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First Year (Arts & Science): Making the Right Choices

That special time of year is just around the corner and for first-year students (and all other students, for that matter), it’s a pretty important time that always requires some planning. Yep, it’s course selection time.

Starting off, first year courses are pretty important. They may not be the most interesting, but we all have face the unbearable one day and first year can be exactly that. For your first year, just have an idea as to what general field you want to get into. For example: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, and so on. You’ve got to have a general idea because that determines what kind of courses you have to take to start working towards your Subject POSt/degree. Having to switch part-way through would be frustrating since you’ve already put in so much effort working towards your first choice. So choose wisely in order to avoid such a tragedy. And I mean that. Seriously.

You’ve also got to look into whether a slightly ‘harder’ version of a course is recommended or needed. What I mean by this is that there can be multiple courses that count towards the same thing. However, certain majors require/recommend one over the other. Let’s take Physics, for example. If you’re taking Physics in first year, you essentially have 2 choices: PHY131/PHY132 and PHY151/PHY152. Both are a set of 2 half-year courses. From what I know (don’t quote me on this), Physics programs recommend PHY151/PHY152 while other Science programs (excluding Computer Science) allow you to pick between either. So if you’re keen and into Physics and want to do a Science program, you can go ahead and pick PHY151/PHY152. The only downside, if it even is a downside, is that not a lot of people in the same program take the ‘higher’ and ‘harder’ (note the quotes = not literally) courses. PHY151 and PHY152 are ‘harder’ and more in-depth than PHY131 and PHy132. So yeah. That’s pretty much the main thing you have to watch out for. Usually, though, the majority of people are indecisive when it comes to what they want to do, so it’s nothing to get too uptight about. Just keep some ideas in the back of your head.

Lastly, even though it’s a minor thing, is deciding whether you want to do a specialist, major, or a minor. Specialists are more in-depth versions of majors. And minors are… well, you get the point. Of course, there are pros and cons for each one. In my opinion, majors are more flexible and allow you to do more than one thing. So, if you want to focus on two things, a double major might be best for you. Specialists are for people who are seriously interested in only one subject matter and want to take a lot of courses centered around just that discipline.

Hopefully this helps you out if you needed help on this whole course selection thing. If it did, I’m glad I could help. Until next time!

Click here to see this year’s course calendar.

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Green Literature – Reading About Sustainable Issues In Any Space

Walking into my first day of ENV100 I had no idea what to expect.  I thought the class was going to be about windmills, hydroponics, and other environmental technologies. I was sure wrong when the class turned out to be a lot of literature written 100 years ago from guys I had never heard of.

Before every class my friends and I would congregate.  We’d make fun of the required readings, which were about how beautiful the mountains were and how the trees would cry when they were cut down. It seemed humorous.

I didn’t realize until after how important environmental literature is in these times. It is a movement of authors, journalist, and bloggers like us who are trying to spread the word of our changing environment. It is a way for people to be informed of how damaging our everyday actions are.

Looking further into environmental literature I found that most newspapers now have a section on sustainability or environmental issues. I also found many websites whose main focus is on these same issues. I thought this was great.

The only issue with some literature is that a lot of people, including university students, find these articles long and tedious to read. But colourful pages with pictures and graphs seem to make the literature more interesting.

That is why I introduce to you GOOD magazine. This online media source does not talk about all the bad stuff you hear about on the daily news or read in local papers; ‘good’ is in its name. It is not all about the environment but most of the posts have some aspect of sustainability within them. It presents information in a colourful, pictograph, and fun manner.

Furthermore, GOOD magazine posts videos about these issues that are really informative, short and interesting. It is a perfect way to pass the time in a coffee shop, student lounge, or take a break from studying.

Everyone says that they want to do better for the environment – unless you’re a corporate monster cutting down the rainforest. There is no longer an excuse as to why one cannot be informed of issues ranging from alternative fuel use, environmental business or how to be a little more creative.

So next time you’re surfing the web, looking for something to read or watch, do a little GOOD for yourself and the earth, get informed.


http://www.good.is/

 

 

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Summerlicious!

(Pictured above, Mixed Berry Pavlova from Pangaea Restaurant – a dessert from their 2008 Summerlicious menu.)

Food is a passion of mine. Every time I see a restaurant that looks interesting, I note the location in my head so that I may visit it with some friends at a later date. As a result, a food festival like Summerlicious (and its winter counterpart, Winterlicious) is a godsend.

So what is Summerlicious?

Summerlicious is an event in which restaurants in Toronto (often high-end restaurants where bills would amount to $50+) offer a prix fixe menu for lunch and/or dinner. The restaurants usually offer 3 course meals ranging from $15 – $25 for lunch and $25 – $35 for dinner.

When does Summerlicious start and end?

Summerlicious starts on July 8th and ends on July 24th. However, restaurants are already taking reservations so make sure to call in early!

Which restaurants are participating in Summerlicious?

The full list of restaurants, along with their menus, can be found here. There is a wide variety of restaurants representing the diverse food cultures of the world.

Do I have to make a reservation?

Yes, you must make a reservation with the restaurant if you wish to dine. Also, make sure that you notify the restaurant as you make your reservation that you will be dining with their Summerlicious menu. Since reservations for participating restaurants began a few days ago, certain popular restaurants (such as Canoe) may already be fully booked for Summerlicious.

What if I’m a vegetarian?

Many participating restaurants offer vegetarian options and, after scouring a lot of menus, I can confirm that there are a few restaurants that offer vegan and gluten-free dishes on their menu.

Bon appetit!

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First Year: Residence Life

Residence life is one of the many things that can make your first year stand out from the rest. I mean, who doesn’t like meeting new people and making new friends that could still possibly be your friend in 10 or so years? Living in res really gave me good insight as to why many people consider the experience invaluable in the long run. Here are some tips for those of you going into res:

Don’t be afraid to meet new people. Strike up a conversation whenever you can. Try to make some good friends during frosh week and during the first week of classes and get to know what program everyone is in. Who knows? You might be in the same program and share similar interests! Things can easily start from sharing common interests or common backgrounds. I met many people who are in life science and who plan to take the same program as me. I still keep in touch with all of my res friends and I definitely think that my first year would have been significantly different had I not met them. If there’s a lesson to take away from this, it’s that friendships are all about making that first move and meeting new people, not just because you’re forced to, but because you want to.

Don’t be afraid of co-ed bathrooms. I’m being serious. If you don’t mind at all, you’re set. If you do, however, you might wanna get used to it soon because it’s another big part of res life. Not all of the residences are like this, but the one I was in (which was part of New College) had mostly co-ed floors. Honestly, I thought co-ed bathrooms were gonna be hard to get used to but I got used to it pretty quickly. I mean, no one really cares. Usually, when people go to the bathroom, their primary objective is to just do their business and leave. Nothing more. One more piece of advice – when using the showers, make sure you bring everything you need before you turn on the water. Seems trivial, right? Well, I thought so too until it happened to me. So yeah, heed this warning.

There’s also the constant partying, but that really depends on which residence you live in. Partying every night is definitely not good for you but, in moderation, it can be the best stress reliever! And the fact that you have other people to always hang out with makes it that much better. My room was right near the elevator, so I always heard people coming and going. While it can be distracting if you’re trying to (and just can’t) focus, it’s great if you need to take a break! (Overworking yourself is definitely something you don’t want to do since that only tires you out faster.) My neighbour who lived right across from me had a lot of parties and I would just pop by, chat with people, and chill every now and then when I couldn’t focus. I wasn’t going to get any work done with nothing coming into my head anyway, so why not relax and take a load off? And if, like me, you don’t drink, don’t worry – they aren’t gonna force you to do so.

Photo by ♥ღ~Jεnniε in ฬonԺεՐlanԺ~ღ♥

One last thing – I promise. My most important piece of advice is to KEEP YOUR ROOM CLEAN. It’s crucial that you do. First of all, it makes the cleaning peoples’ jobs a whole lot easier. They work tirelessly, so cut them some slack. Secondly, someone is bound to come and stop by your room during the year and you wanna be presentable. You wouldn’t wanna be like the guy that lived three rooms down from me. His room smelled absolutely horrible and was a mess. If you can tolerate a horrible smell, be my guest but, if you’re like me and most other people, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If I remember correctly, his room was the messiest on the entire floor and it took three people to clean and sanitize his room. If the door was open, everyone passing by could smell that atrocious stench. Finally, be organized in there. The last thing you want is to be scrambling for your lecture slides an hour before the lecture. Keep things neat and tidy and you just might make it to class early and get those good seats!

 

I hope this helps all of you living in res this year. If you have any comments or things you’d like to add, post a comment below.

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Tuesdays with Professor Wellman

Last week I marched from University College to Convocation Hall in my robes to end a chapter of my life and start a new one — the final mark of my time here at the University of Toronto. And so begins my wistful remembering…

The university has been the site of a mental battlefield like one I’ve never experienced before and though apprehensive at first, the intellectual challenge is something that I’ve come to embrace and truly cherish. And having a professor to guide me through this time has made all the difference…

One of the most fruitful experiences of my undergraduate studies has been working with and getting to know the great Professor Barry Wellman. I first took his course, SOC356: Technology and Society, in my third year. Throughout the year we analyzed how technology plays a role in our everyday lives in the way that we communicate with our family and friends, how it has the potential to create community and what community even means in a virtual context, how it perpetuates or breaks down social inequalities, and how it affects the broader political landscape. I’ve always had an interest in technology but I didn’t quite know how it fit with my PoliSci and Sociology major. It wasn’t until Professor Wellman’s class that I discovered just how beautifully and perfectly I could couple my interests like fingers interlaced. So for that alone I am thankful to him.

But Professor Wellman has done more than just open my eyes to the study of technology and society. I don’t quite remember how it happened exactly but we really got to know each other throughout that year and he continued to fuel my interest in the subject. He shared and continues to share news items, articles or upcoming events that I may be interested in and happily connects me with people who may help me in this journey of mine. No other professor has shown me such unabashed generosity and kindness and for that I am forever grateful. And I know that I’m not the only one he does this for. Many of my friends have taken his class as well and we’re all in agreement that Professor Wellman is one of the few professors on campus who actually takes the time to get to know your name and is genuinely interested in getting to know you.

Beyond his guidance though, Professor Wellman has been a source of support and friendship for me. He’s so incredibly easy to talk to and it is a joy just to hang out and, as he calls it, schmooze! He is honestly the coolest and most relevant professor I know, always in the loop and eager to learn what his students are up to. It’s easy to forget about time when you’re chatting with him…

With its massive size, U of T can be a cold and unfeeling place. You’re lucky if you have the opportunity to actually get to know one of your professors. You’re even luckier if that professor is Barry Wellman.

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry Adams

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Life Outside the Classroom: UTDinner

 

Post written by Kamil Amir.

There is no better way to experience another culture than through its food. Food embodies all the best that a culture has to offer while appealing to the five senses and touching the heart in the most profound way. Nothing portrays goodwill and harmony better than the image of people from various cultures sitting together sharing and a meal, laughing and rejoicing in a celebration of understanding.

With that in mind, the University of Toronto Dinner Club (UTDinner) was created.

Imagine a book club, but more delicious.

The main goal of the club is to celebrate the University of Toronto’s cultural diversity by sharing various recipes and cooking styles from around the world. So far, UTDinner has organized cooking sessions featuring Malaysian, Kazakh, Japanese, Polish, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Turkish, Russian, Bosnian, French, Macedonian, Bangladeshi and Senegalese cuisines. The next event, planned for June 17, will feature Lithuanian food (see below for information).

At the meetings, members learn to cook dishes from around the world. These cooking lessons are taught by UTDinner members or special guests. Everyone then sits down together to enjoy the food. Yummy!

However, the benefits of the club go beyond the delicious food – UTDinner provides a great opportunity to make friends and learn about other cultures.

To learn more about UTDinner and their events, email or check out http://utdinner.herobo.com/. Your taste buds will dance with excitement!

 

Lithuanian Cooking Event

June 17, 2011 at 5PM (Location TBA)

A student of Lithuanian heritage will share her grandmother’s recipes.

Starters: Saltibarsciai (Cold Beet Soup) & Kugelis (Potato Pie)

Main: Cepelinai

Price: $10

Email to RSVP.

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The Willcocks Pedestrian Zone – Voice Your Opinion and Possibly Win a $20 Gift Card

http://spacingtoronto.ca/2010/10/19/14956/

What are your thoughts on the Willcocks Street pilot pedestrian zone?

The City of Toronto wants to know.

Complete a survey on the Willcocks Street pedestrian zone and enter your name for a chance to win one of five $20 gift cards redeemable at stores in the Eaton Centre and other shopping malls. It takes less than 5 minutes.

Head on over to http://tinyurl.com/UofTSurvey4 to voice your opinion. The City is listening!