What You Were Unprepared For When Starting University?
March 15th, 2011 by Ally Jordan | Junior EditorThe transition from high school to university comes with a lot of “new” and with the “new” comes the unprepared: new school; new classes; new atmosphere; new friends; new experience. Many students had to leave the comfort of their home and part from their family and friends. The change requires adaptation and patience but it also requires optimism to learn how to do things on your own. Whether it was having to learn to do laundry for the first time, learning to cook on your own or figuring out how to decipher the University of Toronto map in order to find your classes, I’m sure there were many of you that found yourselves in a position of being unprepared.
We’re giving away a Sucker Punch movie swagbag that includes a pass for two to see an advance screening of the film on March 23rd. All you have to do is close your eyes and open your mind and tell blogUT what it was that you were unprepared for when you started university.
Comments will be accepted until March 19th 11:59pm. The winner will be announced shortly afterward. Only comments with a utoronto.ca email address will be considered.
March 16th, 2011 at 10:40 am
I was probably most unprepared for the freedom. I knew I’d be on my own but to actually experience it was way different. Everyonetells you the fun aide of being on your own. But you really do come into your own and grow up more in a few months thanyou have in the last four years. Even in third year I
Am always appreciative of my independence and my ability to constantly grow. Growing up I was very sheltered. Since coming to university I completely changed my major and now pursuing and even more exciting avenue in life!
March 16th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Coming from an alternative TDSB High School with a population of 500 students and where everyone knew each other, the transition was harsh. My first class POL108 – Global Politics had 1800 students alone, which made the situation of making friends even harsher. It is extremely important for first year students to come out of their shy shell and talk to random people, they are as scared and shy as you are. Other than, the students should participate in the Passport Program (I am not sure if it is still called that but four years ago that was its name), where you earn stamps for every activity you do. It is a fun and creative way to know more people.
If you are in social sciences or humanities, you’ll have to write a lot of essays. What we learn in English in high school is helpful but not necessarily the way essays are written in University. Talk to your Professor and visit the writitng centre prior to submitting your essay. This might seem waste of time for many, but I had to learn this the hard way. If you cannot talk to your Professor, talk to your TA, they are there to help you. Remember just because you did well in high school doesn’t mean that you’ll do equally well in University, keep that in mind and don’t get discouraged. Many do and suffer.
Lastly, there are many resources at the University, from accessiblity centre to career centre. Use them! This is coming from a fourth year student, who learned the hard way. First years have an advantage, they can seek mentorship from older students. If you are at Woodsworth, there is a program called First Year Mentorship Program (I may be getting the name wrong), where you will be assigned an older student mentor. It’s a one-on-one interaction and continues on for a year; sign up for it, the insights you’ll be provided with is going to make your university experience extremely richer.
Though, the professors take you as an adult and you think you’re on your own, you’re not. Take advantage of the facilities, organizations and programs provided at the university. This goes for any university or college, you’ll ever attend.
March 17th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
I was definitely unprepared for the number of students and at the effort one needed to make to establish a community. Having missed frosh week in my first year (but having been a frosh leader every year since), I started off with practically no friends, having to build them up as I went along. This resulted in a demoralizing first year, but from the second year onwards, things have been great!
March 17th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
I was most unprepared for the number of people I was going to meet. I come from Edmonton, and being a smaller city there weren’t too many different kinds of people. Coming to Toronto was an eye opener. I had no idea that there could be so many people in one place at one time listening to a lecture. My first class was a con hall class, and I can safely say that none of my friends back home encounter anything like to my BIO150 class. Outside of class, I had the craziest roommates anyone could ever have on res. Let’s just say my people skills have grown tremendously over the past 2 years.
March 19th, 2011 at 10:36 am
I was definitely unprepared for the effort required to attain good grades. Having done well in highschool with little to no effort, there was a huge jump in the expectations of professors at UTSC. It is important to communicate with profs and TAs about their expectations so that you are not hugely disappointed with your marks!
March 19th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
The Burger 5 paragraph essay outline which highschool teachers brainwashed us with will get your a C- in university :/ Highschool does not adequately prepare us for university level writing. One thing i learned is to throw out all the highschool writing rules out the window… (3 part thesis, one line thesis, burger structure)