UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCES
Community on Campus
While your choice of university probably relied largely on the academic side of things, something that I’m sure you’ve all considered as well is the sense of community and what kind of environment you’d be exposed to in this next exciting chapter of your lives. Community was definitely the final factor in my decision!
Well, if you’re interested in learning more about the community at your school of choice or would like to know more about these different schools before applying, this blog from our University Experiences series is for you! This series will be featuring some students’ thoughts and experiences regarding aspects of the university that they attend, and what they learned in their first year. Specifically, words from students from the University of Toronto, the University of Windsor, the University of Western Ontario, and McMaster University, will be highlighted in this blog.
Throughout this blog, we’ll be exploring the responses of university students who answered this particular question: “What is one word to describe the community at your school?”
University of Windsor
Word to describe the community: Diverse
While a smaller university, the community is often described as a fairly diverse place for both students and professors. The student-focused school claims to have some of the most diverse professors in Canada, allowing its students to be exposed to a variety of experiences and education while they’re there.
Despite being a smaller school, the university offers a multitude of graduate and undergraduate programs — they even have a law and medical school! In addition, with its smaller population, professor-student relations are often highlighted in the success of its students.
University of Toronto Mississauga
Word to describe the community: Tough
From a UTM student herself, it can be confirmed that the community of UTM is pretty academic-focused. It can be difficult learning to navigate the tough academic expectations being a first-year student, but definitely not impossible! If choosing between the different campuses, UTM is definitely the choice for nature lovers. As opposed to being in a busy city, the UTM campus is much quieter and slower-paced, surrounded by beautiful wildlife!
Being a smaller campus in a diverse city, this serves as a benefit for smaller classes and better professor-student relationships. It also makes it easier to make friends coming in as a first-year student.
University of Toronto St. George
Word to describe the community: Passionate
Located in the exciting city of Toronto full of hard-working dreamers, passionate is definitely a word that can be used to describe the UofT community! Compared to UTM, UofT St. George is as you would expect downtown Toronto to be — loud, busy, energetic, and exciting.
It’s definitely a much faster-paced school with a larger population of students. Instead of being surrounded by wildlife, you’ll be among some of the most beautiful modern architecture and ambitious people in the world! Like in every major city, UofT is full of unique students, each passionate about different dreams that they want to make happen.
University of Western Ontario
Word to describe the community: Inclusivity
Being one of the bigger schools in Canada, a student has confirmed that the community at Western University can be quite inclusive. If you’re scared about going into your first year, don’t worry! Imagine how many others are feeling the same way.
Western University does an awesome job of easing that nervousness that first years experience by being super welcoming and offering a variety of resources. This includes events like orientation week, and programs like Community Connections, Living-Learning Communities, and even mentorships from upper-year students!
McMaster University
Word to describe the community: Supportive
Now onto a personal favourite of mine (as an incoming student) — the supportive, diverse, and academic school of McMaster University! The McMaster campus is said to be an incredibly inviting place where incoming first years will find no problems making friends. The friendly environment at McMaster makes it easy to have amazing, supportive relationships with others in the same program, the same dorm, the same club, etc. Students are eager to help each other out and upper-years are happy to help/offer some advice!
In addition, it’s been said that the faculty/professors at McMaster University are quite supportive — offering many students a variety of research opportunities and advice, and making sure they feel welcomed and comfortable in the classroom. So, if you’re like me, a student who’s not only looking for a school with a great science and research background but also a supportive community of both students and faculty, McMaster is for you!
About the Author:
Jenny Pham is an incoming McMaster Life Sci student based in the small but large city of Mississauga, Ontario (and soon, Hamilton!). She is currently working as a Math & English tutor, a volunteer with Peel Health at a long-term care center, a passionate MEDLIFE chapter founder and President, and an amateur writer looking to combine her passions for medicine and writing. Like many others around her, she’s a second-generation immigrant working towards a career in medicine and education, looking to continue advocating for underprivileged communities as a physician, through research, and education. You can connect with her on LinkedIn!
