres of green space. The park is broken down into five picnic facilities with barbeques right there on site. It is composed of multiple walking trails and includes the David J. Culham Trail, a pathway system through a heavily-forested area that is excellent for hiking or even some bird watching. Whatever you’re interested in doing, Erindale Park is a great place to get away from the stress of school by enjoying the beauty of nature.

If nature isn't quite your thing, then a good place to head is Square One. Hop on the 110 bus, the university express, and within a few minutes you’ll arrive at the third largest mall in Canada! Here you will find a variety of stores that sell anything and everything that you may need while at school. Starting with school supplies in September to Christmas presents in December, Square One is where you should head. 

If shopping isn’t your thing, don’t dismiss Square One too quickly. Besides shops and kiosks, the mall is home to restaurants both within the mall and immediately outside of it. If you’re looking for Chinese food, burger joints, or even fine dining restaurants, this is where you can find whatever you`re in the mood for. 

After grabbing a bite to eat, head over to Playdium, a huge interactive arcade where you can enjoy a variety of classic arcade games, redemption games, batting cages, outdoor mini-golf and a go-kart track. Or, you can catch a movie at one of the movie theatres.

Although Mississauga is a large metropolitan area, if you’re craving the big lights and sounds of the city don’t underestimate the value of the free shuttle bus on campus as well as the proximity of subway stations via MiWay. Once downtown be sure to check out a student play at Hart House or catch a football game down at Varsity Stadium.

However you are interested in spending your free time while at UTM, Mississauga is a great city where you can explore your diverse interests, and maybe find some hidden talents. The city is at your fingertips, so be sure to explore it, because four years will fly by, and getting a good university education is about much more than what you will learn in the classroom.

I hope to see many of you next September. Until then, be safe and have fun!

Maria Christina 

Getting to Know Our Students: Carla Correa

My name is Carla Correa and I am currently a third year student in the Concurrent Teacher Education Program pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science double major in Exceptionality in Human Learning and Teaching and Learning French as a Second Language. Until my first year at UTM, I lived in Caledon, Ontario, for my entire life and I attended Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School.

I chose the University of Toronto Mississauga because not only does it have an incredible Concurrent Teacher Education Program (CTEP), but it is also a world-renowned University. UTM has a beautiful campus, an infectious positive vibe and a strong sense of community. All of that was just a short distance from home!

I have to admit, things have been busy from the start of the semester. There is no time to waste because there is so much to see and do on campus. This includes buying and reading books, studying for tests, completing assignments, and of course partaking in all the different on campus events, as well as joining clubs.

My personal goal is to try to participate in something new every year.  Last year, I was a Residence Don for first-years students, a member of the Japanese Society for Erindale students (JSES), and I became a Student Ambassador for the Admissions and Recruitment Team in the Office of Registrar. This year, I decided to join the Tri-campus Women’s Soccer team and become a volunteer with Community on Campus to assist individuals in the Mississauga community with an intellectual disability.

As a UTM student, sport teams are fantastic because you are given the option of joining Intramurals, Division 1, Tri-campus or Varsity teams. These options grant you the opportunity to pick the level of competition you are comfortable with and commitment you are willing to make. Furthermore, coaches are extremely flexible because they understand the busy life of a student and have the mentality that training comes second to academics.

As a Community on Campus volunteer, you can provide support to individuals with a disability for as little as an hour per week.  For those who have a passion for this field of work or those who are determined to contribute to our greater community in Mississauga, this is one of the many examples of the amazing opportunities to take advantage of on campus. Getting involved with UTM simultaneously assists in the development of the skills and experience you need for your resume and future career while building relationships that will last a lifetime.

Signing up for extracurricular activities has enriched my overall university experience. It is thanks to the distinguished and approachable faculty, the dedicated staff members, and my own peers that I feel a connection with my school that runs deep.  The community feeling I fell in love with has yet to fade away, and it is for that reason that I know that pursuing higher education here at UTM was by far the best decision I ever made.

Best of luck to all of you writing your second last set of high school exams :)
Keep working hard and don’t forget those profiles due Feb. 15th my CTEP friends!

Carla Correa

Carla Correa is from Caledon, Ontario and is a a third year student in the Concurrent Teacher Education Program. She's pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science, double majoring in Exceptionality in Human Learning and French Language Teaching and Learning and a minor in Biology. She's part of the Residence Life Staff as a Residence Don. She loves zip-lining and playing volleyball, basketball and soccer.

Welcome to 2013!

Eleven days into the New Year and the winter semester has begun! At this point of the year, students have begun the collection of their syllabi. Yes, the syllabus, the dogma of the university student’s existence. Here lie the scores of dates, assignments, midterms, and final exam.

Welcome everyone to the year 2013 – a new year and a new semester!

My name is Maria and I’m a fourth year student here at the University of Toronto Mississauga. I’m studying an English Major, French and History Minor. The end of this semester will mark the end of my academic career. Yes, graduation! Oh the feeling of almost being done is nerve-wracking and exciting! After university, I’m planning on attending teacher’s college and eventually become an elementary school teacher.  When I’m not doing homework and essays, I’m volunteering at Big Brothers and Big Sisters, reading books other than my assigned readings, and attempting to sketch.  You will always find me at home, because I’m a “home body’ and proud of it! I love spending time with family and friends, partaking in random excursions from cross border shopping to anything, really!

It’s my last semester, but graduation is not on my mind –I’m making sure that I stay focused on my classes and finish them with a bang! This term I’m continuing my year course, ENG322: Fiction up to 1832, and starting fresh with HIS306: The Cold War, FRE382: Advanced Language Practice III: Written, and ENG352: Canadian Drama. As you can tell, these classes do not have anything to do with each other, but nevertheless, I’m excited and prepared to be in them! These classes are the last of my program requirements, and yet, I’m still uneasy. This semester you’ll find me with my laptop always checking my student account to make sure that I’m taking all the right classes for my final year. Fortunately, the Office of the Registrar gives students two weeks to decide their fates each semester. If we make a mistake in choosing a course or if we want to take it the next year, we can always drop a course and get a full refund.  It gives us the opportunity to make sure that we made the right decision in taking that class, and I’m glad that we always have that option at the beginning of a new semester!

While it may be my last semester, it only seems like yesterday that I was applying to university. I was nervous and just as my obsession with checking my student account for graduation, I continuously checked my OUAC to see if there were any responses. Don’t worry if no one has responded yet, it’s normal for schools to respond around March or May. Just double check that you applied to the schools that you want to attend, because the deadline to apply is January 16^th! Finalize your decisions and just work hard to maintain your marks.  You’re almost done!

In preparation for your upcoming exams, my best studying tip for you would be to pretend to be teaching the class, explaining every bit of detail that your brain can handle. Not only will this help you for your exams, the information will stay in your head. Understanding the concepts is a key part for those dreaded exams!  Also, just make sure you make room for study breaks, because they will help you to better absorb the information that you’re studying. Maybe go on a little walk, have a snack, watch an episode or two of your favorite television show, or meditate. Trust me— it always works like a charm!

Wishing you all good luck on your exams and final assignments! Just stay organized and focused, and you’ll get through this and soon be on to bigger and better things!

Maria is a fourth-year English Major, French and History Minor student here at UTM. She grew up in Oakville, Ontario and went to St. Ignatius of Loyola. In her spare time she enjoys reading, writing, painting, drawing and volunteering. Why UofT? I chose this school because education has always been an important aspect of my life, and why not go to a school that's world renowned for their research and their exceptional education, right?