Coming into university, I thought I had it all figured out. As a child of immigrants, that was the norm. My parents instilled in me the importance of planning ahead as a way to limit the chance of mistakes and setbacks occurring, so I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to study, the courses, post-grad plans, etc. But, my first year experience was an awakening that let me know I knew very little of who I really was and what I wanted to do. Put simply, I lacked the tools and knowledge to make well-informed decisions, which led to multiple mistakes.
Because I know there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to navigating POST (program of study selection), for this blog, I have decided to call on some friends in different programs and faculties to provide some advice on what they wish they knew before choosing their respective programs and courses, so that maybe you can feel a bit more equipped than I did to make your own decisions.
Muzna
“If I could go back to my first year of undergrad, I would choose a program with a practicum, co-op, or research opportunity to gain hands-on experience and apply classroom learning to real-world settings. This would strengthen my resume and better prepare me for the job market. I would also advise seeking out experiential learning opportunities. In my fourth year, I was fortunate to discover an international course connected to my program, which allowed me to travel to Athens, Greece. Through this experience, I built lasting connections, met new people at U of T, and gained valuable hands-on practice in Global Health.”
Mahmoud
"Looking back, I really wish I had spoken to an academic advisor much earlier and taken the time to plan my courses in detail. Understanding prerequisites, how certain classes are sequenced, and when they’re offered, especially in terms of start and end times, would have helped me avoid a lot of unnecessary stress and last-minute scrambling. On top of that, I also wish I had thought more carefully about how the workload of each course would fit with my own learning style and personal life. Instead of choosing classes based on what sounded impressive or what others were doing, it would have made a huge difference to focus on subjects that genuinely interested me. That kind of alignment would’ve helped me stay motivated, balanced, and more confident throughout my studies."
Lola
"I think it's very important to think long-term before locking in a program. Ask yourself: 'What do grads from this field typically do? Will I need more school to get where I want to be? Will I enjoy this path in five years?' Choose a major that aligns with both your goals and your happiness."
Rosie
"Cliché, but pay attention in lectures! This helps you figure out if you genuinely like a subject (and as a result, if you should take similar courses in the future). Also, don’t be afraid to try different things! You’re only going to be in undergrad once (hopefully), and there really is a limited amount of time for you to explore courses and fields. Take advantage of it, pick courses you’re interested in, not just ones you think might look good on your resume. I feel like that’s one I kind of struggled with as a first/second year, picking courses in upper year to specialize in, because I kept picking courses that would help me get a minor that 'looks good' on the resume, despite my not being super interested in their actual content."
Nolan
"I wish I had gotten involved with other Global Health students a bit earlier at U of T. It wasn’t until my third year, through GloHSA and the international course module, that I formed a really great network of Global Health students. I also wish I knew that there are opportunities to go abroad and 'do' global health work at U of T! The HMB323 ICM was a highlight of my global health studies at U of T."
Demi
"I wish I knew that there were different deadlines for applying for POST. I didn't know there were different dates which would've been nice to let my friends know who didn't make POST the first time."
Mesai
"One thing I wish I had known about earlier is the Degree Explorer. I feel it is a highly underrated tool offered by the University of Toronto. It allows students to plan out all their potential degrees of interest. Especially for those in Life Sciences, where there are numerous majors, minors, and specialisations available, this tool is incredibly helpful. It enabled me to effectively plan not only my degree path, but also select courses that best aligned with my schedule."
Sharanya
For course selection, try to find previous syllabi for the course to have a better understanding of what the course entails, both content-wise and evaluation-wise. Many syllabi include weekly plans, which can provide a better understanding of the course material. For both programs, I would recommend talking to people! Try and connect with peers who have taken courses you are interested in or are in programs you like, so you can learn from their experience and make an informed decision.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, if you’re unsure about your path, one thing that has helped me is not seeing it as a weakness but more as an opportunity. I think it is so important that we give ourselves room to explore, make mistakes, and learn what truly fits.
– Bolu 🫶🏾