Comments on: Debunking university myths https://mediumutm.ca/features/debunking-university-myths The Voice of the University of Toronto Mississauga Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Natasha https://mediumutm.ca/features/debunking-university-myths/comment-page-1#comment-446 Natasha Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:31:00 +0000 https://mediumutm.ca/?p=4917#comment-446 Not sure which year Ms. Johnson is in, but I'm in fourth year, just thought I'd add my 2 cents :) “You’re all alone” - you're not, I promise. don't be afraid to talk to strangers and get involved and you will never be alone. - if you really feel alone and depressed, talk to someone. The health & counselling centre is amazing and offers free counselling... it can really help and of course it's completely anonymous. “Professors are unapproachable and don’t have time for your whining” - This can be true. Some profs are TOTAL douchebags and seem to hate their jobs. SOME. Most of us will come across an a-hole, unapproachable prof, but you can't take it to heart. At the end of the day, you get to go home being you and he/she will go home being his/her miserable self. - There are also some very INCREDIBLE, passionate professors that love to teach and are very open to helping you, if you reach out to them. - My best advice is that you have to give every professor the benefit of the doubt and don't judge them too quickly. Don't be intimidated to approach anyone... if they hate their job, it's on them, not you. “Study, sleep, party—pick two” - I can't lie, in my four years, I've found this somewhat accurate. Finding balance in university is VERY tough. It takes some sacrifice and a LOT of discipline. - If you have a crazy social life, you're going to be tired a lot, and obviously your grades will suffer. - If you're constantly studying and doing nothing else but sleeping, you will actually go crazy - Also, be careful with jobs.. it's good to work through university, but make sure you aren't taking on too many hours per week. - Overall, I agree with Ms. Johnson, it's definitely a warning. Find a balance, create a routine, stick to it... you will be fine :) “It’s all in the textbook” - This is definitely on a course to course basis. I have classes where it's true, and I've had classes that don't even use the textbooks. - Personally, I don't even buy the textbook until I've been to the first lecture because profs will usually be very honest if you ask them about how useful it will be. - The library has "course reserves", you can always rent out your textbook for a couple hours if you'll only be needing it for an assignment or two. “Get in the fast lane and never switch” - The SAME thing happened to me as Ms. Johnson. I changed my program completely over the summer in my first year after I fell in love with an elective. - So what if it delays your graduation? Why are you in a rush? You have your whole life ahead of you and the last thing you want down the line is regrets about your undergrad choices. It's better to make the switch now, than to have to come back 5, 10, 15 years from now. - Take advantage of the Credit/No Credit option and explore some different fields.. I wish we had that back in my first year! - If you find a program you're more passionate about than your own, you will be much more successful at it and even your grades will go up because you'll WANT to be in class and getting the work done. Great article, you're so right!! I wish all of you current and prospective students the best of luck in your academic careers :) Not sure which year Ms. Johnson is in, but I’m in fourth year, just thought I’d add my 2 cents :)

“You’re all alone”
- you’re not, I promise. don’t be afraid to talk to strangers and get involved and you will never be alone.
- if you really feel alone and depressed, talk to someone. The health & counselling centre is amazing and offers free counselling… it can really help and of course it’s completely anonymous.

“Professors are unapproachable and don’t have time for your whining”
- This can be true. Some profs are TOTAL douchebags and seem to hate their jobs. SOME. Most of us will come across an a-hole, unapproachable prof, but you can’t take it to heart. At the end of the day, you get to go home being you and he/she will go home being his/her miserable self.
- There are also some very INCREDIBLE, passionate professors that love to teach and are very open to helping you, if you reach out to them.
- My best advice is that you have to give every professor the benefit of the doubt and don’t judge them too quickly. Don’t be intimidated to approach anyone… if they hate their job, it’s on them, not you.

“Study, sleep, party—pick two”
- I can’t lie, in my four years, I’ve found this somewhat accurate. Finding balance in university is VERY tough. It takes some sacrifice and a LOT of discipline.
- If you have a crazy social life, you’re going to be tired a lot, and obviously your grades will suffer.
- If you’re constantly studying and doing nothing else but sleeping, you will actually go crazy
- Also, be careful with jobs.. it’s good to work through university, but make sure you aren’t taking on too many hours per week.
- Overall, I agree with Ms. Johnson, it’s definitely a warning. Find a balance, create a routine, stick to it… you will be fine :)

“It’s all in the textbook”
- This is definitely on a course to course basis. I have classes where it’s true, and I’ve had classes that don’t even use the textbooks.
- Personally, I don’t even buy the textbook until I’ve been to the first lecture because profs will usually be very honest if you ask them about how useful it will be.
- The library has “course reserves”, you can always rent out your textbook for a couple hours if you’ll only be needing it for an assignment or two.

“Get in the fast lane and never switch”
- The SAME thing happened to me as Ms. Johnson. I changed my program completely over the summer in my first year after I fell in love with an elective.
- So what if it delays your graduation? Why are you in a rush? You have your whole life ahead of you and the last thing you want down the line is regrets about your undergrad choices. It’s better to make the switch now, than to have to come back 5, 10, 15 years from now.
- Take advantage of the Credit/No Credit option and explore some different fields.. I wish we had that back in my first year!
- If you find a program you’re more passionate about than your own, you will be much more successful at it and even your grades will go up because you’ll WANT to be in class and getting the work done.

Great article, you’re so right!!

I wish all of you current and prospective students the best of luck in your academic careers :)

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