Kinesiology and Physical Education at University of Toronto (St. George)
Luana (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.
I chose to attend the University of Toronto (st.george campus) because of the program. Some advantages are that it was close to home, and that way I lived at home and did not stay in residence. Also the campus is set in the heart of downtown, with amazing views and lots of facilities such as gyms, libraries and cafés. Some disadvantages are that it is a really big campus, and sometimes classes are on opposite ends of campus, so i made it late to classes sometimes.
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.
Honestly I love my program and I’m really glad to have chosen it. There really isn’t anything I would want to be changed. The advantages of my program are that it’s relatively small (about 250 students in each year) and there are many events like frosh and odp (outdoor project) where you get to meet your classmates and make lots of friends. Also, the majority of students have the same schedules due to the many mandatory KPE classes, so it’s great that you can attend class with your friends. My advice to future KPE students is to get involved, attend KPE events, and definitely go to each class! All the professors are experts in their field and they are passionate about the topics they are teaching you, making it a fun learning experience. Also attend office hours if they are offered! Remember everyone is nervous about starting university, but don’t hesitate to ask for advice from upper years, since they were in your shoes not long ago.
What was your favourite university experience?
My best experience at university was meeting some of my best friends at frosh. Also the frosh leaders were upper year students, and they really welcomed me to u of t, the kpe faculty and answered lots of my questions and worries.
What was your least favourite university experience?
My worst university experience was procrastinating typing a paper until the day it was due and rushing to hand it in on time. Needless to say, it was not my best work.
What is the hardest part about your program and what were the steps that you took to overcome any difficulties?
The hardest part of my program was not necessarily the content in courses, but rather trying to always be caught up in terms of studying, assignments and projects. It was easy to fall behind when you have a full course load (5 classes) each semester. Some difficult courses were ANA126 and KPE161. They both had a lot of material to memorize, so I found it helpful to review the material after getting home from class to not get behind. You can’t cram and leave everything left for the night before a midterm or exam!! Also use an agenda, and write out any due dates from the course syllabus at the start of the term! This way you won’t forget about an important due date and you can give yourself enough time to prepare or complete the task, whether it be typing an essay or studying for a midterm.
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?
My favourite course was elementary human anatomy (ANA126). Although it’s a full year mandatory course for kpe students, it was very interesting. There was a lot of memorization and studying needed but the professor always found ways to teach the content in a creative way. The labs were also an incredible way to apply what you just learned and see how these parts and systems work together in real life.
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