Ting-Yi Chang
Specialist: International Development Studies Co-op (Arts)
Major: Economics of Management Studies
Minor: Media Studies
What factors contributed to you choosing your program(s)?
I chose the co-op specialist program of International Development Studies (IDS) at UTSC because it offers students the opportunity to complete an 8-12 month work placement overseas in a Global South country. For me, it is not even a rare chance in a lifetime but also a fantastic learning opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge in the books to actual actions and experience on the ground. I am currently completing my 11 month placement in India and I can testify that it is indeed an exciting, self-exploring, and extremely valuable learning experience. On the other hand, I chose to add a major in Economics after the completion of my first year in IDS. While many Arts students consider taking Economics courses in the mathematical approach (instead of theoretical) is a heavy burden, I see it as a great blessing to advance my logical thinking and quantitative data analysis skills, alongside with the qualitative, anthropological focus that the IDS community emphasizes. In my opinion, it is an important balance to find. To make the combination even more colourful, I also chose Media Studies as my minor since I have always been fascinated by the media theories how they shape our society and reality. It was not until later that I realised this minor helps me see IDS issues like "free knowledge and development", "information and technology for development", and "the portrait of an Global South image" with a totally new lens.
Can you describe your program(s)? What is it actually like?
(I am focusing on the IDS Specialist co-op program in this question) IDS co-op program is a really close-knit community, or more accurately, family. In the IDS co-op program, we are not only classmates who sit together in lectures, but also friends who help each other through the challenging placement preparation, and sisters and brothers who you Skype and share your struggles and laughters with when we are all in different places. Faculty members in the program are also extremely supportive and multi-disciplinary. That's a great thing about being an IDS student - no matter what your passion is, usually there will be a way to link it to development and most possibly there is a faculty member who can be your best friend and tutor on your journey to explore all possibilities. The curriculum of IDS co-op can be quite theoretical in the first two years in my opinion, but it will definitely enrich you with the necessary critical thinking skills, broad knowledge, and creativity that will eventually become part of you.
What tips/advice can you provide to students just starting or considering this program(s)?
- If you are an IDS (co-op) student, I strongly recommend that you explore your passion and field of interest in development as early as possible. The broadness of development studies can be a blessing but a weakness at the same time. It is best to find a direction that you are most interested in about development (ex. Environment and development, political conflicts in development, development history in Canada's First Nations, anything!). Thinking about this early also helped me plan out my courses in the four years well in advance so that I am not stressed about missing credits or delaying my graduation when there are three programs on my plate.
- Although IDS co-op program (or even exchange programs at UofT) provide the chance for you to go abroad, you don't need to be abroad to make your university life colourful and meaningful. Before my placement in India, I tried volunteering for child literacy, helping out a mental health awareness project, organizing a conference for my program, and even playing Quidditch! There are so many things to do on campus (all three campuses if you want more!). Each of these experiences contributes to my well-being, interpersonal skills, and shapes whom I am today. I would not be able to do what I am doing today without all the learning and training in each of these activities. I guess what I am saying is, have fun, meet people, and discover hobbies in your university years!
What will you do with your degree after graduation? (Future plans?)
With my interest in the media aspect of development and my current work placement that focuses on the internet and social issues in India, I think I will consider a post graduate degree in information, internet study, or something related. Many people think that graduating from a development studies program means working in an NGO or the government as a social worker for a lifetime, but that is far from the truth. There is so much to explore during your 5 (or 4) years in the program and every year people discover routes that no one has tried before. I will say, no matter if my future career or study will be development-related or not, this program has taught me many valuable lessons and skills that I can always apply to different fields.
What has your academic journey during your time been like as you progress toward graduation?
In first year I tried to complete most of my breadth requirement credits and it was through this year that I found my passion in Media Studies (which later became my minor) and also decided to take on Economics as my major outside of IDS co-op Specialist. For me, first year courses are generally not difficult even though the hours spent on classes may be more than what you will get in the following years. I also used my first year to try out many interesting student clubs and extracurricular activities. As an international student who came to Canada all alone, I found this really helpful in building my confidence in socializing with people. Second year curriculum is honestly not too hard either but some more efforts and time are definitely needed. I think the biggest trap is that after first year I thought that I knew how to juggle between courses and social life, but soon it was clear that nothing is as easy as it seems. This was also the year that I started taking up more leadership positions in my extracurricular activities and even a part time job. I learned it the hard way to say "No" to some extra responsibilities, as well as, to not compare myself with my peers to stress myself out - after all, we are all going towards different directions (this will become even more clear in third year). During the summers (in 1st and 2nd year) and in my second year I also took courses downtown for Economics and French. There are so many rumours that the courses offered in the downtown campus are much harder, which I'd say is just a myth. If you think it is hard, it would seem hard anyway. If you just try your best, there's not much difference in the mark you'll get or in the performance of students between the two campuses. In my third year classes became a lot smaller and the topic more narrow and practical. In my opinion, it is the best because you can focus on the topics you are passionate about and become close friends with the professors. Third year is also a crucial time for IDS co-op students to apply for jobs overseas. I was lucky enough to have set up my mind and built a network with my soon-to-be research supervisor quite early, so the application process was pretty smooth for me but the situation can differ from person to person. Right now, I am in my fourth year in India, I am not taking any courses but am preparing for my thesis in the fifth year. One year overseas sounds (and IS) fascinating but at the same time I learned that I have to be more self-motivated when there's no hard deadline or assignments to push me. At this moment, I am collecting data for my chosen research topic and will be writing my thesis on it once I come back for my fifth year.
Shubhani Jindal
Majors: Economics for Management and Statistics
What factors contributed to you choosing your program(s)?
Personal interest and future job prospects were factors in my program choice.
Can you describe your program(s)? What is it actually like?
The statistics program is quite rigorous. You definitely need to keep up with the material week to week as this is the only way to get through the courses. The professors also make sure of this by keeping weekly assignments/quizzes as part of the grade evaluation. Expect to have a very busy weekly schedule in terms of hand-ins and deadlines. But also keep in mind that this format of assessment also means that by the time finals are here, you're ready for them and not trying to cram 3 months’ worth of material in one night.
What tips/advice can you provide to students just starting or considering this program(s)?
- Time management is extremely important. Sometimes you might have something due every single day of the week or even more than one thing due on the same day (when I talk about things being due, I'm talking about quizzes/assignments/etc.). So it becomes really important that you make sure you're prioritizing your work with respect to when its due.
- Being organized is key to winning at anything but it’s especially important here because there are so many dates and so many tutorials that you need to keep up with, it's very easy to get things mixed up.
- Help is always available and you'll never know unless you ask. Don't be shy to ask your professors/TAs or any other resources for help. At the end of the day it’s your education.
What will you do with your degree after graduation? (Future plans?)
Statistics is a very fast growing field today. It is required in every industry and this means opportunities are endless. I want to go into risk assurance/consulting as these fields incorporate things I've learnt from both, my economics and statistics majors.
What has your academic journey during your time been like as you progress toward graduation?
I'm currently in my 4th year. I started out as a Pre-Management student. In pre-management, I took a lot of economics courses. This made me realize my love for economics. So I decided to pick a second major instead of getting into management. I picked Sociology, which was something I found interesting at first but after a couple of semesters I realized I didn't really have the inclination towards it. Then I started looking into Statistics and the more I looked into it the more I wondered why I hadn't considered it before. I've been in the Statistics major for a year now and I couldn't love it more (despite the hectic schedule). At the end of the day your major is completely dependent on wherever your interests lie. So don't pick something just because it will increase your opportunities. Make sure that the opportunities that your major opens up for you are actually opportunities that you like and that inspire your drive for success.
Ashwini Paradkar
Specialist: New Media Studies
Minors: Economics and Psychology
What factors contributed to you choosing your program(s)?
I consider myself to be a people's person and I absolutely love the idea of a career that involves bringing out my creative side while interacting with the people around me. I chose the New Media program so that I can use these attributes of mine as well as acquire a whole new skill-set that'll help me venture into the world of Mass Media.
Can you describe your program(s)? What is it actually like?
As the name suggests, this program is a relatively new field and the only way to really capture the essence of it is through a practical approach. This program involves taking classes at Centennial College for one of the years which is where you get the most of the hands-on experience. You get to work with Cameras (and additional equipment) for some projects and they also teach you the fundamentals of digital communication (html, Java script) which I believe is a very important tool, today. Most of the grading is based on projects rather than exams and the projects could be either in groups or individually-based. I've just start my year at Centennial and although it's been just three weeks, I've already developed a great understanding of the media industry!
What tips/advice can you provide to students just starting or considering this program(s)?
The pre-requisites for this program are usually more theoretical and textbook based as opposed to the practical work done later at Centennial. So, my only advice to all the young and budding media enthusiasts is to not be discouraged by the earlier courses and to look forward to the program. If you truly want to work in the media industry, this is a great opportunity for you!
What will you do with your degree after graduation? (Future plans?)
I plan to continue my education further and do my Masters in either 3-D modeling or digress a little into Marketing/Advertising.
What has your academic journey during your time been like as you progress toward graduation?
I'm currently in my third year which also happens to be my year at Centennial College. I took a lot of electives during my first two years since I was still a bit confused as to what I wanted to do. With that being said, there were obviously courses that I disliked and courses that I liked. Most of the courses that I liked happened to be pre-requisites of either New Media, Psychology or Economics which led me to decide my major and minors.
Qinwen (Wendy) Wang
Majors: Economics for Management Studies & City Studies Co-op
What factors contributed to you choosing your program(s)?
Prior to entering the university, I research various Arts programs at UTSC. The Social Science and Humanity field I was enrolled in gather many Interdisciplinary programs, including City Studies, Economics for Management Studies, Geography, and Political Science. Our society is constantly reshaping and is a fascinating play between many facets such as tradition/culture, technology/media, and socioeconomics. When looking through the syllabus on the website, I found that each section that Major City Studies needs to complete contains courses in different disciplines, such as Introduction to Anthropology, Introduction to Sociology, and Women Studies. These courses play a complementary role, allowing me to learn broadly in many subjects. Combined with the suggestions of my mentors, I finally chose a double major in Co-op City Studies and Economics, which are more practical and closer to life. Focusing on the two programs, I can further develop an understanding of social operations, interactions and their effects on our culture and daily life.
Can you describe your program(s)? What is it actually like?
In the first-year study at UTSC, you will learn some basic theoretical knowledge related to the programs you are going to pursue. For the City Studies programs, I learned the origin and development history of Canadian cities, the pedigree of Western urban theory, and the perspectives of various disciplines of urban studies, and analyzed the various levels of the city and the various problems that exist from the A level course. For B/C/D level courses, the program provides students with courses on different topics of urban development based on their interests, such as Community Development Planning, City Politics, Urban Social Policy, and Economy of Cities. Various Assignments and Tutorial Discussions help you understand the significance of urban scientific planning and the urban issues that need to be solved. You can simultaneously foster logic and critical thinking. For economics, you will learn the introduction to basic calculus, microeconomics, and macroeconomics in your first-year study. Professor explains the economic theories from the micro and macro perspectives and analyzes the behavior of individuals and governments to help inspire our thinking and recognition of principles. B/C/D-level courses allow us to have a more in-depth study of economic fields, such as Industrial Organization, Economics of healthcare, Money, and banking. Moreover, the Co-op program provides a good platform for students to apply the knowledge they have learned in the field to practical work. As a member of this program, I learned how to write a resume and cover letter and gained a lot of interview skills. I took advantage of my professional hard and soft skills, including critical and innovative thinking I cultivated at UTSC and applied them to workplace challenges. On the CSM platform, we can look for job opportunities in different fields, such as government agencies, banks, and companies. The co-op program shaped my recognition of the relationship between work and laid the foundation for the prospects of graduates that I am most interested in.
What tips/advice can you provide to students just starting or considering this program(s)?
1）Use your spare time to enrich your personal experience. As one of the academically advanced universities in Canada, UTSC focuses on the comprehensive development of students. UTSC offers many professional-related clubs, volunteer activities, and work-study positions to help integrate extracurricular activities into your study. At UTSC, you have the opportunity to associate your chosen interests with programs, peer mentor seminars, and work positions, which is a good process of turning your passion into something useful. You can use the campus website to find more information about those activities. Participating in extracurricular activities is an excellent way to get to know your peers, well-known professors, and elites in different fields. Making full use of the resources on campus can help you have more precious opportunities and become better in your field.
2) Allocate and manage your time. For Art programs, such as City studies, hundreds of pages of reading and several short essays are the norm for weekly study. It is important to arrange your time and course load in advance. I usually mark significant events on the calendar and make weekly to-do lists. They help me allocate the time better and be flexible with the schedule, avoiding feeling pressure, urgency, and confusion with many deadlines. Moreover, preparing a long-term plan according to your interests and goals makes you more organized and easier to manage. I believe you will be outstanding if you can focus on your study with a wonderful cGPA and enrich your personal experience by participating in campus clubs and volunteer works.
What will you do with your degree after graduation? (Future plans?)
After graduating, I will apply for master’s degree programs in related majors (Urban planning or Economics) and conduct further in-depth study and research based on university knowledge. Currently, the two major programs I am studying provided me with many wonderful work opportunities. I will continue to explore my favorite fields and positions through my next eight-month coop. It is significant to maintain the original intention, study hard based on interest, and believe that you will definitely create outstanding achievements in the field!
What has your academic journey during your time been like as you progress toward graduation?
In the first year of study, I focused on the basic knowledge and theories of City Studies and Economics. I used various study resources, such as the FSG study group and the Writing Centre provided by the campus. The first year is also a good time for you to build your network, social relationships with peers and professors, explore various campus resources at UTSC and look for interesting clubs, sports activities, and other extracurricular activities, such as orientation, and campus events. These activities help you smoothly transit from high school to the university. In the second year, students have the opportunity to choose courses on different topics according to their interests and explore more details in the field in more depth. In addition, you can apply for volunteer works and work-study positions to enrich your personal experience. The third year is when you continue to learn the knowledge of the field. The academic record of the third-year study plays a critical role in acting as a reference for your applications for the master’s degree. You need to build a relationship with your professors/TA as well. Professors have many unique resources that are related to your programs and you may get the valuable opportunity to participate in different researches with them.