We’ve all heard the stories about freshman year. You’ve probably experienced some yourselves. But as a new student at the University of Toronto, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect: the rumors circulating my high school ranged from tame to downright terrifying. There were tales of evil professors that destroyed young dreams (and GPAs), and college registrars so vast and intimidating, that even most confident student would feel lost within their clutches. I didn’t quite buy any of that—at least not to that extent. But naturally, once I’d set my sights on U of T, I began to wonder exactly what I should expect from my new academic adventure.
As a native Torontonian, I spent the summer before my first year working, exploring my city, and mentally preparing for going back to school. I enrolled in the social sciences program, and I knew right off the bat that if I ever wanted to continue my studies in law school (which I do), I needed top-notch marks and academic references. At U of T, that’s a daunting concept—especially when you’re constantly told just how difficult it is to succeed. Yet I had turned down other offers, and chose my school specifically for the incredible academic and research opportunities. Admittedly, convenience was also a factor; it was pretty smart (practically and financially) to stay in the city where I’d grown up.
In any case, I’d long since established that U of T was for me. Regardless of what horror stories I’d heard, the studying and subsequent mental breakdowns could come later. I decided that instead of getting hung up on how difficult my year would be, I would try to focus on a more impending challenge.
Also known as Course Selection.
Aside from registration, the most important thing I had to deal with would be selecting my courses for freshman year. Unlike many other faculties, as a social science student, I had immense freedom of choice. All I really had to do was look out for prerequisites for my intended program of study (PoST); otherwise, I was able to enroll in whatever I wanted. Ironically, this actually made my course selection process much more difficult. Not only did I have to work out my timeslots into a proper schedule, but I also had to decide exactly what I wanted to study. Fortunately, social science students don’t have a lot of class hours, so I figured I’d be able to plan my schedule with a lot of breaks for studying (and maybe a little free time).
But course selection is stressful, especially for a frosh. I needed to do a lot of research to figure out exactly which courses were right for me. I did a lot of hunting: I talked to upperclassmen, perused the (multiple) U of T course finders, and even stooped so low as to check out RateMyProf to make my decisions. From the start, I’d wanted a balanced schedule: a mix of what was practical to take in my program, and some of my personal interests, or things I’ve always wanted to know about. Some of the classes I’m interested in (such as Ethics, Society, and Law) don’t actually have first-year prerequisites, certain courses might be good lead-ins to these subjects. I looked into courses like these, as well as ones that reflected my personal interests, like classics, languages, and literature. I also applied to several Foundational Year programs, small classes designed especially for first-year students, and enrolled in Woodsworth One course, entitled “Order and Disorder.” In the end, I selected the One program and its two co-requisites, a language course, and a couple of other courses that interested me.
Yet the worst was yet to come. There is nothing that can quite equal what U of T students go through every year with ROSI. The website was kind to me at first. I received an early start time, and was able to sign up for all my lectures. But then came August 8, when the priority for certain courses was removed… And all hell broke loose. Certain classes had been reserved for students in certain programs, but on this day (at 6 AM!), all courses were opened up for all Arts and Science students. ROSI turned into a course free-for-all, and an academic bloodbath. Repeatedly, as I tried to sign up for my last course, ROSI—who had been so kind earlier!—turned its cheek and laughed, refusing to let me log on. Alas, I was lucky, signing up for a course with plenty of space, and after slamming my password through time after time, I finally managed to sneak by within the first half hour. Unfortunately, others weren’t able to do so, and had to heavily revise their schedules in order to accommodate.
I emerged from my first-year course selection period unscathed, but somehow I have a suspicion that it’s only going to get more complicated. One of the things I learned right away about U of T is that nobody’s there to hold your hand. But there are countless resources out there, through the websites, college registrars, or even other students. You just have to learn how to look for them, and adapt. This is what I predict to be one of the most challenging transitions between high school and freshman year—perhaps the material will be more difficult, but it’s more about how learning is approached, and how self-disciplined and determined you have to be in order to get by.
Now that I have my timetable, my goal is to integrate this new style of scheduling into my everyday routine—including establishing certain periods for studying, and making sure I know exactly how to show up prepared to class. I know university is going to be tough (we’re certainly told this early on), but I’m willing to put in the work for a good education. A shout-out to all incoming frosh that have just gone through the same thing I have; hopefully you also got out of course selection unscathed. We’ve made it through the first step… Now we just have to make it through first year.
For more on the U of T freshman experience, check out the follow-up to this article, coming soon.
Photo Source
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