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Hey everyone! We've moved our blog to a new location: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/student-blog. See you there!

Getting to Know Our Students: Samuel Lee

Hello friends! My name is Samuel Lee, and I'm very excited for all of you during this momentous time in your lives. I would like to share with you some facts about myself. I was born in Taiwan, but immigrated to Canada with my family when I was very young, so it's safe to say that I've lived in Canada most of my life. Luckily, my parents and grandparents always spoke to me in Mandarin, so I picked it up fairly quickly.

The majority of my interests have to do with film and design and traveling the world. I'm also a passionate foodie on the side, so I'm always on the search for different flavours to excite my taste buds! Let me know if you have any suggestions.

All jokes aside, I'm currently a second-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, in the Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (CCIT) program, and I'm currently working at the Office of Admissions & Recruitment, as well as the Office of Advancement.

Since I'm only a couple of steps ahead of you, I can still clearly remember my final high school days as if they were yesterday. I just began my second term of studies, which is a hectic time of year, as I start to get a grasp of what classes I'm enjoying so far this semester. At the end of the day, I believe that new experiences will always have new challenges that will continue to mold and train you physically and mentally for the better.

Since it's exam time for some of you, I would like to provide you with a couple of my own personal tips for success!

1. Your parents are always right. They don't wake up in the morning scheming to ruin your life.
2. Do not leave things until the last minute. Take responsibility of your life! If you don’t do it, who will?
3. Always ask questions.  But always use your ears to listen first.
4. Be the best YOU, that YOU can be. Life is short, be proud of who you are. You are unique, embrace it!
5. Think about others before yourself. Love and care is meant to be given, not to be kept a secret
6. Live life and try to master the points above!

Best of luck on your studies this semester! If you find yourself on campus, make sure to come by and say hi!

Your buddy,
Samuel Lee

Samuel is a second-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he studies Communication, Culture, Information and Technology.

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?

The end is near

Hey everyone!

The last week of class is finally over which means exams are slowly getting closer. Luckily we have a study break before the exam period to catch up and review everything! It is extremely tempting to close the books for now and not worry about them until the day before the exam, however to prepare yourself for success and prevent a mass amount of stress, it is in a UTM student’s best interest to start organizing and reviewing now.  For example, the way I like to use my study period is to set aside a few hours a day and take lots of breaks so I avoid cramming.  UTM also has numerous facilitated study sessions and groups which allow students to meet with other students in the same class and ask questions.  Also, making a schedule of the week will help you make time for friends, organizations you may be a part of, and breaks of course!

Something else to bear in mind is to be productive when you take breaks from studying. What I mean by that is, when you are not studying, be sure to finish everything that is not academic-related (i.e laundry, checking emails, calling your parents, etc.) during that time so you avoid procrastination. This is a skill I learned when I realized that the root cause of my procrastination was due to the fact that I could not focus on my academics because I was thinking about everything else I had to do.  I have three exams for this session, with my most challenging on the last day of the exam period, so I am fortunate enough to have an entire month to study.

At this time, there are other things to be thinking about besides studying.  This is the time to be applying for summer jobs and internships. A great resource that advertises all the available positions on campus and more is the Career Centre Website.

Additionally, many students are in the process of making the decision to live on campus or off-campus.  It is challenging when it comes to selecting who you would like to live with and where for next year. However, UTM Student Housing and Residence website can help with your decision-making with the 360 Rez Tour and the Places4Students link!

In summation, study and when you’re taking a break, why not search the web for summer jobs and a place to live? Seems like a smart idea to me! :)

Catch ya later,

Carla

Carla Correa is from Caledon, Ontario and is a a second 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.

How to procrastinate at U of T Mississauga

Salutations Reader,

My name is Jason and I am currently a third year student studying both psychology and biology. I’m here to discuss my student life, but before I go on I find it impossible to not bring up how nice your hair looks today. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way it’s time to get back to what’s really important: myself. So how has my student life been? What a great question to ask, as I’m sure it has been on the mind of many of you.  Truly it has been a busy time of year. There are tests to take, assignments to write, and soufflés to bake. So with all these academic-based things that I must complete by the end of the year, I naturally have spent most of my time this week procrastinating. Because of this, I have decided to dedicate this blog to show a prospective student how to procrastinate at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

The first step to procrastinating at UTM is finding the internet, which should be really easy since wireless internet is available all over campus. Once you have located yourself online you can now spend your hours watching hilarious videos of cats. Don’t enjoy cats? What about dogs? Really any animal doing cute things should keep you busy for a while. They even have a website dedicated to baby zoo animals called “zoo borns”, who could resist such a website?

Once you have grown tired of searching cute animals it is time to find a new activity to procrastinate with. I would suggest the campus student center. Here you can pick from a variety of activities - maybe going to the pub for a bite to eat, performing some break dancing (I’m really good at break dancing), or indulging in a sweet jam session (the UTM music club holds weekly electric/ acoustic jam sessions in the student center). These are all really cool ways to spend your time distracting your mind from that upcoming test that is happening this coming Friday.

Ok let’s recap our day of procrastination so far; first we surfed the campus wireless internet, then went for a bite to eat and finally we displayed our amazing guitar skills to the UTM music club. Now unfortunately it is that time of day where I realize that I really need to get work done. Procrastination is great, but it can only get you so far. So it is time to head to your favourite study spot on campus and get some work done. For me that place is the picnic tables located beside the Credit River - I know, very fancy and romantic. So now that you’re situated in the nice spring air with your laptop it’s time to get work done!

Jason Summers is a third 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.

Happy March Break!

Happy March Break Everyone!

I hope you are all taking some time to relax, catch up on sleep (or homework), or travel somewhere warm with your family (if that’s the case, I’m jealous!)

We just finished our Reading Week, which means we are officially half way done our second semester!  That also typically marks the end of major midterms, which means the beginning of PAPERS! I have realized that students usually fall into two categories – they either enjoy taking tests or they enjoy writing papers. I do not really enjoy taking tests, but for the most part I find writing papers much more enjoyable! At first, writing papers may seem a little bit intimidating, because they are quite different from papers in high school. In reality however, you will get used to writing them in no time and you may even start to enjoy it! If you do struggle however, not to worry, there are many services available through the library that can help you through the process.

Besides papers and outstanding assignments, March is usually the busiest month of the year with everything wrapping up before the final exam period. Besides school, there's also clubs, teams and student organizations coming to a close which means lots of events are happening all around. It is probably my most and least favourite month of the school year!

But enough about us here, back to you guys! I know my March Break in Grade 12 was spent touring the Universities that I had applied to with my Mom. I loved getting to see the different campuses and discovering what it was that I was looking for in a University environment. I found what I was looking for when I came to visit UTM. I got a chance to meet and talk to one of the first year Psychology professors, who was really easy to talk to (despite the fact that I was really nervous) and he gave me some great advice about where my degree in Psychology could lead me in the future. I loved how green the campus was and was happy to find that it was easy to navigate. I remember being so amazed when I saw the deer roaming around on the paths, and now I am so used to it! The student life fair allowed me to see all of the unique ways that I could get involved outside of the classroom. I also got the opportunity to take a tour of Residence and was really impressed with the single bedrooms, the friendly student staff of Dons and PALs (who reminded me a bit of my past camp days, which I loved) and the easily accessible food options. Looking back now, I am definitely pleased that I chose to come to UTM!

Have a great March break and hope to see you here at some point!

Madison Peters is a fourth year student working toward an Honours Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in Psychology and Criminology and a Minor in Sociology. She lives and works on residence as a Programming Assistant for one of the Community Development Coordinators. 

A jumble of thoughts

We’re nearing the end of the school year and all I can smell are days of summer!  Unfortunately April examinations stand between the students and freedom.  The examination period is one that is reoccurring, for ‘we have to fight [this] battle more than once to win it’.¹ You’re probably wondering why I cited a quote… well that’s because at the University of Toronto Mississauga you have to cite all work that you reference!  Haha! Seriously.  Plus I thought I’d brush up on my referencing skills, for essay due dates are approaching.

As deadlines become pressing and the end of the term and semester nears, I have hunkered down and am slowly progressing into hermit mode.  By Hermit mode I mean sit in the library and study!  Library hours during the exam period are 24/5, so it’ll be good knowing I can stay as late as I want to finish up my work.  With the added stress I have also tried to increase my visits to the RAWC gym here at UTM from 2 times a week to 3 times a week!  It can be stressful balancing your academic life and personal life but remember that university is a learning process. 

In my first year I found it extremely tough to see my friends and family, work, and do well in school –  all while balancing full course load.  However, after 3 years of practice I am happy to say I have an idea of how to do that now.  Joke!  It is important to set a schedule for yourself and try and abide by it, but most important is to know that your schedule can be turned upside down at any time.  Personal schedules should be flexible and realistic. Prioritize what is important to you and you’ll see that the hard work everyone is always talking about pays off when you put it toward your own interests.

I am currently focused most on school, family, friends, and health and juggling them can get tough.  Many students at university don’t take much care of themselves health wise – mentally or physically – but it is very important to do so because we put our bodies through so much stress. The reason I choose to stay physically active is because I love to eat junk and when I’m studying all I do is eat!  However, that balance must be maintained and so I play hockey and go to the gym and try and keep it routine. 

To end my jumble of thoughts, just remember to stay organized, prioritize, keep focused, and stay safe!  And remember to have your pets spayed or neutered.

Arvind Singh is a fourth year student working toward an Honours Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology and a Double Minor in Chemistry and Mathematics. He plays rugby and boxes. These days, you are most likely to find Arvind in the library.







Margaret Thatcher. BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc, 2012. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/margaretth127095.html, accessed March 2, 2012.

University Student Survival Kit

When students transition from high school or college into university, they often ask, “what’s the difference?” There’s a lot of change, but the biggest adjustment is always balancing the freedom with the responsibilities. The last thing you want is to show up to a class and everyone else is ready to write a test, and all you can think is, “what test?!” Keeping yourself on track with readings, assignments, tests, and appointments can be difficult, so I have devised a University Student Survival Kit! These are the things that I have found that I am lost without…

1. Student Agenda
   Luckily, you will not have to purchase one, as all Student Unions across the University of Toronto will supply you with one at the beginning of the school year.
   
   Students will organize their own in a multitude of ways, but I have found that if I write down my tests, assignments, and their % weight the moment I get my Syllabus on that first class of the semester then I don’t have to remind myself later on. It’s a good idea to colour-code as well, so my tests are always in red, gym classes in orange, work in green, etc. It’s a great idea to jot down the readings for your classes over the weekend to prepare yourself for the week ahead.
    
2. Writing Tools
   At the bare minimum, bring a pen to class. A back-up pen would be nice, especially on test days. There’s no reason to bring a giant pencil case, but one or two pens, pencils and highlighters should be more than enough.
   
   There will always be people in class who think you are a school supply store and that you will always have pen, pencil, extra piece of paper, etc. for them. If you bring just the one or two, then you don’t have any extras to give away and potentially lose!
   
   A clipboard with lined paper has been my choice for 5 years because it’s easier (and lighter) than carrying around multiple binders. Then, all you have to do is put the notes in your binders when you get home!
   
   FOR EXAMS: BRING 3 PENS, 3 PENCILS and a functioning eraser. It is AMAZING how many people forget to bring pencils to a multiple-choice exam and rush to the bookstore right before their exam. Rookie mistake…
    
3. To Laptop Or NOT To Laptop
   Laptops wind up being a huge distraction (what with Facebook, Pinterest, EBay, online games, etc.), so as a senior student, I would strongly suggest leaving your laptop at home, or at least in your bag during class. It is great practice to type up your hand-written notes after class as review. If you don’t feel like lugging a computer around all day, the library is stocked with many laptops you can borrow, and there are lots of desktop computers available.
    
4. USB Key
   If you don’t like the idea of carrying around a computer, this little technological piece of genius will save your tush! It’s a great idea to keep documents that you access frequently (like course syllabi, your resume and cover letter, assignments-in-progess, presentations, etc.) close at hand. It’s just another way to always be prepared and avoid disasters!
    
5. T-Card and Bus Pass
   Your T-Card is your Golden Ticket on campus. You’ll need it to get into the gym, take out or request books at the library, pay for printing, even purchase food on campus (if you load it up with a Meal Plan). Your T-Card is MANDATORY at exams as it acts as your identification, so don’t forget it!
   
   One of the great advantages of UTM is that the Bus Pass is hugely subsidized, so your busing fees are less than $100 for the academic year, and included in your Additional Fees. It’s so easy to hop on one of the many buses that come into campus.
   
   Let’s not forget our handy-dandy shuttle buses! The two shuttle buses bring you to Hart House on St. George campus or to Sheridan College, all with a simple scan of your T-card if you are a UTM student. Otherwise, shuttle bus tickets are $6 at the Student Centre.
    
6. Reusable Water Bottle
   UTM recently installed filtered water fountains all around campus, so you can grab some fresh, cold H20 on your way to class or gym! Having water in class is way more refreshing than coffee, and that way you don’t need to worry about coffee breath as you share some seriously insightful thoughts in class. The bookstore often sells reusable water bottles for really cheap during their “secret sales” as well, so pick one up, rep UofT, and get your 8 glasses a day!

Happy Reading Week, everyone!

  

Emily Johnston is a fifth year student in the Concurrent Teacher Education Program. She is working toward both a Bachelor of Education and an Honours Bachelor of Arts with a Double Major in Teaching and Learning French as a Second Language and English. She has loved her time at UTM for the small campus life and opportunities to get involved.

Planning, studying and having fun are possible!

-“Do you have your T-Card?”
-“Yup.”
-“Pens and pencils?”
-“Check.”
-“Did you shut off your phone?”
-“Oh no, I almost forgot!!”

These overheard conversations give a strong indication that midterms are finally here! Yup, no need for the fashion police because track pants, socks and sandals, no make-up, and pony tails are in style this week. It is that time of year where hygiene is lower on the priority list and stress levels are high. However, there is no need to worry because stress buster activities facilitated by the Health and Counselling Centre on campus give you the tools – and the free and delicious fruits and vegetables – to cope with the chaos.

I have to say I learned a whole lot the hard way in my first year of university. Realizing the day before your French test that grammar is much more complicated to understand than in high school is not a good feeling to experience! It was soon after I attended a residence life workshop about how to beat procrastination that I decided to invest in a calendar and create a study game plan.  These are two of the numerous simple and effective ways that help me balance studying, sleeping, and spending time with family and friends.

What I really want to emphasize is the importance of both studying hard and squeezing in time for your friends and family into your game plan. In hectic times like these, it is easy to forget to take breaks from studying and, for some of us, to take a shower!  Ensure that you occasionally put down those books and mark on your calendar a planned phone call to your mom, dad, brother, or sister, or maybe even watch an episode of the Big Bang Theory with some close friends in between studying.
Another bonus to using a calendar is the fact that it makes counting down the days until Reading Week so much easier. Giving yourself a visual representation of what your week/month looks like grants you the opportunity to set both short and long term attainable goals and it makes the rough times bearable. 


UTM students can feel stressed right now because some of us are wanting to go home to family, some are praying for snow and wanting to hit the ski slopes, and some of us have planned to hop on a plane to spend the week sleeping on a beach! University organizations and clubs also plan trips during the break for great prices such as the four day trip to Montreal happening this year.  How fantastic is that? Because, realistically, after all this stress with studying for these mid-terms, who really “reads” during reading week? Wait a minute, isn’t miserable March just after Reading Week? Maybe catching up on all those readings is a good idea! Mark that down on your calendar!

My message is this: have a strategy which includes studying efficiently with breaks and don’t forget to reward yourself for all that hard work!

Carla Correa is from Caledon, Ontario and is a a second 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.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

For university students, there are four seasons: Winter, Midterms, Reading Week, and Exams. And though it seems that happiness is not on the schedule, it will be after Midterms. Ah, February  –  the month of midterms. The academic peak in the life of a university student. A peak that might be climbed with impetuous cramming, insane and illegal levels of caffeine, and for some, frequent visits to the Dollar Store for packs of sticky notes. This is it people – February!  The hapless month for university students! Everybody knows that this is a month for academic doom, but have no fear there is a light at the end of every tunnel – READING WEEK.


Procrastination is a common problem amongst university students. The symptoms include random searches on Google, the inherent need to obtain really unnecessary information from Wikipedia, the undying urge to publicly address your procrastination on your Twitter, and lastly, the strange desire to watch fails of all sorts on Youtube. There is no natural remedy to procrastination and perhaps that is the reason as to why we university students have a hard time overcoming these habitual internet practices, but there is a way to divert yourself from this serious problem; ORGANIZATION, TIME-MANAGEMENT, and a little bit of SELF-DISCIPLINE, will be your tools of success for the rest of your life. 


That is why midterms don’t scare me as much as they did when I was in first year. University opened my eyes to the word “reinvention.” In high school, teachers reminded us when something was due. University, however, is quite a different story. It is your responsibility to know those important dates. Those dates will be your mantra for the rest of the semester. Well, you’re not totally left out on your own. The syllabus will be your best friend for the next four months (or eight for a full year course): use it wisely. With this simple document, I was able to create weekly schedules for readings, assignments and tests. This is what helped me fight off procrastination. I had to be willing to throw aside the unnecessary “breaks” that dictated my life and had to teach myself to stick to my schedule and finish the things that needed to be done. Other useful resources included The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, which provided me with some valuable tips for time management and effective studying methods. You can also take advantage of Office Hours, which is a great way to interact with your professors and get one-on-one advice or feedback about major assignments or tests. In university, it is not to up to the professors to tell you that you are doing something wrong and offer you some help. It’s up to you, the student, to take advantage of all those sources that can you give you the help you need to succeed. At UTM, there are a lot of places that you can get help from, even with little things like organization. It’s the key to help you get over the dread with midterms and it also becomes beneficial later on in the work place.


Even when organized, there will also be some stress! But don’t worry! UTM’s got your back with the Health and Counselling Center and its tips for overcoming stress during busy times like these. Or if you’d like, you could always visit the RAWC (our gym) to get some exercise to boost your energy levels and to get your mind off all those assignments. For every concern, UTM has a slew of solutions, but it is up to you to take advantage of them! After exploring all these opportunities, the midterm season doesn’t stress me out as much.


Before I know it, midterms will be over. But for now, I will be focusing my time with readings, perfecting essays, and studying for tests. Not to worry though, with the glimmering hope of reading week on my mind, a large cup of coffee in hand and instrumental music in the background…it will all be over soon.

Maria is a third-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?

A Day in Pictures

9 a.m. - Wake up.

10 a.m. - Snooze.

10:30 a.m. - Snooze.

10:47 a.m. - WHY DID I HIT SNOOZE, I HAVE A CLASS AT ELEVEN!!

10:56 a.m. - Luckily, at the University of Toronto Mississauga we have a small campus setting so even though I woke up late I still have time to practice my sweet parkour skills before arriving to class on time.

11:10 a.m. - Class begins.

12:00 noon - Mmm! Time to sample some of our fine campus eats for lunch.

12:30 p.m. - More parkour on the way to work!

1 p.m. - Flexible hours, nice coworkers, AND brownies?  Man, everything's coming up Jason.

4 p.m. - After work, I take a little time to wind down and woo fellow students with my sweet guitar skills. I don't even know how to play, I just sit down and hold it.

4:20 p.m. Tandem water gun fight with Principal Deep Saini. This may seem like a joke but seriously - our Principal is actually that easy to talk to. This is made even easier through residence programs such as "Faculty in Rez" where faculty members are brought directly to students living on campus.

4:50 p.m. - Parkour accident on the way to class.

5:00 p.m. - Luckily, we have awesome services such as the Health and Counselling Centre.

6:10 p.m. - Class again!

8:00 p.m. - "Studying."

9:12 p.m. - Actually studying! The problem with going to such a good institution with high-quality professors is that you actually have to work hard for your grades.

12:00 a.m. - Time to prepare for bed.

2:34 a.m. - Time for sleep.

Jason Summers is a third 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.