Here's what U of T is life, culture-wise

A rundown of U of T culture (or lack thereof), the college system, and faculties.

By Ted Fraser

A student's opinion of the University of Toronto is usually coloured by the most recent mark they've received. If they've landed an A, they'll sing the school’s praises, preaching about the virtues of competition, hard work, and adversity. They'll talk about how grand it is to live in Toronto - with a population so energetic and diverse - and how many cool bars, restaurants, and shops there are in the city.

But talk to a student who’s just been hit with a C, and they'll tell you how much they envy their friends at Queen’s, Western, Brock and beyond. They want parties and fun, relaxation and free time, professors they can talk to and friends nearby.

And who can blame them?

One of the only things uniting students at U of T is stress. The school doesn’t have a big sports team, a proper homecoming, annual traditions, or school spirit. We have exams and expectations and steep, sterile classrooms.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are pockets of fun and communities and culture to tap into at the school, you just have to investigate - starting with the faculties.

Engineering is known for its obnoxious Frosh Week antics: firing a cannon in the middle of the night (seriously), painting themselves purple, and engaging in strange, if not endearing, traditions. Architecture is a bunch of well-meaning hipsters drawn to VSCO, beanies, and design. Arts and Science, the largest cohort, is simply too big to have a coherent identity.

This is where the colleges come in: Innis, New, St. Mike’s, Trinity, University, Victoria, and Woodsworth. Think of them as provinces and U of T as a country.

Innis is known for its film program and its intimacy. New College is best known for being confused with Innis. St. Mike’s is the strictest, most old-fashioned college. Its meal hall is questionable and most students there can’t wait to escape.

Trinity is widely hailed as the “Slytherin” of U of T due to its WASP makeup, intimidating traditions, and prestige. Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Ignatieff, and Jim Balsillie are among Trinity’s alumni.

Victoria College has the prettiest campus and the best library. It houses Goldring Student Centre, the venue for NAMUN, and a host of other buildings, including Old Vic, the pseudo-castle in the centre of campus.

University College - the first openly “irreligious” college to be set-up - is the undisputed “party college” on campus, featuring hordes of excited frosh from the Greater Toronto Area.

Finally, Woodsworth has the sleekest, most grown-up residences, located at St. George and Bloor. Woodsworth is also the biggest college at U of T.

As you can see, there’s no common thread linking all of these colleges, faculties, and groups together. But perhaps it’s for the better; opportunity abounds at U of T, the school that’s as frenetic and varied as the city around it.

U of T is probably a lot like your school. At the risk of sounding too philosophical and pretentious, most of the things we tell ourselves about U of T applies to other schools, too. You probably don’t feel 100 per cent “connected” to everyone on campus. You definitely get stressed out over tests, exams, and graduate school applications. You have a strange, topsy-turvy relationship with your school. At one moment, you shell out money to buy a new school sweater and tell all your friends how “intellectually engaging” the material, professors, and students are. At another moment, you curse your university for, say, investing in fossil fuels, seeming distant and ivory-towery, or for refusing to boost your essay mark by 0.1% to move you up a grade.

So, don’t be intimidated by all the big buildings and chattering students. Take advantage of all NAMUN and Toronto have to offer and consider yourself an honorary ‘Varsity Blue’, at least for four days. By that point, the honeymoon phase will have ended, and you will be yearning for your own campus again.