ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥

The University of Toronto is a large community, so it can be easy to let exciting opportunities pass you by while here. Whether you’re new to ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ or getting ready to graduate, try these 23 tips for a fun-filled university experience – or use them as inspiration to create a bucket list of your own.

(photo by Ken Jones)

1. Join the ranks of students who #BleedBlue and cheer on the at a sports game. With 44 Varsity teams competing in 26 sports, there’s something for every sports fan.

2. Audition for a campus play. While it may sound intimidating, theatre troupes such as the , , and many others welcome total beginners. For all you wannabe thespians, this may be your chance to score a callback – and maybe even land a role.

(Photo courtesy of ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough)

3. Check out the daily specials at . Boasting low prices and rave reviews, this ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough establishment is a student staple.

4. Treat yourself by taking an elective that’s purely for fun. Choose a course that’ll actually get you excited about homework. Some examples: If you’re obsessed with fantasy then pore over The Lord of the Rings in Tolkien's Middle Ages (ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough), or if you’d prefer to spend an evening watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, then Queer Popular Culture (St. George campus) might be for you.

(Photo courtesy of ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough)

5. Visit the at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough to buy fresh, locally sourced jams, honey, veggies, meats and more and debunk the myth that ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ students subsist entirely on food truck fries.

6. Take academics to new heights by studying for finals in a  at the Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building – or to new depths by taking your books to the  at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough.   

(photo by David Lee)

7. Get an authentic tri-campus experience by riding the (which is for all ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Mississauga students).

8. Attend a campus formal. Even if dances aren’t your thing, think of it as a rare opportunity to shed your sweatpants-and-a-T-shirt student aesthetic in favour of something chic.

Theatre Erindale is the production company of the theatre and drama studies program at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Mississauga (photo by Paul Orenstein)

9. Watch a show at a campus theatre, such as at the St. George campus or at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Mississauga. Tickets are often discounted for students – bonus points if you score free tickets by writing a review for a campus newspaper. Plays range from Shakespearean tragedies like  to cult classics like , both featured in Hart House’s upcoming 2019/2020 season.  

10. Visit at the University College Junior Common Room to grab a coffee – or, for that matter, lunch. With selections ranging from Nutella lattes to butter chicken, this café will satisfy any midday craving you might have.

ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Service of Remembrance at the foot of the Soldiers’ Tower (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

11. Attend a at Soldiers' Tower for a moving recitation of ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ alumnus John McCrae’s iconic poem In Flanders Fields. Remembrance Day services are held on all three campuses.

ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough students play a game of quidditch (photo by Ken Jones)

12. Compete in the Canadian Quidditch League (yes, they use actual brooms) by joining one of .

13. Listen to. There are 51 bells making up the carillon, and they range in weight from 23 pounds to four tons.

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough (photo by Ken Jones)

14. Take a gorgeous dip in . With its columns, vaulted ceilings and skylight, you’ll feel like you’re in Rome. Alternatively, pretend you’re a world-class athlete and go for a swim in one of the Olympic-size pools at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Scarborough’s .

15. Attend a campus trivia night – after all, university students like nothing better than proving how smart they are. Impress your professors at a faculty trivia night or join a trivia club like the one at for a longer-term commitment.

(Photo courtesy of ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Student Life)

16. Train with a niche sports team (or ) – there are a variety of options to choose from, ranging from ultimate Frisbee to cricket.

17. Experience outer space without leaving campus with . Offered by the department of astronomy and astrophysics, each tour includes star-gazing through the McLennan Physical Laboratories’ telescopes, as well as a trip to ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥â€™s . 

18. Venture beyond Robarts and study at least once in each of ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥â€™s . Hot tip: It is often easier to get the latest bestseller at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Libraries than it is to wait months on hold at the Toronto Public Library.

(photo by Paul Orenstein)  

19. Experience ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥â€™s natural beauty. Plan a picnic at one of ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥â€™s scenic quads or a hike through a ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ or ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥  trail. You might even encounter the local wildlife – it’s seemingly impossible to avoid on a walk through ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Mississauga.

20. Hang out with a prof during an at ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Mississauga. These events offer students the perfect opportunity to get to know campus faculty and staff, whether it’s through a scenic nature walk across campus trails or a quirky The Office-themed murder mystery.  

(photo by Laura Pedersen)

21. Wander through and have a deep philosophical debate. Or an existential crisis. Or an ethical dilemma. Or an afternoon nap.

22. There's a lot to do at Hart House, but here's a practical suggestion: Think about getting . 

23. Write for a campus newspaper or magazine. Join the ranks of ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥â€™s journalistic goliaths like (tri-campus) or (ÇÑ×ÓÖ±²¥ Mississauga) – or if you’re feeling creative, try a literary journal such as or a satire paper like .