GEARS are student-led drop-in sessions to help Year 1 and 2 students transition from high school into the Engineering Science program.
GEARS helps you integrate learning strategies with the content you need to learn to solve problems in your classes. Upper-year students help you develop key academic skills and answer questions related to your courses, the Engineering Science program, and opportunities within the Faculty and the university at large.
EngSci GEARS Schedule
The GEARS schedule for the Fall/Winter Sessions will be posted on the EngSci Info Hub, our online hub for key program information. You will get access to the Info Hub at the beginning of the semester. You can also ask Irma any questions about GEARS!
Note: The Core 8 has its own version of GEARS, but the one you’ll see advertised in the EngSci Info Hub is specifically for EngScis.
After first and second year, successful students are encouraged to apply for GEARS mentor positions to help the next generation of students!
GEARS Mentors (2025 – 2026)
“Hi everyone! My name is Alex and I am going into third-year Engineering Science, majoring in ECE. This past summer I have been working with the Modelics Lab on a project in collaboration with AMD Canada to improve the efficiency of electromagnetic simulation techniques for 3D integrated circuits. In my free time, I really enjoy watching movies and going out with my friends in the city. I look forward to meeting and helping you all with anything EngSci or UofT related!”
“Hey, I’m Andrea, an EngSci 2T7 BME, looking into a Robo / Nano minor, randomly spawns in CUBE, BIOME, iGEM, and EWB events. Last summer I inspected the impact of Cas9 fusion protein on gene drive performance and the threshold frequency of a TARE drive in a computational biology / genetics wet lab at Peking University. This year, I’ll shift my research interest to hardware and instrumentation dry labs (perhaps laser used in minimal invasive surgery). I did particularly well in math and coding courses. You can also reach out for soft skills like test taking strategy and cold-emailing, as well as campus resources. Will gladly say yes to any swimming / volleyball / badminton / ping-pong invitations.”
“Hello hello! My name is Eryn, and I’m an EngSci 2T7 in the Physics Option. I love everything space, and outside of school, I build rockets with the U of T Aerospace Team (UTAT). I also love reading, swimming, and exploring the city (especially seeing new exhibits at the AGO). I did research after first year at UBC in using wearable sensors to learn about sleep through the ESROP program, where I got to strengthen my data analysis and research skills. I look forward to meeting everyone — feel free to reach out on social media or stop me in the hallway if you have any questions!”
“Hi! I’m Jessie, an EngSci 2T8 student. This summer I did research with the department of physics, where I worked on visualization and analysis of data from the IMU on CALASET’s high altitude balloon-borne instruments. Outside of school, I like to play piano, read web novels and comics, bake, swim, and play video games. Hope to see you all there at GEARS! I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.”
“Hi, everyone! I’m Sara, an EngSci 2T8 with a strong interest in medicine and engineering. This summer, I worked on an AI project focused on glaucoma detection through medical imaging, and I’m generally involved with UTMIST, ESEC, and other corners of the EngSci community. Outside of class, I enjoy going to the gym, watching Netflix or reading (I’m always open to recommendations!), and drawing. Can’t wait to meet you all and feel free to reach out on socials!”
“Hello! My name is Ryan and I am an EngSci 2T8. I am interested in 3D modeling, aviation, vehicle design and public transit planning, so I am considering the transportation or aerospace majors. You can usually find me modeling or coding one of my many projects in those areas. I really enjoyed every minute of first-year EngSci, and I look forward to meeting you all and helping you succeed!”
Benefits of Attending GEARS
As you are transitioning into your first year, you might find that your schedules don’t always allow you to thoroughly prepare for an exam. By attending GEARS sessions and talking to successful upper year students, you can learn how to better review materials and prepare for tests even during the busier weeks.
Despite what its name suggests, GEARS isn’t just for academics. This is a place where you can get to ask upper years anything. EngSci tips? Major advice? Just ask! This is also a place for you to hang out and get to know your peers.
With all the different assignments, labs, homework, and midterms, it can be difficult to find a regular study time to review material covered in recent lectures. Since GEARS sessions are weekly, you can use this time to do just that. And since all the sessions are drop-in, you are free to skip a session if you have a particularly busy week.
Since GEARS sessions are led by current EngSci students, they can help you not only with learning course materials but also with advice on the most useful study skills for each course. For instance, some courses might require you to do practice problems often, while others may need you to spend more time understanding theoretical concepts. By chatting with upper-year students, you can develop these study skills and come up with a strategy that works for you.
GEARS sessions are completely separate from your courses, i.e., no marks will be issued and your attendance will not be reported to your instructors. So you can drop-in for a full session or even part of a session when you have the time without worrying about your participation affecting your grades.