ESEC 2024 Speaker Raffaello D’Andrea and his audience [Source]
What is ESEC?
The Engineering Science Education Conference (ESEC) is an EngSci student-run, EngSci-exclusive annual conference held every January, mandatory for Year 1 and 2 EngSci students and optional for Years 3 and 4. The goal of ESEC is for you to expand your horizons to the many opportunities open to you with an EngSci degree. You’ll hear firsthand from professionals from a very wide range of career paths broadly related to the EngSci majors who will share insights about their professional and personal lives post-graduation.
Details for ESEC 2025 will be posted in the Fall.You can view all the details of ESEC 2024 here. Since this year is ESEC’s 20th anniversary, keep an eye out for special surprises!
In the past, we have had highly accomplished speakers like Donna Strickland (recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics), Anna Goldenberg (AI Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Chair and Senior Scientist in the Genetics and Genome Biology program at SickKids Research Institute), Geoffrey Hinton (Vector Institute, U of T), and Raffaello D’Andrea (EngSci ECE 9T1, co-founder of Amazon Robotics and founder of Verity, as well as a professor at ETH Zurich).
On top of attending remarkable talks, EngSci students are given the unique opportunity to chat one-on-one with the speakers and ask them personalized questions in informal settings. The first of these opportunities is fireside chats, which happen the night before the conference. The second opportunity, Lunch & Learn, occurs in the middle of conference day.
ILead ESEC Prep Workshop
If you have never attended a professional conference before or need some guidance on interacting with senior professionals, you can register for the ESEC Prep Workshop organized by ILead, specifically for Year 1 and 2 EngSci students. By attending the workshop, you can learn:
Strategies for networking in a professional setting (with speakers, faculty, and fellow classmates)
Networking skills, approaches, & mindsets
How to prepare for a networking situation
The art of asking good professional questions
Keep an eye out for registration information on ESEC’s website and Instagram page (@esecuoft) once details for ESEC 2025 are posted this fall.
ESEC Student Executive Team
ESEC is run in part by upper-year EngScis, for younger EngScis! This student executive team works hard to find speakers for the conference and bring students’ perspectives to ESEC’s planning. Your ESEC 2025 student executive team is:
Kevin Wang, Co-Chair | EngSci 2T6 ECE
Yijie Wang, Co-Chair | EngSci 2T6 Robotics
Amyna Ismail, Operations Director | EngSci 2T7
Riann Po, Communications Director | EngSci 2T6 Aerospace
Work experience is integral to a complete engineering education. As a student in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (FASE), you will be required to complete 600 work hours to be eligible for graduation as per the Practical Experience Requirement.
The FASE’s Professional Experience Year (PEY) Co-op program can help you achieve your Practical Experience Requirement through a 12–16-month PEY Co-op work term after 3rd year and an optional 12–16-week Summer Co-op Work Term after 2nd year. Outside of the PEY Co-op program, you can also do 4 month “external” summer internships that will not count towards degree credit. PEY work terms and external internships are paid, professional, learning-oriented work experiences for students. They provide hands-on experience and skills specific to the student’s desired field.
PEY Co-op students working in the Intel Lab, at the Intel, Toronto office [Source]
Through work experiences, you can earn a competitive salary, gain real-world industry experience at top companies before even graduating, develop practical skills related to your field of study and career goals, and place yourself at an advantage for return offers or higher salaries after graduation!
How EngSci Prepares you for Internships
EngSci’s specialized majors and coursework let you learn advanced, discipline-specific concepts that give you a foundation for internships. Simultaneously, the multidisciplinary curriculum exposes you to many different fields, giving you a broader perspective and skillset; this can allow you to work in a variety of industries/roles. The advanced coursework also means that your labs and assignments (in addition to your theoretical knowledge) are also more advanced. Building strong practical skills are essential for getting and succeeding in internships.
ESC180/190 and CIV102, unlike their Core 8 counterparts, involve major projects (difficult programming projects in ESC180/190, and an engineering design project in CIV102). A lot of your upper-year courses will be project-based. These projects will provide you with invaluable practical experience that you can discuss on your resume and cover letters.
The expectations in Praxis II are very high – higher than most first-year engineering design courses outside of EngSci – but this leads to very cool projects and a lot of knowledge/skill acquisition! You’ll work with real clients on interesting projects; you can discuss the products of your work on your resume, and the process/backstory behind it can make for compelling cover letters and interviews!
PEY Co-op
The PEY Co-op program lets you earn degree credit for the internships that you complete, with its focus being a continuous 12-to-16-month paid work term that students complete between third and fourth year. PEY Co-op is unique in that students work for a much longer period compared to many other co-op programs. This longer term allows students to take on greater responsibilities for larger projects and build closer connections with their colleagues/employers.
On top of the amazing experiences and connections you will make during your work term, there are a lot of professional development activities provided to outgoing PEY students as they are applying for jobs. The Engineering Career Centre supports your transition into your PEY job by running mentorship events with industry alumni, hosting sessions to help you improve your resume, planning practice interviews, and more. The ECC helps you prepare for your PEY, but it also helps you make the most of your PEY while you’re working. Most importantly, talk to upper-years to gain valuable advice on internships.
Optional 12-16 weeks work term during the summer after second year.
Must begin between the last week of April and the first week of June after second year and end by the first week of September of the same calendar year.
Will appear on the transcript as CR upon completion of all requirements.
PEY Co-op 12-16 Month Work Term (PEY400)
Full-time, paid work, with a single employer for 12 to 16 months.
Must begin between May and September following third year and must end no later than the first week of September of the following calendar year.
Will appear on the transcript as CR upon completion of all requirements.
Aside from these, you can also do “External” 4-month long summer internships outside of the PEY Co-op program. These will not appear in your transcript; however, they can be great ways of gaining professional experience, especially if you choose to not participate in the PEY Co-op program. During which summer breaks you can do these depend on whether you are participating in the PEY Co-op Program or not.
If you are registered for the PEY Co-op Program
You can do external summer internships during:
Summer after 1st year
4 months possibly between 3rd and 4th year if your 12–16-month work term is only 12 months, starts in May or September and you don’t request to extend it
If you are NOT registered for the PEY Co-op Program
Indicate your interest in joining the PEY Co-op program when applying to U of T OR register anytime during your first or within a deadline during your second year.
Complete two learning modules on Quercus – Introduction to PEY Co-op (Year 1) and PEY Co-op Preparatory Program (Year 2). Once you are registered for the PEY program, these courses will be added to your Quercus dashboard automatically and you will be notified of any deadlines on the Quercus calendar as well as by the ECC office via email.
Completing the Preparatory Program modules on Quercus by the deadline will give you access to the ECC Job Portal, where you can view and apply to jobs. Don’t worry if you can’t access the job portal during the school year. If you have completed the required modules by the deadline, you will be granted access during the recruitment cycle (usually in October/November for summer work terms and September for 12-16 month work terms).
Upper year tip: Apply through external portals too.
Declare your summer work term by submitting the Summer Work Term Agreement Form (and the Independent Work Term Approval Form as needed). Towards the end of the recruitment cycle, you will be notified via ECC about submitting these documents.
Important Note: Make sure to declare your work term and submit all work term deliverables within deadlines. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting an NCR (No Credit) on your transcript.
Similar to the summer recruitment cycle, you can view and apply for jobs through the ECC Job Portal. Upper year tip: Apply through external portals too.
Similar to the summer work term submit the required forms and documents.
Registering for the PEY co-op program and completing the requirements gives you access to the ECC job portal, which contains exclusive job postings from various reputable companies. However, regardless of whether you’re in PEY, you should search for internship positions outside of the ECC job portal, especially if you are hoping to work in a specific role at a certain company/industry.
For engineering/tech specific job postings, you can use job boards such as Engineeringcareers.ca, MaRS, communitech.ca, etc. You may notice the same posting/companies on these job boards after a few search sessions, so once you have an idea of what positions you are interested in, it’s useful to set up job search alerts.
If you are interested in a particular industry within the broader engineering sphere, you may need to do some extra research to find job boards that cater to that specific industry. Some examples include Le Spot (Aerospace), BioTalent Canada (Biomedical), ECO Canada (Environmental), etc.
Many big companies post their jobs on their own website rather than external job boards. If you’re particularly interested in working for a specific company, here are some tips:
Regularly check the Careers page on the company website.
Sign up for applicant accounts and/or set up job alerts, if available.
Follow the company on LinkedIn and keep an eye out for hiring related posts.
Upper year tip: Once you have access to the PEY Co-op Resources Hub on Quercus, use the “External Job Search Resource” and the “Labour Market Research Sources” page for guidance on finding relevant job boards. And while you are doing job search, use a job application tracker (template available on the PEY Co-op Resources Hub) to keep track of where you found a job posting, when deadlines are, etc.)
Job Search & Application Process
The following guide gives a general overview of the job search and application process. For more personalized advice, reach out to your ECC Co-op Coordinators during recruitment cycles. You can also talk to ECC staff outside of recruitment cycles or to upper-year students to get tips and learn from their experiences.
First, you need to search for Co-op positions! As previously discussed, after completing the requirements, you will gain access to the ECC job portal during the recruitment cycle where you can browse through job postings and apply. Make sure to search through independent company portals and job search platforms outside of the ECC job portal as well, especially if you are looking for a very particular opportunity. Some tips to help you at this stage of the process:
Use a job application tracker as soon as you start looking through job postings. This is especially useful during the school year when you may not have enough time over the week to work on your job application. In these cases, a tracker will help you keep track of positions you are planning to apply for.
Attend networking events such as career fairs, design team competitions, conferences, etc. to learn about available opportunities and potentially talk directly with recruiters.
Review all job descriptions carefully and apply only to jobs for which you meet the eligibility requirements and conditions. For example: citizenship, work term duration, access to transportation, location, etc.
Balance the number of jobs you apply for with the quality of your applications and your interests. Applying to many jobs increases your chances, but it’s crucial to focus on positions that genuinely interest you and tailor each application to meet the specific job requirements.
Typically, you will be asked to include a resume, a cover letter and a copy of your most recent transcript in your job application. When applying for multiple positions, you are highly encouraged to tailor your resume and/or cover letter for each application based on the job posting. Once you have access, refer to the ‘Resumes and Cover Letters’ section of the PEY Co-op Resources Hub on Quercus.
Some tips to help you at this stage of the process:
Familiarize yourself with the ADR (Action Description Result) Method and always tailor your resume.
Design teams/clubs, hackathons, and personal projects provide really valuable experience. If you don’t have experience in a paid full-time or part-time position, include relevant volunteer experiences and school projects.
Write a strong master resume and you won’t have to spend as much time tailoring it for every job posting during the school year.
Book resume/cover letter review appointments with Co-Op coordinators at the ECC office during recruitment cycles. Use the advice from your Co-Op Coordinator for future applications and limit your weekly appointments, as they assist hundreds of students.
Usually, you will go through two types of interviews: general and technical. In the general interview, you will mostly be asked behavioral and situation-based questions. In the technical interview, you will be given an engineering task related to the role, which you will need to complete and submit within a certain timeframe. Some tips to help you at this stage of the process:
Once you have access, use the Interview Preparation module in the PEY Co-op Resources Hub on Quercus.
To prepare for technical interviews, use industry-relevant platforms like LeetCode for software or SOLIDWORKS for mechanical design. Additionally, find interview preparation guides specific to the position, such as YNCN’s guide for software internships.
Ensure you thoroughly understand your past experiences/projects in-and-out, as you will be asked specific questions. Your design work from Praxis I, Praxis II, and CIV102 can also help you as you develop and communicate engineering design decisions in the interviews and potentially any take-home assignments.
Review basic concepts from school related to the role (e.g. physics for a mechanical job, data structures and algorithms for a software job). Some technical interview questions require this knowledge.
You can book mock interview appointments with ECC staff through the Resource Hub as well. While you will be given priority if you have an interview coming up, you can book a general mock interview session as preparation for future interviews as well.
For positions you found through the ECC Job Portal, you will be extended offers by an ECC Co-op Coordinator or by the employer directly. If you have received multiple offers, the first step in this stage would be deciding which offer to accept. You are expected to honor your commitment after you accept an offer, so it is important for you to consider all aspects thoroughly. Once you’ve made a decision, you can accept an offer, usually by replying to the job offer email you received, usually followed by signing a contract.
If you are registered with the PEY Co-op Program, once you have accepted a job offer, these are the steps you need to take:
Within 48 hours of accepting the job offer, upload the appropriate work term agreement form to the ECC portal to inform the ECC Office.
Upload a copy of your signed Offer Letter/Contract to the ECC Career Portal as soon as it is finalized with the employer.
Cancel any remaining interviews for that recruitment cycle.
Complete all necessary prerequisites (e.g., Quercus modules) for your work term.
If necessary, take the required steps to obtain work visas, etc.
The EngSci program from its beginning has had two main founding principles which still exist today: a strong focus on physics, math, and science as the core of the program, and offering unique specializations after two years of fundamental courses. New majors were introduced throughout the years to respond to emerging fields of research and technology.
Early 1900s
The Engineering faculty focused primarily on preparing practical engineers and held the belief that the instruction of pure sciences should be separate.
A few physics professors came up with the idea of a new program that would combine mathematics, physics, and engineering. Thus, a new program called Engineering Physics, was officially founded.
1934
1962
The Engineering Physics program was renamed to Engineering Science (EngSci).
Evolution of the EngSci Majors over the years [Source]
Long Standing EngSci Traditions
Interestingly enough, there are two EngSci traditions which still apply today.
Firstly, EngSci is not a department, it is a division. EngSci has only four faculty members who are directly appointed to our Division. Professors Asare, Carrick, Guerzhoy, and Hooper are cross-appointed between EngSci and another departments, and teach exclusively EngSci courses. For the rest of our courses, we draw instructors from across U of T Engineering and a few departments in the Faculty of Arts & Science. This is why different professors may have taught the same course over the years.
Secondly, EngSci has two foundational years where students learn math and science through the lenses of a variety of engineering disciplines, such as materials science, civil, computer, and so on. In their third and fourth years, they are offered unique majors often involving multidisciplinary skills.
EngSci grad classes from past decades, including the very first class (3T8) when the program was still called Engineering Physics. (If you squint you’ll find a photo of our external relations officer, Christina Heidorn, in one of the photos). [Source]
Example of a double room in Chestnut Residence [Source]
If you plan on living in residence, you should have accepted your residence offer by now; many 1st year U of T Engineering students stay at Chestnut Residence, although you might have chosen to stay at CampusOne, Parkside, a U of T college residence, or an external apartment. Regardless, moving in will be one of the very first things you’ll do as a university student! Even though the experience can be stressful, it is also very exciting.
*Note: this page will frequently refer to Chestnut Residence, however, the information in this page is equally applicable to residences at CampusOne, Parkside, and U of T colleges, as well as external apartments.
Finding Roommates
If you haven’t already, now is the time to find roommates (that is, if you plan on staying with one). Choosing roommates is important; you will be living with them for the next eight months, and a good roommate can help enhance your experience as a student. This can be a challenging task, especially if you don’t know anyone from your high school attending U of T.
If you will be entering a U of T student residence, you will likely gain access to the StarRez portal. On the portal, you can fill out a short personal profile, and then browse through the profiles of tons of other students whose profiles may be compatible with your own. Then, you can message them and strike up a conversation.
We recommend you speak with multiple candidate roommates, and select one based on sleeping habits, study preferences, shared interests, and how well you “click” together. It’s also very important to be honest in your personal profile about your habits – if you prefer studying late into the night, for example, and sleeping in, you probably won’t enjoy living with a roommate who is an early riser.
Once you move in, it’s important to establish some personal agreements and guidelines (such as noise limits, and when the lights in the room will be turned off); your Residence Don will help you through this process.
Overall, staying with roommates can be a great experience. Make sure to be outgoing and communicative to make the process better for all of you!
Room Tours
Some residences offer room tours throughout the summer. If you are renting, you should also check out your unit in-person or ask a roommate to do it for you.
Chestnut Residence holds afternoon in-person room tours until mid-August. Attending one is a great way to check out what your room will look like and determine some of the items you’ll need to bring. During these tours, you’ll also see the building’s amenities and get a better understanding of what it has to offer, so you can make the most out of your residence life experience. There are also virtual residence tours that can be found on their YouTube page.
Logistics of Moving In
In August, you will be notified to schedule a date and time for moving into your residence. During this scheduled time, you will receive your room key, and be permitted to bring guests such as family to help you get set up.
Living in residence has its pros and cons. While you will find hundreds of stores, restaurants, and entertainments within walking distance, if you don’t have a car, travelling and moving large items may be difficult. There are several chain stores nearby, such as Canadian Tire and IKEA. However, our advice is to bring as many necessary items from home as possible to minimize the time spent shopping at the beginning of the term. You might still need to buy some necessary items after you move in. Make sure to do so before the semester starts, otherwise, it will be even more inconvenient!
Packing List
If you are moving into an unfurnished apartment, you will need to purchase all your furniture and other items from scratch. Usually, furnished apartments will have necessities such as a bed, desk, and other large furniture. Residences will be equipped with beds, desks, wardrobes, and pillows for you and your roommates. Check with your residence for the list of what is included in your room.
You should communicate with your roommate(s) to determine if you will be bringing any common items, such as a minifridge or laundry detergent. In this case, you should decide who will purchase what, and how to reimburse each other.
Mattress cover —goes over residence mattress (check your residence’s website for bed size information)
Bedsheets
Duvet or comforter and cover — main blanket
Pillow(s) if not provided by residence
Pillowcase(s)
Towels — body towels, hand towels, face towels
Toiletries — soap, shampoo, dental hygiene items, and any other products you may need
Laundry hamper/bag
Laundry detergent (liquid or pods)
Flip flops for shower if your residence has communal showers. Please DON’T wear flip flops in your room’s personal shower without first consulting your roommate, and please DO wear flip flops in communal showers!
Clothing! — we recommend you do not bring all of your clothes from home; try to select some clothes that work for multiple situations! Consider weather, comfort, style, and utility (e.g. you might want some athletic clothes, or formal wear)
For students who may not be familiar with the climate in Toronto, check out the pre-arrival page by the Centre for International Experience (CIE) to prepare for all four of Toronto’s (sometimes harsh) seasons.
Desktop computer/PC – One of your blog admins, Eshan (who is from Alberta) was lucky that his parents happened to be planning a road trip to the East Coast during the summer before he started university. He decided to (very carefully) pack his PC into the trunk of their car, so that when his parents passed by Toronto, they could leave his PC at a friend’s house to be picked up in September. If you have any questions related to transporting your computer, feel free to ask Eshan!
Computer monitor – for students who are bringing just one device such as a laptop, it can be extremely convenient to have a separate monitor at your desk. Eshan also happened to be in the market for a new monitor, so he just purchased one in Toronto.
Desk lamp – if your roommate goes to sleep earlier than you, then you should use a lamp as opposed to keeping the main lights turned on
Noise-cancelling headphones and/or earplugs – residence can be noisy, and you’ll want to focus while studying, so you might want to invest in these.
Food and snacks and storage containers – if you’re staying in residence, the dining halls will only be open at certain times during the day, so having some snacks in your room can be extremely convenient and affordable. Be sure to keep them in proper containers to avoid attracting pests.
Minifridge – for storing your food and snacks. Although Chestnut Residence has common refrigerators for each floor, you might choose to keep your items separately.
Desk chair – if you’re not a fan of the provided chairs
Books, hobby items, decorations – you might want to keep some fun items to use in your spare time and remind yourself of home!
Be sure to check with your residence for a more comprehensive list. A packing and moving-in guideline for students staying at Chestnut Residence can found on their Fall Move-In page.
A dorm room in Morrison Hall at University College, U of T [Source]
Tips for Move-In Day
Move-in day is everyone’s first day, so everybody is as excited to meet new friends as you are! Introduce yourself to your neighbors; they are convenient people to be friends with due to their proximity.
Understand that people will be nervous and out of their comfort zones when they first get to university. You will also be meeting tons of new students from around the world and from all walks of life, so have a positive mindset and be accommodating. Take the first steps to build a great, inclusive community!
For now, focus on getting all of your stuff in the room. Later on, you can rearrange your furniture to make your room feel like your own.
Many students move in with their families, and many students from out of Toronto move in on their own or with friends. Both are valid methods, and there will be help available if you need extra assistance.
Tips for Life In Residence
Your residence room will be your home for the next eight months, so have some fun decorating it.
Given the choice between taking your meal up to your room in a box and eating downstairs, we recommend the latter. Eating in the dining hall is an incredible way to get a change of scenery and meet new people, and you get to knock out two birds with one stone by simultaneously eating and hanging out with friends!
Residence buildings offer a variety of services from gyms to music rooms. If you’ve never been to the gym before, want to try foosball, or have a downtown view while studying, the facilities and spaces in your residence can fulfill these desires.
Your floor don will probably organize a monthly floor-wide social, during which you can engage in activities and meet other people from your floor; attend these!
If you’re not from the GTA, take advantage of your prime location in downtown Toronto and explore! There are tons of (free or cheap) things to check out in Toronto, such as art exhibitions, basketball games, and great restaurants. For more information, check the page about Having Fun in Toronto.
Make sure to very frequently talk to your friends and family. Even if you’re busy and all you have to say is that you’re studying for an exam, give your parents a call, or fire a quick message to your friends. Facetime is an incredible invention! Seriously, don’t skip out on this step!
Academics can be fun, but you’ll want to make sure you spend time outside the classroom doing other things! A big part of the university experience is hanging out with friends and enjoying life in a new setting. Here are some more (budget-friendly) fun things on U of T’s campus.
Go to Hart House
Hart House is essentially U of T’s community center. Whether you want to catch a game of chess at U of T’s official chess club, play basketball, eat at a nice restaurant, attend Skule Nite, swim, or just admire some neo-Gothic architecture and ivy-covered walls, you can do it all at Hart House!
To learn more about the Hart House Fitness Centre and other athletic facilities on campus, check out this blog post!
Yes, we’ve talked about the EngSci Common Room before, but it really is a lot of fun! From just hanging around some comfy chairs and chatting, to playing some board games, competing in some high-stakes foosball, or settling your differences in Super Smash Bros., Fortnite, or one of the many video games on the consoles there, the Common Room is where you can have some of your most fun moments as an EngSci.
Play Sports
Studying hard is a sedentary activity, but U of T has tons of ways for you to stay active and healthy and reduce stress. In addition to just working out, the Athletics Centre offers drop-in sessions (i.e. no booking needed) for sports such as basketball, ultimate frisbee, yoga, and more. You can also book courts for squash, table tennis, badminton, and more. All of this is covered by your tuition! If you don’t have the equipment, you can also rent rackets and balls at the Athletic Centre equipment counter.
Attend a Varsity Blues Game
Show your pride for U of T by cheering on the Varsity Blues with all your friends. The Varsity Blues play almost every sport you can think of, and their games are always free for U of T students – just remember your TCard! You can check their schedule online. Go Varsity Blues!
Basketball at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport [Source]
Join Clubs and Design Teams
We’ve talked about these extracurriculars quite a lot, but we’re serious when we say that you can have tons of fun in clubs and design teams! In addition to engineering-specific clubs/teams, feel free to check out some university-wide clubs; U of T truly has something for every interest under the sun.
Play Board Games
U of T libraries offer tons of board games which can be loaned for two weeks at a time. Here is how you can see the available games and make a request ahead of time. They have classic games like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry which are quick and easy to pick up, in addition to well-loved newer games such as Tokaido, Dixit and Catan. Board games are an amazing way to connect with your university friends, and the fact the library lets you access them for free makes it easy to host an awesome board game pizza party.
Innis College Movie Night
Nestled right in the heart of the U of T campus, Innis College hosts free movies every Friday night at 7 PM through their “Free Friday Films”; their selection of weekly movies are posted a month in advance on social media. These movies tend to be acclaimed films that allow you to learn as you watch. To learn more about these movie nights, check out the Innis College Movie Night website.
Sign up for the Innis College mailing list to get updates on upcoming movie nights and events.
A performance of Skule Nite at Hart House Theatre [Source]
Visit the U of T Art Museum
If you’re an art lover or just want to have a relaxing time looking at beautiful works, drop by the U of T Art Museum! The museum’s exhibits are in Hart House and University College. It runs all year round with free admission to all and showcases the wide diversity of art and art history.
Just Walk Around!
U of T has a beautiful and unique campus. Take some time to just walk around and gaze at some of our architecturally impressive buildings, try to find a new study spot, check out some state-of-the-art labs (engineering or otherwise), and more!
Check out Philosopher’s Walk, a beautiful, green path which extends from Hoskin Avenue to Bloor Street. Photo by Charles Birnbaum, 2014, The Cultural Landscape Foundation [Source]
Toronto is one of the greatest cities in the world! Although much of your time will be taken up with school and on-campus activities, you would be completely remiss to not take the opportunity and explore the city. So, without further ado, here are some of our favourite fun things to do in Toronto, Ontario!
Explore Kensington Market
Kensington Market is one of Toronto’s most famous neighbourhoods. With a rich and diverse culture, bars, restaurants, shopping, music, events, and an incredible atmosphere, the market is definitely worth a visit. In short, if you want an evening out, some delicious food or an interesting and vibrant place to explore with friends, look no further than Kensington.
Yonge-Dundas Square
Yonge-Dundas Square is in the heart of Toronto, located about 20 minutes from campus and steps away from Chestnut Residence! Here you can shop at the famous Eaton Centre, visit restaurants, watch amazing street performers, or just enjoy the bustling downtown atmosphere. This is a fun space to go if you enjoy the fast pace of Toronto, bright lights, and the vibes of a metropolitan city.
Watch a Blue Jays, Raptors, or Leafs Game
Toronto is world-renowned for its sports teams. So, if you are in Toronto, set aside some time and go watch a/an Argonauts (Americal football), Toronto FC (football/soccer), Blue Jays (baseball), Raptors (basketball), or Maple Leafs (hockey) game! Attending a Raptors 905 (basketball g-league) or Marlies (hockey AHL) game is also a fun and more affordable option.
Skating in Nathan Phillips Square is a quintessential Canadian activity. Deep in downtown Toronto, Nathan Phillips Square is a large open space with the famous “Toronto” sign! There is also a fountain that freezes over in the winter and becomes a skating rink. The square is about 15 minutes away from campus and is literally steps away from Chestnut. You can rent skates for $10 for two hours. This is a very fun activity to do with friends. Skate rentals close at 10 p.m., but the rink is open 24/7. So, if you are feeling adventurous, go to Nathan Phillips late at night or early in the morning and you will likely have the rink all to yourself! Make sure to get a few pictures with the iconic Toronto sign too!
There are also other outdoor skating rinks located throughout the city including one by Harbourfront and at College Park.
Visit the Distillery District
The Distillery District, located near Front St and Parliament St, is part of Old Town Toronto. It used to be a large whiskey distillery and has now become a very artistic neighbourhood. It houses artisanal stores, small coffee shops, outdoor sculptures, and more. There’s also an amazing chocolatier, but we’ll let you explore the area for yourself!
The Distillery is a cool, calm oasis of pedestrian walkways and brick buildings – perfect for escaping the city’s bustling atmosphere without leaving downtown. It might get busy on weekends, but it is enjoyable nonetheless. In the winter, the Distillery hosts a Distillery Winter Village which is fun (but it can get crowded).
Toronto is a very multicultural city and has countless restaurants with international cuisines. You can try out authentic dishes at most restaurants. Check out the following places:
Bordered by Spadina, Dundas, Bathurst and College, Kensington market is a unique neighbourhood where you can find amazing Neapolitan pizza, tacos, empanada, and so on. Check out the cafes too!
Chinatown is centered around the intersection of Dundas and Spadina, and extends along both streets. Located just minutes from campus, this is a great spot to grab cheap and tasty food for lunch and dinner.
Finally, you can also go for amazing Middle Eastern food on Yonge Street, get some delicious Greek food on the Danforth, explore the Gerrard India Bazaar for South Asian treats, and more. There’s a lot of good food in Toronto!
Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a set of islands connected by bridges and pathways in Lake Ontario, just a 10-15 minute ferry ride from the downtown Toronto lakeshore. The islands have beaches, cafes, countless parks and green spaces, bike rentals, canoe rentals, and more! If you have a free day before school starts and are hoping to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city without going too far, the Toronto Islands may be the destination for you!
Nuit Blanche
Nuit Blanche is a unique and fun Torontonian event that will definitely confuse you the first time you hear about it. Here’s the premise: one Saturday night in Fall, artists place artwork all over downtown Toronto. For the whole night (right through to the early morning), event-goers walk through downtown Toronto, observing and taking in the pieces while exploring the city. If you make a night out of it with some friends, Nuit Blanche can be a fun and fascinating use of a Saturday.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
The Toronto International Film Festival is an annual film festival that occurs every September. If you are at all interested in watching new films, attending Q&As with actors and directors, and potentially seeing or meeting actors and directors, a film festival is a super unique and fun opportunity. You can also volunteer for TIFF if you would like to be more involved!
Visiting an art gallery in Toronto is a must! A great example is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). It is one of the largest art galleries in North America and houses a wide diversity of creative pieces. You’ll find art from old Masters to Indigenous artists to modern provocateurs. The gallery is just a few minutes’ walk from campus (7 minutes away from Bahen) and admission is free for everyone 25 and under. So if you enjoy admiring the work of great artists or just walking around in a peaceful area, you should visit the AGO.
Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto is a 135,000 square feet facility with over 5.7 million litres of water filled with over 20,000 fish and other marine life ranging from Stingrays to small fish. It houses a plethora of interactive exhibits as well as the longest underwater aquarium tunnel in North America! The aquarium is located next to the CN tower in downtown Toronto. So if you would like to explore sea life while staying in the city, check out Ripley’s Aquarium!
CN Tower
The CN Tower is located in the heart of downtown Toronto. It is the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere at 553.3 meters tall and belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers. In the CN Tower you can find a revolving restaurant, observation decks and a general entertainment area. You can also go on the CN Tower EdgeWalk where (just like the name) you walk along the edge of the tower. Don’t worry, you are harnessed and secure during this walk!
Explore!
Toronto is a massive city with literally countless opportunities for fun and exploration. If you hear about or see something in the city that looks enjoyable, don’t hesitate to try it.
For more information about events in Toronto including city festivals, perrades and recreational activities, visit the City of Toronto Website. If you take time to explore the city then by the time you graduate EngSci, you will have a whole collection of fun memories of your time in Toronto.
At the end of your 2nd year of EngSci, you will select a major in which to specialize. There are a total of eight majorsthat are very diverse and cover a plethora of engineering disciplines. Choosing your major can be difficult, but there is plenty of information to help you make the right decision!
The Roadmap
Actionable steps in the process of choosing your major
Throughout your first two years (the “foundation years”), you will learn more about each major and figure out which areas of engineering excite you the most. Your coursework will span every major, and in second year winter term you will attend Major Option Talks, hosted by the Chairs for each major. You will select your major during second year winter term, through an online tool called Degree Explorer.
Some Common Myths
Selecting your major is important, so let’s dispel some common myths:
Some students think that they will be gated from specific majors based on limited space, the major’s popularity, or their grades. This is untrue; all EngSci majors are open to all EngSci students provided they maintain a clear academic standing as per U of T Engineering guidelines. You do not need to compete with anyone for major spots, and you can select whichever major you want!
Some students believe that their career path for the rest of their lives will be strictly dictated by their major. EngSci’s Academic Advisor for Years 3 & 4, Brendan Heath, dubbed this idea as the “golden straight jacket”. This is not true!
Each major provides students with the knowledge and skills to work in a specific field, including coursework particularly specialized for that field. Therefore, EngSci graduates are particularly prepared to work in their field of study. However, the wide range of knowledge taught during the foundation years, the overlap in certain topics between majors, the transferable skills developed throughout your extracurriculars, the ability to customize your degree with technical electives, minors, and certificates, and the inherent interconnectedness between all disciplines of engineering, open the door to really diverse career paths (in engineering and otherwise) for EngSci graduates! From starting successful companies, becoming doctors and lawyers, and revolutionizing their specific academic field, EngScis put their degrees to work in ways which you might not expect. Read more about our alumni here.
For more information on the EngSci foundation and upper years check out the EngSci Overview.
Some 1st year EngSci students may view the diverse 2nd year curriculum as an obstacle in specializing in their desired major, since Core 8 students take major-specific courses starting in 2nd year. While this may result in you learning certain concepts later than your Core 8 counterparts, this “disadvantage” will not persist beyond 2nd year.
Firstly, the 2nd year curriculum is broad because it covers relevant courses from each major. For example, the 2nd year EngSci courses of ECE253, MAT292, ECE259, ECE286, and ESC204 are similar to Core 8 ECE courses. Remember: Core 8 students may be taking specialized courses earlier, but you are learning things in 2nd year that they are not. Furthermore, every other course has deep connections to ECE, providing a strong understanding of many broad, yet relevant concepts. Alternatively, say you are interested in a major such as MSF, and you believe that some of the 2nd year curriculum will not show up in your career. On the contrary, having knowledge of various other fields will put you at an advantage when applying for jobs within that field. Finally, you will very quickly catch up with all of your major-specific courses in 3rd year, so do not worry!
Tips for Choosing Your Major
We understand that many of you have already given a lot of thought to your preferred major. However, even if you feel confident in what you want to specialize in, we encourage you to keep an open mind—many students discover new interests in first and second year! As a first-year EngSci, you have the luxury to explore all of our majors. By the major selection deadline, you may be even more confident in your original choice. Alternatively, you may have discovered an entirely new area of interest and choose a different major than you had previously thought.
So, to aid you in your exploration of the available majors during your foundation years, here are some tips from those who came before you:
Your Interests
Identify what areas of engineering interests you. For instance, when looking at a machine, are you more curious about the forces experienced by the physical parts or do you wish you could look through the code that controls its behaviour? Subsystems of machines will almost always directly relate to one or more specific types of engineering, which can help you figure out where your interests lie.
Courses you Enjoy
VS
Courses you Excel at
Foundation year courses provide a strong background regardless of your chosen major and can help you decide which major suits you best. For example, if you enjoy ECE159 in your first year, the Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) major may be a good fit for you. However, it’s important to also consider the courses where you excel. These may align with your interests but could differ. Finding a balance between what you enjoy and what you excel at is important as you prepare for your future career in your chosen major.
Join Design Teams
While design teams are not mandatory, joining at least one can be a great way to gain hands-on experience in your preferred engineering field. Typically, you will join a subteam within the larger team that specializes in a certain area, such as, mechanical, electro-mechanical, software, etc. Working on longer-term projects with these teams can help you confirm if a related major aligns with your long-term goals and provide valuable experience to showcase when applying for jobs in the industry.
ESEC
Every year, the Engineering Science Education Conference (ESEC) is held exclusively for EngSci students, providing a unique chance to meet with leaders from various engineering sectors. Listening to their unique career stories and diverse experiences can help you discover your own passion, and even make a decision about your major!
Friends & Family in the Industry
Reach out to friends and family who may be working in industries you’re interested in. Hearing their career stories and discussing your ideas with them might help you make a decision and also establish some connections in the industry at the same time.
Do Your Research
Once you have a shortlist of majors you are interested in, it’s time to do some research. Look into the courses offered in each major, professors who are doing research in the industry, job prospects and our alumni network. Talking to upper years in your preferred major can also be a great way of getting advice, understanding the workload, and discovering career paths that you may not have considered.
Talk to your Advisors
If you are considering multiple majors, it is always good to discuss your plans and get a second perspective. While discussing with peers and upper-years is valuable, consulting your Academic Advisors, Stephen or Irma (Year 1 & 2) is especially helpful since they’ve helped many students before you choose their paths and have seen where those choices lead. Towards the end of your 2nd year, you can also reach out to your Year 3 & 4 Academic Advisor Brendan if you have specific questions about the majors you are considering, such as, courses, electives, etc. Additionally, if you have a specific interest in a niche industry, your Advisors can help you align your studies with your career goals.
Your physical and mental health are crucial to your success as a student. We really encourage you to take advantage of the resources offered for free to all U of T students. For more information, you can visit the U of T Mental Health Care website, the Health & Wellness website, and the Engineering Mental Health & Wellness website.
Your Academic Advisor
Your academic advisor is an amazing resource and support who is available to you throughout your time at U of T. If you ever want to talk about your mental health, academics, or life in general, book an appointment with your advisor. EngSci has two academic advisors for Years 1 and 2. Stephen Johns, for domestic students (engsci12@utoronto.ca) and Irma Berardi, for international students (engsci12.intl@utoronto.ca). You can read more about Stephen and Irma in our Meet the EngSci Office post, and book an appointment with them through the Advising Portal.
U of T Health and Wellness
The Health & Wellness Office provides U of T students with medical and mental health services to help support them in achieving their personal and academic best. If you would like to meet with a doctor and/or sign up for a Health & Wellness program, please visit the Health & Wellness website. The campus doctor’s clinic is at 700 Bay Street, a 1.5 km walk from Bahen.
Health Insurance
Full-time U of T students get a very affordable health insurance plan. To take advantage of your plan, go to a participating office (many are close to campus) and fill out a form with your practitioner. For forms and further information visit U of T Student Care. For international students, remember that regular doctor visits are free with a UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan) card. If you’re already covered by an equivalent health and/or dental plan (such as a parent’s or spouse’s employee benefit plan), you can opt out during the Change-of-Coverage Period, which is usually open during the month of September. You should determine which plan would be more affordable/effective for your needs. Refer to the Student Care University of Toronto Student Union Opt Out page for more information.
Navi – Mental Health Wayfinder
Navi is an anonymous virtual agent that will help you find mental health resources at U of T. Navi can be more effective than just a Google search, as you will only receive results tailored to U of T students. Navi uses a text chat interface which resembles texting a person, which can make the experience easier and less intimidating.
Find out more about Navi on the Navi Mental Health Wayfinder website. Keep in mind that Navi is not a person and should only be used to find information about U of T mental health services. Do not provide any personally identifying or health-related information about yourself or anybody else.
U of T Telus Health Student Support
U of T Telus Health Student Support offers immediate and/or ongoing confidential support and counselling for school, health and general life concerns at no cost for U of T students. You can call or chat with a counsellor directly from your phone whenever and wherever you are. Support is available in over 146 languages. The number to call for U of T Telus Health Student Support is 1-844-451-9700 inside North America and 001-416-380-6578 outside North America.
Engineering Mental Health & Wellness
The Engineering Mental Health & Wellness website outlines all the mental health support specifically for U of T Engineering students. All the listed resources link to their own webpages, making it a great starting point for finding specific and personalized support within U of T Engineering. This convenient resource guide compiles all these resources together. You can also sign up for the Mental Wellness Weekly Round-Up Newsletter to stay up to date with all the mental health services and programs offered by U of T Engineering. U of T Engineering has a dedicated Mental Health Programs Officer who may be contacted at mentalhealth@engineering.utoronto.ca.
U of T Mental Health Care
From their website, “U of T Mental Health Care provides a range of health services, including same-day counselling appointments, evidence-based group therapy, short-term intensive counselling or psychotherapy, and more. This is available to all full-time or part-time U of T students.”
U of T’s Engineering’s Plunge a Professor event from 2018 [Left] and annual Cannonball dance open to all engineering students [Right]
You might have heard “EngScis have no social life!” We’re glad to say this is not true at all. Like any other program, your social life is your own choice, regardless of your discipline. You’ll still have a lot of opportunities to hang out with your friends, and meet new people as well. Here are some factors that contribute to social life in EngSci.
In EngSci, you’ll share at least 23 courses with all your peers in the foundation years. You’ll be in the same lectures as at least half the class, and will share tutorials with about 30 classmates, making it very easy to make friends in EngSci. You can form your own teams and study groups, or simply talk to someone new on the way to/from class. Remember, it’s up to you to reach out to people and start a conversation!
You can always find a vibrant EngSci community outside of class. Want to build a real satellite, star in a comedy review, play in a jazz band, or race a solar car across Australia? We’ve got clubs for that and much more! EngScis are very involved in extracurriculars, allowing you to easily find classmates and other engineers in all sorts of design teams and Skule™ affiliated clubs. Also, there are many clubs open to all U of T students. It’s easy to start a conversation at a team/club, because everyone has a shared interest. Weekends or breaks are great opportunities to catch up with your friends from high school or outside the U of T community.
Members of the Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad at Varsity Stadium [Source]
The EngSci Common Room is a student lounge open exclusively to EngScis! Here you can find EngScis across all years eating lunch, playing games (such as Super Smash Bros., foosball, and more), chatting, or studying. This is a super comfortable space for you to reach out to your classmates and upper-years, and immerse yourself in the EngSci community. Tip: if you’re nervous about talking to upper-years, a good conversation starter is to just ask them about their experiences in first-year courses. Upper-years don’t bite, we promise!
EngSci Club hosts large annual events such as the EngSci Dinner Dance and Nocturne Talent Show, in addition to frequent, smaller get-togethers. These events are great places to spend quality time with friends and make new ones! Make sure to follow @engsciclub on Instagram to stay updated regarding special events.
One of the easiest ways to make new friends is to just go through life normally and talk to people! If you’ll be living at a student residence, we strongly encourage you to chat with people in the dining hall, in the gym, or even the elevator. You never know who you’ll meet; they might share a certain background or hobby with you, and this can catalyze the formation of connections. If you’ve become acquainted with someone, feel free to greet them if you see them somewhere, even if it’s as simple as a: “Hey, what’s up?”
Upper-Year Insights
Darya Tavvafi | EngSci 2T6
“EngSci requires you to sacrifice a lot of time and energy if you want to do well, but you can still maintain a social life if you’re smart with how you manage your time. I had a small friend group during first semester, and I managed to gain more friends and acquaintances during my second semester. Although I primarily hung out with these people in class, I was still able to spend time with them outside of EngSci in activities such as, shopping, eating out, and going to the movies. If I didn’t invest in a social life during my first year, my mental health and wellbeing would suffer a lot. While you definitely won’t be partying every weekend, the connections you make will become an essential part of your support system.”
“There are several ways to go about meeting people. I was fortunate enough that there was an extracurricular I did in high school (quiz bowl) that I could continue doing in university, so I just joined that. While I haven’t actually joined any design teams, lots of my friends have met people through them.”
“I think the most important thing, however, is realizing that when you start first year, there is a period of about 2-3 weeks when everyone is trying to meet each other. I am a pretty introverted person and hated doing it, but I just forced myself to talk to people. I met one of my friends just by randomly starting to talk to someone in the line for dinner at Chestnut. Basically, everyone is in the same boat as you and you just have to trust that other people are also sitting/standing around and hoping someone will talk to them.”
Spring Convocation 2019; Photo by: Ben Ouyang (EngSci 1T2 PEY)
Given that EngSci is a direct-entry program with a heavier course load than other engineering programs at U of T, many incoming students question whether it will be the right fit for them. If you’re feeling the same way, know that you’re not alone. Some students have found that EngSci is exactly where they belong, while others have discovered that their passion lies elsewhere. Both choices are completely valid!
Common Reasons for Transferring Out of EngSci
You may have heard about EngSci having a high ‘drop out’ rate. So first, let’s clarify terms: When people talk about “dropping out” they usually mean leaving a program (or even the university) because they failed academic courses in the program. This is very different from transferring from one program to another. In fact, the vast majority of students who leave EngSci are transferring to another program by choice, not because they did not meet the academic standards. Some of their reasons include:
Some students decide they want to focus on a specific field of engineering directly rather than waiting two years before specializing. This is the most common reason for transferring out of EngSci. After some exposure to different engineering topics in first-year courses, students transfer into a different U of T Engineering program because they discover that they are simply more interested in that program. Note: You have to do this before the transfer deadlines.
Others want to better balance academics and extracurriculars*. EngSci is an academically challenging program, so while you may be doing well marks-wise, you may still want some more time to join more clubs, hold a part-time job, or practice a skill/hobby.
*Note: This does not mean that you will not have time for extracurriculars in EngSci. In fact, many EngSci students are heavily involved in design teams, clubs, and the Skule community. You just have to manage your time better since you have six courses instead of five.
Some students may have misunderstood what engineering is, since it is a subject that is not usually taught in high school. This means quite a few students enter engineering programs without a very deep understanding of the discipline. Once they take some engineering courses, they may realize that they are more interested in pure math or science than they are in engineering. Since EngSci offers lots of exposure to these fields, a student may realize they want to study one of them directly.
Comparison with Core 8 Transfer Rates
95% of first-year U of T Engineering students continue into their second year of engineering at U of T and ultimately complete their degrees.
So why the myth about EngSci? Each year, around 300 students enter the program and 200 graduate from it. That means that about 100 students leave the program in each cohort. In other programs – like Chemical Engineering – you might see about 120 students admitted each year and about 120 graduating. Although it may seem like EngSci has a much higher attrition rate than Chemical Engineering, there’s a missing piece!
Many undergraduate students change their program or major during their first year. This is totally understandable! We are all exploring new topics and may need some time to figure out what truly interests us. That’s why the university has built flexibility into the system and allowed students to move between programs.
For Core 8 students, it is relatively easy to transfer in and out of other U of T Engineering programs. Thus, similar numbers of students transfer both into and out of Core 8 programs and the total number of students in those programs does not fluctuate much.
As with Core 8 students, EngScis can easily transfer into other U of T Engineering programs. However, EngSci is a “direct entry only” program, meaning it is extremely difficult to transfer into EngSci from another program. This makes it seem like EngSci has more people leaving than other programs, which is not really accurate.
Remember – You were admitted to EngSci for a reason!
The Faculty puts all applicants through a rigorous admissions process. They select students who they think will be successful in the program and in their work after graduation. You are one of these students and everyone here wants to help you succeed in your academic journey! To explore the student supports available at U of T visit Engineering Science Advising and Support.
If you discover that EngSci isn’t the right fit for you, whether for academic or personal reasons, you will certainly be successful in another university program should you choose that path. Our academic advisors are here to help you, as they have done for many students before you.
