Santiago is a mad city. At least, for me it is. Santiago’s total population stands at just under 7 million and that number is easily felt every day. From the claustrophobically packed subways, to the heavy smog, to the cars…
Category: Study
How Hard is First Year, Actually? Transitioning from High School to University
When I first started at U of T, I worried a lot about how hard university would actually be. For high school, I went to a public school with a strong academic reputation. Now that I’m in university, I study…
First year seminar- how it enhanced my university experience
I thought I had a clear idea of what courses I would take in my first year, but when I began researching, I encountered this thing called breadth requirements *shudders*. As a result, I frantically searched for courses that would…
Studying in a University Where I Know No One
When was the last time you went to a library by yourself? For some, that’s actually the best way to study. Personally, I like studying with my friends because we keep each other accountable to our study goals and deadlines.…
What I Wish I Knew About Textbooks Before University
We all know that the price of textbooks can add up. Here are some things I’ve learned after two years of university (and many textbooks later). 1. Know how you learn: Online textbooks tend to be cheaper, but if you…
My favourite study places
One of my favourite things about the St. George campus at U of T is the incredible architecture. No matter which part of the campus I’m at, I can always find a nice building nearby to settle down to complete…
Keeping my balance
We’ve all heard the saying “balance is key”, but recently I can’t stop thinking about what the key to balance could be. I hear things such as “work hard, play hard”, but don’t often unpack what it means. We probably…
The dreaded moment… course selection
I like to compare course selection to buying concert tickets: the number of seats available is scarce, everyone is trying to get the “best” times and dates, and there’s absolutely no time to think. After my experience with course selection…
My Homesickness Tricks
The biggest problem I faced in my first year of university was homesickness. I was already familiar with the feeling, having been to sleepover summer camp as a kid, but I still didn’t know how to make it go away.…
Note taking: handwritten vs typed notes
There’s nothing I love more than having aesthetic notes… or so I thought. For as long as I have been a student, I’ve always written my notes by hand; this didn’t change when I entered my first year at U…