My experience as a romantic at the University of Toronto.
Choosing Uoft
I decided to attend the University of Toronto for two reasons: the first being the unique program of Book and Media Studies that can not be found elsewhere, and the second is because of the buildings themselves. Another campus like it you won’t find anywhere nearby. The gothic architecture and hallowed halls bring to mind images of fantastical dark academia novels, and the libraries are old enough to make you feel you could find a grimoire. Or maybe this is just the kind of thinking one employs when they read many of said novels.
The Early Years
As a fantasy and romance reader, I have found even in my programs (minoring in English & Art History), it is not without difficulty to find people who enjoy the same books as you. I chose my program in Book and Media Studies hoping to delve into a world where all kinds of books and media are appreciated, but when I started I found it was not the case. My first couple years at the University I felt a tad, let’s say, unrefined, compared to my peers. In tutorials and lectures when we were asked to mention a favourite book or other media we like, my answers were sometimes met with an upturned nose, and I wondered if this was the school, or the program, for me. Even TA’s and professors made a few general comments about the state of the book world that made me feel like my tastes were not developed enough for the courses I was taking. While this was specific to Book and Media/English, I’m sure many UofT students can relate to the feeling of being less than in their classes and tutorials.
The Middle ages
However, as time went on, I realized once you get passed a lot of the required survey courses, the topics you take courses for get a little nicher, and the classes more tapered to your interests. For example, in my first two years I took many courses that were about more of the history of the book, which is important but not as fun for me personally. Now, in my third year, I am taking Media and the Myths of Romance, Fantasy and Horror, and The Book Culture of the European Fairytale and Folktale. The courses are of great interest to me and make me hopeful for being able to study these deeper in the future. If you scroll the course catalogue for your majors later years, I am sure you will stumble upon a course that speaks to you specifically. There are many other kinds of courses surrounding more current types of books, such as The Digital Text, that you just have to wait until you’re through a year or two to take. In these courses I have found you may find people more similar in taste to you, as there are thousands of students at the University of Toronto, and a few are bound to be like minded.
The future
This is my personal experience in Book and Media as well as English, but I believe it would translate to other majors in different ways. Many majors have courses that count towards other majors, and so what you can study becomes quite diverse. Even the survey courses can help you gain insights into some of your favorite pieces of media. It can feel quite isolating on this old, important campus, where everyone seems to have studied every topic for many years before arriving on their first day. However I am a firm believer that there are a great many topics one can become an expert in, and they are all important. The longer you are here, the more likely you are to get experience in it, and the more time you have to meet similar people. Do not discount what you like or what you have to say, because I guarantee there are many courses and people waiting for your expertise!