Build your own experience
University of Toronto is a big school. With over 400 recognized clubs and committees, a huge intramural sport program, course unions, theatre productions, over ten campus newspapers and magazines, and a variety of student unions — there are plenty of ways to get involved outside of the classroom.“Personally I spent my first year getting comfortable,” recollects fourth-year Art History Specialist, Alana Leprich, “…second year I tried a little bit of everything, and then in third year I started pursuing a more specific path.”
In first year, she got involved at St. Michael’s College as a member of her dorm’s residence council, and continued to dabble in an eclectic mixture of activities — joining the Hart House Jazz Ensemble as a bass player and executive member and contributing to The Varsity, University of Toronto’s official student newspaper. In her third year, she started working at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery as a gallery attendant, and is currently the Vice President of the Fine Art Student Union.
“U of T offers so many things, you really can make your experience anything you want it to be,” Alana advises, “...a competitive athlete, a musician, a filmmaker, social butterfly. I think it’s important to try a little bit of everything outside of the classroom, and to go after the cool things that you discover.”
Have you always dreamed of playing Quidditch? U of T’s got a team for that. Do you want to learn Argentine Tango? University of Toronto’s got a club for that. Do you want to race a solar car? Yep, U of T’s got that too.
Need some help getting started? Here are a few tips:
- Check out Ulife. The site has a searchable database through which you can find an overview of and contact information for all 400+ registered campus groups.
- Join Blueprint. Blueprint is a program open to all students (no matter what year you’re in) that encourages you to get involved with the university. Blueprint outlines a weekly guide for getting involved with different aspects of the university.
- Visit the Sussex Clubhouse. With over 50 student life organizations, it’s easy to wander into student organizations and meet people.
- Ask for advice from older students. Start with the Office of Student Life's student ambassadors. These five upper-year students have been there, and are on twitter to help answer any U of T related questions you might have!
- If the thought of getting involved on a university-wide level is daunting. there are always options through your faculty or college. Each faculty and college has its own set of clubs and organizations as well as its own student union. Sometimes it can be easier to get involved at a smaller level on campus, and being involved also makes you eligible for faculty or college-specific scholarships! It also helps to create a sense of community that can be hard to find at a large university.
