Creative Industries at University of Ryerson
Anonymous (Year 2)
What did you wish you knew before going to your university? What made you choose this institution over all others? What are advantages and disadvantages of your institution or campus? List any advice for incoming first-year students about your university.
One major reason to choose Ryerson over other schools was that other schools nearby didn't have another program that was similar to this one nor did it have the flexibility that this one has, plus there is also a mandatory internship so it guarantees that you would have had some hands-on experience when you graduate. Personally, I find that this program is similar to having two minors because the program requires you to choose two specializations from the list they have provided and they cover many of the creative fields such as film, music, interior design, graphic design (sort of), fashion and etc. So this flexibility really caught my attention. I also really liked the business aspect that is incorporated into this program which is great for entrepreneurs and also those who want to work for a company.
Since it is near Eaton Centre, the TTC is really close by and if you have classes in the TRSM building or at the Cineplex, you do not need to walk outside since the building is connected to Eaton. There's also a lot of places to eat so there will be plenty to do during breaks between classes. The campus is also a bit smaller compared to other schools so the Student Learning Centre is great to walk through to get to classes during the winter because it connects to a lot of the buildings or shortens the distance you have to walk outside in the snow. However, the smell of weed is very strong, especially in front of the Student Learning Centre.
What did you wish you knew before choosing your specific program? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your program? List any advice for incoming first-year students about your program of study.
This program consists of students that would be taking courses from many different faculties, especially in the courses that are not specific to Creative Industries, so you will meet many people from different programs and faculties. It is also great because when you do group work with classmates in the program, you will be working with people who might be into film or music or theatre. So projects can get really creative since there are people with different creative interests and skills.
I had talked to representatives during the University fair and asked all the questions I had, there was not anything that I would like to change. Since I did not expect the COVID-19 to happen, the things I might want to change was a result of that rather than just me not doing it in my first year but even then, I do not think the chances of me wanting to change would be very high.
But definitely do your research and email the advisors or staff if there are any questions or things that you would like to clarify. This program is more theoretical so a lot of the courses are theory-based. If you would like more hands-on courses, you'll have to ask students who have taken the courses to make sure.
What was your favourite university experience?
Going to events and clubs helped meeting new people easier. Joining different clubs or groups also helped with making my university life more fun compared to just going to classes and then going back home.
What was your least favourite university experience?
Commuting to and from school and the unexpected delays on the subway and bus, especially during the winter. It can take away a bit of time from finishing assignments and readings.
What is the hardest part about your program and what were the steps that you took to overcome any difficulties?
My first year actually was not that hard compared to high school. If you are used to joining many things and juggling many projects or activities, you would have no problem with the program. The hardest part would most likely be the fact that there might be a few creative projects you will be working on so it is very time consuming and you'll have to learn how to time management if you do not already know how to do that. There's also a lot of reading but if you read a bit everyday, it should be no problem.
If you were able to take electives, what was your favourite elective? If you were not able to take electives, what was your favourite course and why?
The course that I most liked that relates to my program would be Talent Management because the professors and the guest speakers shared interesting information and experiences about their jobs. However, because I like more hands-on courses, I liked Introduction to Chinese even more because it had a more practical use whereas you have to work as a talent manager to really gain the experiences and skills that will be useful.
Additional Comments
Make sure to take breaks since most or all of your courses are done online in the Fall semester because it can make doing work a lot more dreadful when you are constantly staring at your screen. Even if it was just a five minute break, just taking a short walk around your area can help clear your mind so it will be easier to continue working.