Cansu Aydemir / en 'The place to find the identity you want to build': Students from the U.K. on why they chose 茄子直播 /news/place-find-identity-you-want-build-students-uk-why-they-chose-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'The place to find the identity you want to build': Students from the U.K. on why they chose 茄子直播</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0322_NeeharikaHemrajani002-1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-fcYBW5F 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/0322_NeeharikaHemrajani002-1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=slwH_wxm 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/0322_NeeharikaHemrajani002-1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=CEAKDjL_ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0322_NeeharikaHemrajani002-1.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-fcYBW5F" alt="Photo of Neeharika Hemrajani"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-04-25T19:15:01-04:00" title="Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 19:15" class="datetime">Thu, 04/25/2019 - 19:15</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">The U.K.'s Neeharika Hemrajani, who says 茄子直播 offers more academic freedom and opportunity than is the case back home, began taking coding classes after attending a computer science lecture with a friend (all photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cansu-aydemir" hreflang="en">Cansu Aydemir</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/munk-school-global-affairs-public-policy-0" hreflang="en">Munk School of Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/computer-science" hreflang="en">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/history" hreflang="en">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/innis-college" hreflang="en">Innis College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship" hreflang="en">Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/materials-science" hreflang="en">Materials Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/political-science" hreflang="en">Political Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/psychology" hreflang="en">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-michael-s-college" hreflang="en">St. Michael's College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trinity-college" hreflang="en">Trinity College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uk" hreflang="en">UK</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For students from the United Kingdom, studying at the University of Toronto can sometimes seem familiar to school back home. But there are plenty of small differences&nbsp;鈥 from gourmet food trucks to an abundance of course options&nbsp;鈥 that ensure a unique experience.</p> <p>鈥淢y high school campus used to be 10 minutes away from UCL [University College London], but there were no food trucks,鈥 says first-year student <strong>Neeharika Hemrajani</strong>. 鈥淚t is such a North American thing.鈥</p> <p>The chance to study a wide range of subjects was also a major draw, the Londoner adds.</p> <p>The strong ties between 茄子直播 and the U.K. date back to the granting of the university鈥檚 royal charter by King George IV in 1827. Fast-forward nearly 200 years and&nbsp;茄子直播 has important partnerships with institutions across the U.K. in fields ranging from&nbsp;urban studies to medicine 鈥 and 茄子直播 faculty have collaborated with researchers in the U.K. on thousands of publications.</p> <p>So what is it like for U.K. students studying at 茄子直播?</p> <p><strong>Cansu Aydemir</strong> 鈥&nbsp;a reporter at <em>茄子直播 News</em>&nbsp;who is an international student herself 鈥 explores the question in the final instalment of her series on the 茄子直播 international student experience.</p> <hr> <div> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10746 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0322_MaxSomer002-1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> </div> <p><strong>Max Somer</strong>鈥檚 parents immigrated to London from Canada in 1997. Twenty-one years later, Somer came back to Canada to study.</p> <p>Just like his father, he chose 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淗e is happy I came back to his <em>alma mater</em>,鈥&nbsp;says Somer, a first-year Trinity College student. 鈥淗e enjoyed his time here.鈥</p> <p>The flexibility 茄子直播 offers its students was also a big factor in Somer鈥檚 decision.</p> <p>鈥淚n the U.K., I would have to pick my courses before I got the school. Here I can do arts and sciences combined, and that was very appealing to me because I had no idea in what, exactly, I wanted to pursue.鈥</p> <p>Somer says he plans to major in chemistry with a double minor in political science and economics. He says the facilities at the university are impressive and the style of teaching&nbsp; took him by surprise since&nbsp;he鈥檇 expected to spend all his time sitting in lecture halls.</p> <p>鈥淚t is a lot more hands-on, and more active than what I was expecting,鈥 Somer says. 鈥淚 stay at the end of the lectures to talk to the professors and they are just happy to talk to students about something that they鈥檝e been researching for decades.鈥</p> <p>Somer works with a research group at the Munk School of Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy&nbsp;and is also a part of the Capital Markets Society.&nbsp;He says extracurricular activities are 鈥渁 great way to explore and decide whether I am interested in these subjects.鈥</p> <p>He also loves living 鈥渄owntown in one of the biggest cities in North America&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;in the big metropolis.鈥</p> <p>Somer had visited Canada before but says he was shocked by Toronto鈥檚 international character. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 was worried that I would be an outsider surrounded by Canadians, but it is certainly not the case,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t still feels Canadian 鈥 you have the nice aspects of Canadian life, like super friendliness.</p> <p>鈥淐ulturally it is a really nice place to live. People are very welcoming, people are very open, always willing to help. When you walk past on the road they will smile at you.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Somer encourages other students in the U.K. to seek 鈥渢he unique experience in Toronto: a big city and a vibrant campus鈥 even though Toronto is a long way from home.</p> <p>鈥淚 think, socially, for a lot of people it is terrifying for them to go thousands of miles away 鈥 they worry about making friends,鈥 he says. 鈥淏ut you need to remember that everyone comes to university with the same mentality of forming relationships with people.</p> <p>鈥淚t is not necessarily going to be easy, but everyone is in the same boat as you 鈥 so you shouldn鈥檛 be stressed about that aspect of it.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10742 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0322_NeeharikaHemrajani001-1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>London鈥檚 <strong>Neeharika Hemrajani </strong>says the Canadian approach to higher education offers more freedom and opportunities than the U.K. system.</p> <p>鈥淚n London, when you apply to university the biggest thing you have&nbsp;to do is make a decision about what you want to study before you go to the university,鈥 Hemrajani &nbsp;says.</p> <p>With 鈥渁 love for so many different kinds of things,鈥&nbsp;Hemrajani says her first year at 茄子直播 allowed her to explore many different fields before choosing a focus.</p> <p>鈥淚 found a little bit of a niche area where I can focus on my interest in people and how they were, how they are, and how they are going to be,鈥 says the student at St. Michael鈥檚 College who studies history, political science and psychology.</p> <p>In fact, Hemrajani says she discovers something new about herself every day.</p> <p>鈥淚 went to a computer science lecture with a friend just to see what it was like 鈥 and I was so amazed, to the point where I decided I wanted to pick it up. So, I started to go to classes and joined the 茄子直播 coding club, and now it is like a hobby for me.鈥</p> <p>She chose St. Michael鈥檚 without knowing much about the college system in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science.</p> <p>鈥淚 googled the college pictures before I made a choice and picked the prettiest one,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 love St. Michael鈥檚. It is a part of my identity now. You are kind of far away from the centre&nbsp;of campus and you have your own community, your own dining hall.鈥</p> <p>For Hemrajani, the highlights of life at 茄子直播 include snow, the winter holidays in Toronto 鈥 and food trucks.</p> <p>Hemrajani says she also loves the international experience that comes from living in Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淭oronto is one of the world鈥檚 most diverse cities; there is no race or color or age or anything associated with this city,鈥 she says. 鈥淎nd campus is full of so many international students that it is quite easy to find a home for yourself.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;Hemrajani says she also appreciates the range of opportunities and the welcoming atmosphere the school offers to its students.</p> <p>鈥淭his is the place to find the identity you want to build.鈥</p> <p><img alt="Alec Derry" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10743 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" src="/sites/default/files/0320_AlecDerry001-1.jpg" style="width: 680px; height: 453px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>For <strong>Alec Derry</strong>, the journey from the U.K. to Canada was long and winding.</p> <p>鈥淚 spent quite a bit of my childhood living in Western Europe&nbsp;鈥 in France, Switzerland 鈥 and moved to the U.S. briefly and then to Africa and to Eastern Europe and back to the U.S.,鈥 Derry says.</p> <p>Although his passport is British, and most of his family live in the West Midlands, his parents are international teachers. By the time he finishes his undergraduate degree, Toronto will be the place he has lived the longest.</p> <p>鈥淚t is hard to call anywhere home,鈥 Derry says, when you鈥檝e never lived anywhere longer than 鈥渕aximum two to three years.鈥</p> <p>After experiencing many different countries, Derry says he chose to study at 茄子直播 because it was everything he was looking for: a recognized university in an international city that had good public transportation.</p> <p>The only challenge was funding 鈥 but he applied for a&nbsp;Lester B. Pearson international Scholarship and was successful.&nbsp;</p> <p>His advice for future students is to try as many things as possible in your first year. Derry originally planned to major in computer science but, once classes began, realized he preferred psychology and switched his major to cognitive science.</p> <p>鈥淐ognitive science is just so interesting. In the lectures they explain the history of how we got to this point, they explain artificial intelligence. I am just amazed by it.鈥</p> <p>Derry says he chose University College because of its central location and architecture.</p> <p>鈥淚t is right next to most of my classes 鈥 maximum a 30-second walk to any of the buildings my classes are in. And it looked nice, honestly.&nbsp;The pictures were very good.鈥</p> <p>Derry says he loves being part of a globally renowned university, but it鈥檚 not just about the reputation. It鈥檚 because of what underlies that reputation.</p> <p>鈥淲hat I enjoy most are the professors I have in my class 鈥 just because the university is that good. You have all these leading researchers in different fields.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10744 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0319_PaulHutchinson001-1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Paul Hutchinson</strong>, a student at UCL, considered several factors when deciding whether to spend his third year on exchange at 茄子直播.</p> <p>Now at Innis College, Hutchinson says he chose Canada because he wanted to be in North America, Toronto&nbsp;because he wanted to study in another big and multicultural city and 茄子直播&nbsp;because of its academic reputation.</p> <p>A history major, Hutchinson says he always assumed Canada and the U.K. were quite similar but now that he鈥檚 here&nbsp;he can see a difference.</p> <p>He describes Toronto as 鈥渁mazingly diverse鈥 adding, 鈥淵ou can meet people from around the world. I thought London was quite diverse, but it is more diverse here.鈥</p> <p>After spending almost a year here at 茄子直播, Hutchinson says the school has given him a different perspective.</p> <p>鈥淭he biggest difference is the academics. They are quite different because back home I only do history. Here it is been really nice to do other classes like anthropology, art history and religion,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he British way of doing university is a particular way and I think it is always helpful, especially for history, to get a different way of doing things.</p> <p>鈥淎 lot of the history courses I have taken challenged the way I do history because it is very different here. Britain is very European-centered, but here, for example, I am doing an African history class, which is really interesting.鈥</p> <p>Hutchinson says the first thing he鈥檒l tell people back home is 鈥渋t is true that people are really friendly here. Canadian people are really nice. It has been very easy to make friends and have conversations with people.鈥</p> <p>The exchange program has also made Hutchinson realize that he could thrive by&nbsp;living and studying abroad.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 think I want to apply for my master鈥檚 abroad. Germany, Netherlands, maybe Canada.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10745 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0319_JenniferDixon002-1-lead.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>For the U.K.鈥檚 <strong>Jennifer Dixon</strong>, who grew up in Oman and attended an American international school, 鈥渉ome has always been a place that is international.鈥</p> <p>With a Malaysian and British background, the fourth-year student says she chose to study in Canada because it was 鈥渃ulturally similar鈥 in many ways.</p> <p>鈥淚t had the American culture, but it also had the diversity that I was looking for,鈥 she says. 鈥淎s someone who is mixed ethnicity, you鈥檙e kind of caught in this identity crisis all the time. So, one thing I like is that I have the culture of both my ethnicities present in Toronto.鈥</p> <p>Now in her final year of materials engineering in 茄子直播鈥檚 Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering, Dixon says home is where your family is 鈥 and 鈥渋f it is not that, then it is where your heart is, where your friends are, where you think that you are going to succeed or grow as a person.鈥</p> <p>She says the top reputation of 茄子直播's engineering program was a key factor in her decision to come to the university.</p> <p>鈥淚 wanted to have that recognition because I knew that there was a good chance I was going to be working overseas at some point in my life, and I wanted a future employer to be able to look at my resume and say, 鈥樓炎又辈? I know that place 鈥 they are known for engineering.鈥欌&nbsp;</p> <p>Her high school interest in chemistry and physics pushed her towards materials engineering.</p> <p>鈥淚 wanted to do engineering just on the basis of problem-solving and the way I like to approach things,鈥 Dixon says. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淢aterial science as a subject matter is really interesting for me because it is so interdisciplinary 鈥 every single engineer out there works with materials one way or another. And studying materials provides a very fundamental foundation of how the world works.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Dixon says she enjoys the student life and extracurricular activities in engineering, but the academic rigour of the program can make it difficult to get involved.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥溓炎又辈 engineering is so rigorous. It is a lot of work ... you have to give up some of the studying sometimes&nbsp;to do other things.鈥</p> <p>Dixon advises incoming students to 鈥渇ind mentorship very early on.鈥</p> <p>鈥淥nce you have a friend or someone to lean on [while] trying to navigate through all the information during the first year 鈥 the new city, the new weather, and the environment 鈥 it is a lot easier.鈥</p> <p><em>International student Cansu Aydemir is an intern at 茄子直播 News. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in Toronto since 2012 and is now in her fourth year of studies at 茄子直播 where she is specializing in history and minoring in diaspora and transnational studies</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 25 Apr 2019 23:15:01 +0000 noreen.rasbach 156364 at 'I wanted to be a part of the mosaic of diversity': Students from Mexico on why they chose 茄子直播 /news/i-wanted-be-part-mosaic-diversity-students-mexico-why-they-chose-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'I wanted to be a part of the mosaic of diversity': Students from Mexico on why they chose 茄子直播</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ATygrc-G 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jH7ljFHz 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=MKw-laiQ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ATygrc-G" alt="photo of Eri Kimura Meguro"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-04-10T10:41:08-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 10:41" class="datetime">Wed, 04/10/2019 - 10:41</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Eri Kimura, from Mexico City, says studying at 茄子直播 changed the way she thinks about history, society and other topics, while the university's diverse campus gave her new insights on tolerance (all photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cansu-aydemir" hreflang="en">Cansu Aydemir</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/anthropology" hreflang="en">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship" hreflang="en">Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-college" hreflang="en">New College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-commerce" hreflang="en">Rotman Commerce</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When University of Toronto President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> led a delegation to Mexico City last year, he noted that international students at 茄子直播 encounter 鈥渘ew ideas, perspectives and approaches that in turn inspire mutual understanding and stimulate knowledge.鈥</p> <p>That鈥檚 a perspective echoed by many of the Mexican students interviewed by <em>茄子直播 News</em> reporter <strong>Cansu Aydemir</strong>, an international student herself.</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 makes you question a lot,鈥 says fourth-year student <strong>Eri Kimura</strong>, who left Mexico City to study at 茄子直播. 鈥淲hy did I take this for granted? Why did I think history was like this? Why did I think society was supposed to be like this?鈥</p> <p>茄子直播 has important ties with Mexico. They include&nbsp;partnerships with UNAM (Universidad Nacional Aut贸noma de M茅xico),&nbsp;Tec de Monterrey (Instituto Tecnol贸gico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey),&nbsp;FUNED (Fundaci贸n Mexicana para la Educaci贸n, la Tecnolog铆a y la Ciencia) and <a href="/news/agreement-will-bring-more-phd-students-u-t-mexico">CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog铆a)</a> 鈥 not to mention the hundreds of research publications authored by 茄子直播 scholars with Mexican colleagues.</p> <p>But the experiences of Mexican students across the university鈥檚 three campuses offer a more intimate look at the relationship between the university and the&nbsp;country of more than 130 million.</p> <p>Here are a few of their stories:</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10626 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_AdrianaPatino001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Mexico City鈥檚 <strong>Adriana Diaz Lozano Patino</strong> got to know 茄子直播 when her brother was accepted into the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering seven years ago.</p> <p>Patino鈥檚 brother was the first member of her family to study abroad. She says he cleared the path her.</p> <p>鈥淢y brother loved it here, he stayed after his undergraduate studies and he did his master鈥檚 here,鈥 she says. 鈥淣ow he works in Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淗e passed on that love to me I guess.鈥</p> <p>Patino says 茄子直播鈥檚 global reputation, its welcoming approach towards international students and its research opportunities were also factors that brought her to 茄子直播.</p> <p>Now in her first year studying engineering science, Patino says she is planning to major in biomedical engineering.</p> <p>鈥淚 have been dreaming for a long time to become a researcher in the field,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 picture myself in a lab, cloning molecules and whatnot.鈥</p> <p>A top student in high school, Patino won a Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship to attend 茄子直播. She says she was aware she was entering a competitive environment. What she didn鈥檛 expect was how much she would struggle with the language.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 remember coming to physics lab and people started talking about these concepts and I was like, 鈥楨xcuse me?鈥欌 Patino says. 鈥淭hen I realized that I actually know the concepts, but in different words; I got used to the fact and built my own strategy within a couple of months.鈥</p> <p>Patino says she enjoys being a part of the engineering community.</p> <p>鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have this feeling of unhealthy competition within the engineering community. &nbsp;If you have a problem, you know people will be there for you.鈥</p> <p>For students who are considering whether to study abroad, Patino has some advice.</p> <p>鈥淔or Latin American families, the idea of leaving the family at such a young age is frightening,鈥 she says. 鈥淏ut they should come. They shouldn鈥檛 be scared 鈥 they are going to find amazing people, amazing professors.</p> <p>鈥淭here is something here that is going to be for you whether you like dancing, whether you like writing or designing a Formula 1 car.鈥</p> <p>It鈥檚 also important for students to remember that it is possible to 鈥渉elp your country even though you don鈥檛 live there,鈥 she says.</p> <p>鈥淲e can all help to rebuild what is being broken every day by pursuing your passion and you coming here, experiencing this world.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10627 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_MarcosMadrigalalbores001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Home for <strong>Marcos David Madrigal Albores </strong>is the southern state of&nbsp;Chiapas鈥檚 capital city, Tuxtla Guti茅rrez. But Albores always wanted to see Toronto, the setting for Canadian author Bryan Lee O鈥橫alley鈥檚 <em>Scott Pilgrim versus the World</em>.</p> <p>Albores loved the popular graphic novel so much that, when he started high school four years ago, he and his family planned a vacation to Canada鈥檚 largest city.</p> <p>Albores took a tour of the downtown Toronto campus and says he was impressed with the facilities and the programs offered.</p> <p>鈥淲e were just joking that it would be great if I studied here at 茄子直播,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Four years later his wish came true: Albores is now a first-year engineering science student, hoping to specialize in machine intelligence.</p> <p>Getting here wasn鈥檛 easy.</p> <p>鈥淢y state is not the richest in Mexico. It would be very hard to pay the tuition unless I got a scholarship,鈥 he says.</p> <p>During the final days of the application cycle, he won the Engineering International Scholar Award, which partially covered his tuition. With the financial help and support of his family, he says, he had the chance to follow his dream.</p> <p>Albores defines himself as a 鈥済lobal person鈥 and says that it鈥檚 the diversity that he likes most about Canada and Toronto. He also enjoys the scenery of the city.</p> <p>鈥淭all buildings, blue sky, snow in the streets, the tiny communities like Greektown, Little Italy. I feel like they are all part of the city鈥檚 character and I love it.鈥</p> <p>Albores says he hopes that one day his brother, 10, will also study at 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 is the number one school in Canada, among the top 20 in the world,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he engineering program鈥檚 level of detail and depth is much more than you could get in Mexico or other parts of the world.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10628 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_EriKimuraMeguro001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>When <strong>Eri Kimura</strong>鈥檚 parents told her she could leave Mexico City to study abroad, she immediately thought of Toronto.</p> <p>Her sister had studied in the United States, but Kimura says Canada鈥檚 approach to multiculturalism was more appealing.</p> <p>鈥淚n sociology it is called the mosaic versus the melting pot,鈥 Kimura says. 鈥淢y friends who have gone to the U.S. had to fit into the society 鈥 they molded into the society 鈥 but I wanted to be a part of the mosaic of diversity where I could still be me, still have my culture and also be able to explore others.鈥</p> <p>She chose New College for a similar reason: diversity.</p> <p>鈥淣ew College seemed like it was more multicultural: all their programs and initiatives were [about] equity and they wanted students to feel like they are in a community,鈥 she says.</p> <p>鈥淭hat really resonated with what I wanted.鈥</p> <p>After her first year at Rotman Commerce, Kimura says she realized she wanted to widen her studies.</p> <p>Now in her fourth&nbsp;year of specializing in management at Rotman Commerce,&nbsp;she is also doing a major&nbsp;in international relations and&nbsp;a minor in economics.</p> <p>鈥淚 see myself in international institutions and diplomacy,鈥 she says.</p> <p>After the devastating earthquakes in Mexico in 2017, Kimura initiated a campaign to help the victims.</p> <p>鈥淚 basically bought two jars, went out and started collecting money,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hen I received very positive reactions and in the end we were 15 or 16 students trying to get help for earthquake victims.鈥</p> <p>Kimura believes that the way she thinks has changed dramatically at 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淚 am way more tolerant and&nbsp;way more conscious about how I treat others, or how I interact with others,鈥 she says. 鈥溓炎又辈 makes you question a lot. Why did I take this for granted?&nbsp;Why did I think history was like this?&nbsp;Why did I think society was supposed be like this? And it gives you all the tools to explore further.鈥</p> <p>For future students, Kimura recommends attending Step Up, the orientation program for international students.</p> <p>鈥淔or me it was a game-changer,鈥 she says.&nbsp;鈥淚 met my friend group 鈥 we are from 10 different nationalities 鈥 and we are just very similar in so many different ways.鈥</p> <p>Kimura is planning to spend her summer after graduation in Toronto working with a professor on a G20 research project.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10631 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_LuisCarlosSoldevilla002.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Mexico City鈥檚 <strong>Luis Carlos Soldevilla Estrada</strong> knew he wanted to study abroad. One option was to follow his brother to the United States 鈥 but he didn鈥檛 like the political situation there. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淢y whole family are immigrants,鈥 he says.&nbsp;鈥淢y father is from Peru and my mother is from Bolivia, and I don鈥檛 like how the United States is going right now with Trump.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Now in his first year studying computer science and mathematics at 茄子直播 Mississauga, Estrada says he chose 茄子直播 because of the 鈥渙pportunities and the variety of programs.鈥</p> <p>Initially, Estrada wanted to major in economics. However, when he started doing research projects in mathematics in high school he changed his mind.&nbsp;He started programming and he found it 鈥渧ery useful and interesting鈥.</p> <p>Estrada&nbsp;chose to study in Mississauga because, after living in Mexico City, he wanted a different lifestyle .</p> <p>鈥淢ississauga is a little bit calmer,鈥 Estrada says. 鈥淵ou have your space, there are fewer people, nature is beautiful 鈥&nbsp; I wanted to try&nbsp;a new thing and that is very new for me.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Estrada says the cozier atmosphere of Mississauga meant the social life on campus exceeded his expectations.</p> <p>鈥淚t is easier to find friends here. If I see my friend in a classroom on Monday, I could see him the next day in the cafeteria,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Estrada says he likes how 鈥渆verything is well organized鈥 in Canada and he appreciates the opportunities and aids the school provides for students.</p> <p>鈥淚f I have some doubts about a course, I could approach academic advisors or faculty. The building is two minutes away from my residence 鈥 they are very approachable and it鈥檚 easy to communicate.鈥</p> <p>In his mathematics club, Estrada says&nbsp;they work on challenging math problems&nbsp;and talk about&nbsp;recent research projects.</p> <p>He also plays intramural soccer and is involved with the machine learning reading club.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淓very week one person presents either an interesting subject in machine learning or anything they implemented,鈥 he says.</p> <p>鈥淚f you choose 茄子直播 鈥 any campus, doesn鈥檛 matter,&nbsp;St. George, Mississauga or Scarborough 鈥 you are going to get a lot of great experiences and you will meet with many people from different countries.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10632 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_VinicioCorral001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Born in Mexico City,&nbsp;<strong>Vinicio&nbsp;Corral&nbsp;Gutierrez</strong>&nbsp;attended high school in San Diego 鈥 so when it came time for university, his first thought was to try his luck with U.S. colleges.</p> <p>Then a friend suggested Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淚t was before the 2016 election and my friend said Donald Trump is going to win, we should apply to Canada,鈥 Gutierrez says. 鈥淚 didn't know much about Toronto, but I said, 鈥楽ure,鈥 because I knew that it would be a clean slate.鈥</p> <p>After spending time in Toronto, he says he really likes the multicultural structure of the city.</p> <p>鈥淭here are so many people from everywhere,鈥 he says. 鈥淲hen you go outside, you hear a lot of different languages&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;I hear a lot of Spanish which is nice.鈥</p> <p>Now, Gutierrez is in his second year, studying anthropology in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, at University College.</p> <p>He says he chose his college randomly, but is happy with how things worked out.</p> <p>鈥淯niversity College is really nice,鈥 he says.&nbsp;鈥淚 really like the people I have met there, and it is one of the best dining halls in campus.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Finding the right academic focus was more challenging than choosing a college, Gutierrez adds. He began by majoring in physics and mathematics in his first year, but soon realized he needed to make a change.</p> <p>鈥淚 realized that I am very bad at math; I was good at high school math, but not at university math,鈥 he says.</p> <p>He switched to anthropology when he realized his interest lies in human interactions. He hopes to build a career in public relations. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 thought that anthropology would be good because it is the study of people, so I got to study all these different cultures and all these different backgrounds which I can apply to my work later on.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅 <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10633 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_ArturoRezaUgalde001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>A scholarship from the CONACyT&nbsp;program, supported by the Secretary of Energy in Mexico, brought <strong>Arturo Reza Ugalde</strong> to 茄子直播 for his PhD in mechanical engineering.</p> <p>Ugalde, whose research is in sustainable energy, completed his undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees in Mexico City. At 茄子直播, he works on composite materials for electrochemical applications and the reduction of carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淓nvironmental impacts of sustainable energy are something we see everywhere in the whole world,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Ugalde adds he could have chosen to study anywhere in the world with the scholarship,&nbsp;but selected Canada and 茄子直播 for very important reasons.</p> <p>鈥淢exico is trying to do something about clean energies because Mexico City is one of the most contaminated cities in the whole world 鈥 and Canada is really good at [clean energy research],鈥 Ugalde says. 鈥淚 love everything related to clean energies. I am passionate&nbsp;about it.鈥</p> <p>He adds that 茄子直播's global rankings helped seal the deal.</p> <p>Ugalde visited Toronto before making a decision and liked the people and the city.&nbsp;While he knew Toronto was diverse, the level of multiculturalism in Toronto still surprised him once he got here.</p> <p>鈥淔or some reason, I imagined that I was going to be surrounded by Canadian people 鈥 but then when&nbsp;I came here, I realized that Canadian people are people from all over the world,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou can go to a restaurant and, all of a sudden, you start hearing six, seven languages at the same time.鈥</p> <p>Ugalde says 茄子直播 provides a variety of options and opportunities to graduate students.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲e have access to a lot of resources, labs have a lot of good equipment and we also have access to any other department 鈥 so that makes easier to work in any type of research,鈥 he says.</p> <p>For any students of any age planning to attend 茄子直播, Ugalde has some advice.</p> <p>鈥淲e Mexicans are really tied to our roots, families and home and that is what makes it harder for us to emmigrate to another country, but when you are here you feel very supported by others 鈥 your colleagues and professors 鈥 and it makes things easier,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 would love others&nbsp;to experience what it is [like] to be in a world-class university with pretty much unlimited access to resources and equipment.</p> <p>鈥淗ere, for example, students start doing research and internships during undergrad 鈥 and I would like Mexican students to experience working in the industry, and really experience research from a very early stage.鈥</p> <p>Ugalde says he is considering a post-doctoral position at 茄子直播 in the coming year.</p> <p>鈥淚 am pretty sure whatever I do here 鈥 all the research 鈥 it will be really, really beneficial for Mexico when I go back.鈥</p> <p><em>International student Cansu Aydemir is an intern at 茄子直播 News. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in Toronto since 2012 and is now in her fourth year of studies at 茄子直播 where she is specializing in history and minoring in diaspora and transnational studies</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:41:08 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 156162 at 'Bring the best out of you': Students from India on why they chose to study at 茄子直播 /news/bring-best-out-you-students-india-why-they-chose-study-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'Bring the best out of you': Students from India on why they chose to study at 茄子直播</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0130_SukhmaniKaira002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=a9ZBa_JD 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/0130_SukhmaniKaira002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YXhPDRF4 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/0130_SukhmaniKaira002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-AO9jvU1 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0130_SukhmaniKaira002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=a9ZBa_JD" alt="photo of Sukhmani Khaira"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-02-14T16:09:14-05:00" title="Thursday, February 14, 2019 - 16:09" class="datetime">Thu, 02/14/2019 - 16:09</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Sukhmani Khaira, from Amritsar, says that, while the academics are rigorous, 茄子直播 provides students with the opportunity to chart their own course (all photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cansu-aydemir" hreflang="en">Cansu Aydemir</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/computer-science" hreflang="en">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship-hatchery" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship Hatchery</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/india" hreflang="en">India</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/innis-college" hreflang="en">Innis College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship" hreflang="en">Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-college" hreflang="en">New College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-commerce" hreflang="en">Rotman Commerce</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/startups" hreflang="en">Startups</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/victoria-college" hreflang="en">Victoria College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/victoria-university" hreflang="en">Victoria University</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto is forging an ever deeper relationship with India as evidenced by plans to launch an urban research centre and entrepreneurship hub in the country of 1.3 billion in partnership with Tata Trusts.</p> <p>At the same time, a growing number of Indian students are opting to study at 茄子直播, with undergraduate enrolment soaring 280 per cent between 2014 and last year.</p> <p>Why 茄子直播?</p> <p>The university鈥檚 global reputation coupled with Toronto鈥檚 welcoming atmosphere and diverse communities are oft-cited reasons.</p> <p>To get a fuller picture of 茄子直播鈥檚 Indian student experience, <em>茄子直播 News</em> reporter <strong>Cansu Aydemir </strong>鈥 an international student herself 鈥 asked students from India about their life on and off campus.</p> <p>Here's what they said:</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10210 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0130_TaanviMalhotra002-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>When <strong>Taanvi Malhotra</strong> was trying to decide where to attend university, she knew she wanted to study abroad to get an international experience.</p> <p>The Bangalore student considered the United States, but in the end she chose Canada.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淐anada had a better reputation than the U.S.,鈥 Malhotra says. 鈥淚 knew it would be better for my employment and my quality of life.鈥</p> <p>Now in her third year, Malhotra studies digital enterprise management at 茄子直播 Mississauga. She says she considered all three campuses but chose Mississauga for three reasons: She wanted to be in the management program and she loved the campus鈥檚 modern architecture. Plus, she felt 茄子直播 Mississauga offered a smaller, more intimate university experience.</p> <p>鈥淵ou know everyone on campus, you are connected to everyone in some ways and it just makes you more comfortable,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 love the campus; I think it is very pretty. I love the nature, and I love the deer.鈥</p> <p>While Malhotra didn鈥檛 anticipate being actively involved in campus life when she first arrived, she says the variety of options and opportunities made her want to step forward.</p> <p>Last year, she was the public relations director for the Student Management Association and this year she has a work-study placement at the department of management as the engagement and digital media assistant.</p> <p>Malhotra says her role mostly focuses on social media.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 basically in charge of organizing the online reputation of the department of management, insuring that all social media accounts and all communications are successfully done,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Asked what she likes best about the school, she responds 鈥渢he opportunities, the endless opportunities 鈥 you can do whatever you want if you just want it hard enough at 茄子直播.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10211 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0130_SukhmaniKaira001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Amritsar鈥檚<strong> Sukhmani Khaira</strong> didn鈥檛 just want to find the right university 鈥 she also wanted to find the best country to help build her career.</p> <p>鈥淲hen it came to deciding between England, the United States or Canada the fact that Canada is an open and warmer community than other places was what attracted me here,鈥 Khaira says.&nbsp; 鈥淚 did look at the fact that if I am going to stay in a country after my graduation for a year or two to gain some experience, that is much easier in Canada than in England.</p> <p>鈥淎nd Toronto is the New York of Canada; it is the best place if you want to work in the financial sector or business-related jobs.鈥</p> <p>Now in her first year at 茄子直播鈥檚 Victoria University on the downtown Toronto campus, Khaira is pursuing a double major in mathematics and economics.</p> <p>What made her choose Victoria?</p> <p>鈥淚t looks a lot like Hogwarts,鈥 she says, referring to the fictional British school of magic from J.K. Rowling鈥檚 Harry Potter series.</p> <p>Khaira says she chose 茄子直播 because of its high ranking. She was aware that she was going to join a competitive environment.</p> <p>鈥淎 lot of people did tell me that 茄子直播 is a hard school and that people are going to be as good as me if not better,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t takes a lot of time to get used to the fact that if you are an above-average student back in high school you are an average student here, and you can鈥檛 just get straight As.鈥</p> <p>While she feels the academic rigour, Khaira says 茄子直播 provides a variety of opportunities to its students.</p> <p>鈥淵ou can use 茄子直播 to bring the best out of you. I really like the degree flexibility at 茄子直播 鈥 you can just mix and match your courses. That鈥檚 something they didn鈥檛 have back home. &nbsp;You couldn鈥檛 double major in, let鈥檚 say, psychology and mathematics. But here you can.鈥</p> <p>Khaira says she is getting used to living in a new country, and that the Indian community in the GTA is a big help.</p> <p>鈥淚 really like the fact that Toronto is very close to Brampton and Mississauga, and that has a lot of Indian community; if I am really homesick I can go to the restaurants there or visit the places in Brampton 鈥 it kind of feels like home,鈥 she says.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10212 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0130_ShubraBedi001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>An interest in artificial intelligence and cyber security caused <strong>Shubhra Bedi</strong> to fix her gaze on North American universities.</p> <p>She applied to both U.S. and Canadian schools but had her heart set on 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淚 went through a lot of research and I found that 茄子直播 is number one in Canada and among top 10 in the world for AI research,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Bedi is from Delhi 鈥 one of the most populated cities in the world 鈥 and she grew up in Doha, capital of Qatar. &nbsp;She says a tour with her parents that included stops in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, also helped her to finalize her decision.</p> <p>鈥淚 saw most parts of Canada. It was a very beautiful experience with mountains and snow and I loved Canada,鈥 she says.&nbsp;</p> <p>Now in her first year of computer science, Bedi says she chose New College on the downtown Toronto campus because of its location, size, social scene and amenities.</p> <p>鈥淣ew College is the closest to all the classes, it is in the middle [of the downtown Toronto campus] so you can reach everywhere with a 10-minute walk 鈥 plus it has a very big community, so lot鈥檚 of events are happening continuously,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Bedi has joined a dance club, works as a house representative at New College, and plans to join 茄子直播鈥檚 Model United Nations.</p> <p>She says she made the right choice by coming to 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淚t has a very safe environment, lots of people from different backgrounds and various clubs,鈥 she says.</p> <p>But life isn鈥檛 always easy. Sometimes, Bedi says, the competitiveness of the computer science program can be overwhelming. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淐omputer science is one of the hardest programs to get into,鈥 she says referring to the grade point average she required. &nbsp;鈥淭hat is the hard part.鈥</p> <p>Living far away from home and family also makes her miss 鈥渢he comfort of not worrying about anything,鈥 she says. However, she says she enjoys being independent and 鈥渟tanding on her own feet.鈥</p> <p>For future students, she recommends, 鈥渒eep working right from the beginning, getting rid of distractions.</p> <p>鈥淵ou just have to stay in your path and make sure you achieve what you came here for.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10213 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0130_AvaniSingha001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Avani Singh </strong>had always wanted to leave her home in Jaipur to attend university. Destination: North America.</p> <p>But how to decide between the U.S. and Canada?</p> <p>鈥淚n my year, which was 2016, the whole election thing was going on, so it was a tipping point towards Canada,鈥 Singh says.</p> <p>Rankings matter a lot to international students, she adds, and 茄子直播鈥檚 high ranking among the world鈥檚 top universities was a big draw for her.</p> <p>After a rigorous search, she settled on Victoria College at 茄子直播鈥檚 Victoria University.</p> <p>鈥淰ictoria suited me best because it has this artsy and inclusive vibe going on around it that I love. Everyone knows everyone and they all are very open-minded and generous and kind.鈥</p> <p>Singh is now in her third year at Rotman Commerce specializing in management, with minors in economics and computer science.</p> <p>She chose Rotman Commerce because it is 鈥渙ne of the most valued business programs in almost the entire North America,鈥 she says.</p> <p>鈥淢y classes are fabulous 鈥 very integrated, and hands-on. It is not just like learning the material and writing the exam. We have guest speakers, we get to interact with them, we actually go to sites and do studies 鈥 it is way better than I imagined and I am learning more than I imagined,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Looking back, Singh says certain opportunities helped smooth her transition to 茄子直播 life.</p> <p>鈥淚 thought 茄子直播 would be this huge place where I would never find a community. But literally the moment I stepped in I became a part of Step Up, the international transition program that happens a week before university starts, which introduced me to my first group of friends and gave me the confidence that I needed.鈥</p> <p>Now, Toronto feels more like home than her actual home, she says.</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 made Toronto into my house.鈥</p> <p>Singh is doing a work-study placement at the Centre for Community Partnerships, with a focus on the Alternative Reading Week program, which aims to help communities in need.</p> <p>鈥淒uring Reading Week we take approximately 150 to 200 students and we send them out into communities out where they can help the community with whatever they need,鈥 she says. 鈥淪o it gives them a lot of experience and exposure to what Toronto is actually like and allows them to do something useful over the reading week.鈥</p> <p>Singh, who comes from a desert area of India, says the weather has been challenging at times. But she says the warmth of the people she meets helps offset the cold.</p> <p>鈥淚 remember the day I came: I had two suitcases with me and two strangers helped me on the street. That doesn鈥檛 happen in most parts of the world,鈥 she says.</p> <p>鈥淜nowing how much war and everything is going on, Canada is like this beacon of friendship and peace and I really like it.鈥</p> <p>She encourages other Indian students who are thinking about studying abroad to choose 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淐anada is a beautiful country and it will definitely make you a better human being. I want them to know, it may feel scary, it may feel big, but it will feel like home after a while.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10214 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0130_AkshitGoyal001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>A Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship brought <strong>Akshit Goyal </strong>to 茄子直播 from his home in the northern border city of Amritsar.</p> <p>Now in his first year of studying computer science, Goyal says that, along with the prestigious scholarship, 茄子直播鈥檚 global reputation for computer science and research opportunities were key factors in his decision to come to Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淭he teaching I get here, the professors that I have here 鈥 I wouldn鈥檛 get that in any other college in the world,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Goyal chose Innis College on the downtown Toronto campus, primarily for its size.</p> <p>鈥淚nnis is one of the smallest colleges at 茄子直播,鈥 he says. 鈥淲hen you are in a small community you see each and every person every day, you talk to them everyday 鈥 it becomes like a family.鈥</p> <p>Goyal says he appreciates the great range of opportunities that the school provides and tries to get involved as much as possible.</p> <p>鈥淭he professors give you opportunities 鈥 you get to do some research with them,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get that kind of opportunity at every school, you only get it at top schools like 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淚 really like the [Entrepreneurship] Hatchery in the engineering department. If you have a startup idea you can go to them and they will find you resources for that 鈥 they will help you.鈥</p> <p>Goyal recently participated in an 鈥淎ccelerator Weekend鈥 competition organized by the Hatchery. His team, called Sparrow, won first prize.</p> <p>鈥淚t was a two-day event held at Fields Institute Building where we had to come up with a startup idea and a pitch for that startup idea in the span of 28 hours,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Goyal is also a student ambassador at 茄子直播, and a TEDxUofT volunteer.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檝e actually always watched TEDx videos online and I really liked the concept of it, but when I came here I never imagined that I would be a part of it,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Of course, he had his own questions before coming to a big school in a different country.</p> <p>鈥淎t first when I saw the size of the university it was a bit scary,鈥 he says. 鈥淲ill I get lost here? Will I make friends?</p> <p>Today, he says, he feels at home.</p> <p>鈥淚 have friends who I believe will be life-long friends. Everyone is so supportive here.鈥</p> <p>Goyal says he doesn鈥檛 miss home much 鈥 except for his mom鈥檚 food 鈥 and that there鈥檚 one 鈥渟trange, but nice鈥 thing he really likes about Canada.</p> <p>鈥淗ere the pedestrians have the rights. If you want to cross the road the cars will stop; in India it is not possible. I was really confused at first, but this is something I really like about Canada,鈥 he says.</p> <p>He has a message for future students.</p> <p>鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid. Trust me, there is this assumption that 茄子直播 is really hard 鈥 but nothing is hard if you want to do it.</p> <p>鈥淵ou can do it.鈥</p> <p><em>International student Cansu Aydemir is an intern at 茄子直播 News. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in Toronto since 2012 and is now in her fourth year of studies at 茄子直播 where she is specializing in history and minoring in diaspora and transnational studies</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:09:14 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 153446 at 'You will be one step ahead': Students from Turkey on why they chose 茄子直播 /news/you-will-be-one-step-ahead-students-turkey-why-they-chose-study-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'You will be one step ahead': Students from Turkey on why they chose 茄子直播</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/1207_SelinEksioglu001-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iR87VVHN 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/1207_SelinEksioglu001-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Jv6HUlc0 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/1207_SelinEksioglu001-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=D08LD2V8 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/1207_SelinEksioglu001-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iR87VVHN" alt="International student Selin Eksioglu on the University of Toronto downtown campus"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-01-24T10:27:02-05:00" title="Thursday, January 24, 2019 - 10:27" class="datetime">Thu, 01/24/2019 - 10:27</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Selin Eksioglu says she chose 茄子直播 over other Canadian schools because of 茄子直播鈥檚 global reputation and the range of opportunities it offers (all photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cansu-aydemir" hreflang="en">Cansu Aydemir</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/john-h-daniels-faculty-architecture" hreflang="en">John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mechanical-industrial-engineering" hreflang="en">Mechanical &amp; Industrial Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/political-science" hreflang="en">Political Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trinity-college" hreflang="en">Trinity College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/turkey" hreflang="en">Turkey</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/varsity-blues" hreflang="en">Varsity Blues</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The number of Turkish students at the University of Toronto may still be relatively small&nbsp;鈥 they accounted for just 223 of 茄子直播's approximately&nbsp;21,000 international students in 2018 鈥 but their numbers can be expected to grow.&nbsp;</p> <p>More than 1,000 prospective students from Turkey applied to 茄子直播 last year, drawn by 茄子直播's global reputation, high ranking and Canada's welcoming multicultural environment.</p> <p>鈥淚 knew that it was one of the best 20 schools in the world,鈥 says&nbsp;<strong>Selin Gur</strong>, a fourth-year student at 茄子直播 Mississauga. 鈥淭here are no words to explain my excitement when I received the acceptance letter from 茄子直播.鈥</p> <p>In order to better understand the many facets of 茄子直播's&nbsp;international student experience,&nbsp;<strong>Cansu Aydemir&nbsp;</strong>鈥 herself a student from Turkey and an intern at <em>茄子直播 News</em><strong> 鈥&nbsp;</strong>recently spoke with several&nbsp;students from Turkey about their studies, life on campus and what drew them to the university.</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9940 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1207_DenizNalbantoglu001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>When <strong>Deniz Nalbantoglu</strong> finished high school in Istanbul, she says she had two options: study in Canada or the United States.</p> <p>Nalbantoglu says she chose Canada because she felt the country was more open and welcoming towards international students. She chose to study at 茄子直播 because of its global reputation and ranking.</p> <p>Now in her second year of studying industrial engineering, Nalbantoglu says today she has two homes.</p> <p>鈥淗ome for me is where my family is and that鈥檚 why Turkey&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;Istanbul&nbsp;鈥 is home, but Toronto is my second home since I have a different kind of family here, with my friends,鈥 says Nalbantoglu.</p> <p>For someone who 鈥渁lways aimed to be efficient&nbsp;in every part of my life, even in small tasks,鈥 industrial engineering has been a great fit, Nalbantoglu says. She loves the discipline鈥檚 emphasis on productivity and efficiency, and says the field offers many opportunities, including in management.</p> <p>鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to limit myself 鈥 and in industrial engineering there is no limit,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to sit in an office all day and work with numbers. Industrial engineering is something that would allow me to use my social skills.鈥</p> <p>Engineering has challenged her, and helped her grow, she says.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淎t 茄子直播, I started to clearly see what I can and can鈥檛 do. For the first time in my life, I feel that I鈥檝e achieved things. Back in Turkey, I have family&nbsp;鈥 they always help&nbsp;鈥 but here I am alone and I have to do everything by myself;&nbsp;stand on my own feet. I believe 茄子直播 made me more independent and boosted my self-confidence.鈥</p> <p>Asked about her favourite things in Canada and Toronto, she says, 鈥減eople,鈥 without hesitation.</p> <p>鈥淚t is very easy to communicate with people here,鈥 Nalbantoglu says. 鈥淧eople are very respectful, tolerant and helpful.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9941 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1207_ZeynepBekci001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Zeynep Sanem Bekci</strong> knew she wanted to study in Canada 鈥 and 茄子直播 was at the top of her list.</p> <p>Bekci, who hails from the Aegean coast city of Izmir, is now in her second year at 茄子直播鈥檚 Trinity College, specializing in biochemistry and minoring in immunology. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淚t is a great country to live,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 home for many immigrants and that鈥檚 why people are very open-minded here.鈥</p> <p>The academic opportunities at 茄子直播 were another big factor, she says.</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 offers many more opportunities than Turkish schools, especially for the subject that I study,鈥 Bekci says, adding that she is receiving significantly more lab experience here.</p> <p>鈥滻 can go and talk with my professors and see these labs; I can do internships at these labs. I think it is one of the major pros of 茄子直播,鈥 says Bekci.</p> <p>She also appreciates all the opportunities students have to stay active on campus, like playing intramural volleyball and attending yoga classes.</p> <p>Although she misses home 鈥 and of course, Turkish food 鈥 Bekci says she is happy with her new life here in Canada.</p> <p>鈥淭he pretentiousness that you see in other countries, you don't see that here. People are more friendly and nicer. They help a lot too. When I have an&nbsp;issue, I know that once I ask someone, they answer, they help.鈥</p> <p>She encourages other Turkish students who are thinking about applying to 茄子直播 to take the step 鈥 so long as they don鈥檛 mind the cold.</p> <p>鈥淚 know it is far and the weather is different than what we are used to in Turkey, but it is a great country to live in, the city is great and the school is great. The school teaches you everything and offers many opportunities. If you don鈥檛 mind the winters, it is just perfect.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9942 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1207_SelinGur001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>After studying in French schools in Turkey for 13 years, <strong>Selin Gur</strong> says she realized she needed to pursue the 鈥済lobal language鈥 of English in university.</p> <p>She didn鈥檛 know too much about&nbsp;Toronto, except that it was home to Drake. But she knew of 茄子直播鈥檚 global reputation 鈥 and says she applied without expecting too much.</p> <p>Now&nbsp; at 茄子直播 Mississauga, studying digital enterprise management, Gur says the early days were challenging. &nbsp;鈥淵ou can鈥檛 go and visit your family and friends randomly when you live in a place that has a seven hour&nbsp;time difference with your home.鈥</p> <p>Alone, and facing a significant language barrier, Gur found frosh week to be a big help. The atmosphere was inclusive 鈥 and definitely global. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚n Canada, everyone helps each other, without expecting anything in exchange. The most common words are 鈥榯hank you鈥 and 鈥榮orry.鈥 People are nice, they are open and welcoming. In such an inclusive environment, it is impossible to feel like an outsider.鈥</p> <p>鈥淢ore importantly, you don鈥檛 only see Americans or Canadians here; there are people from all around the world, India, Pakistan, China, Russia, France, South Korea ... It is a multicultural heaven.鈥</p> <p>She says she has enjoyed living in residence and using the pool and fitness centre at 茄子直播 Mississauga, but she notes that her years at 茄子直播 have been rigorous.</p> <p>鈥漈here is a reason why they call 茄子直播 鈥榯he Harvard of Canada,鈥欌 Gur says. 鈥淵ou might face more hardships than your other friends back in Turkey. You definitely won鈥檛 be able to see your loved ones whenever you want, but it will make you stronger, more responsible and mature.</p> <p>鈥淵ou will be one step ahead. Toronto, as a multicultural city, will change your worldview and expand your vision. During my first days in Toronto, I was too shy to say 鈥榟i鈥&nbsp;to others. And now, here I am.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9943 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1207_SelinEksioglu002-CROP.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Selin Eksioglu</strong> was born in Canada and lived here until she was three, while her father pursued his PhD in Quebec. Although the family ultimately returned to Istanbul, she always knew she鈥檇 be back.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淚 think my parents regretted [leaving] and I think they keep asking, 鈥榃hat if we stayed?鈥 So for me and for my two brothers, we were raised with the idea of going to Canada.鈥</p> <p>Eksioglu says she chose 茄子直播 over other Canadian schools because of 茄子直播鈥檚 global reputation and the range of opportunities it&nbsp;offers.</p> <p>Now in her fourth year at 茄子直播 Scarborough and majoring in political science with minors in history and sociology, Eksioglu says transitioning from a very small high school to a huge university in a different country was a challenge at the beginning. But getting involved in life on campus really helped. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檝e lived in residence and they had a lot of opportunities to get involved&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;they had many events, which made me feel better,鈥 she says.</p> <p>It took a while for Eksioglu to find her way. She started her studies in business administration but hit her stride after switching to political science.</p> <p>鈥淲e talk about current events and apply the theories that we鈥檝e learned,鈥 she says, adding the program is as rewarding as it is challenging.</p> <p>鈥淚 was not used to being asked to think about something in so many ways, to build up my own arguments, and provide evidence,鈥 she says. 鈥溓炎又辈 has given me a whole new perspective.鈥</p> <p>Over the years, Eksioglu says&nbsp;she found the more she engaged with people, the better her experience.</p> <p>鈥淚n 茄子直播, you have the opportunity to research, observe&nbsp;or examine anything you wish and anything you want. There is always a professor who will help you through, there is always a professor doing research, there are events, student clubs. So everyone does something, the school always puts something forward for everyone else to join.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9944 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1207_AlaraDemirag001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Alara Demirag </strong>wanted to be a professional tennis player&nbsp;until the age of 14, when she realized she had a passion for 鈥渃reating something鈥 and decided to become an architect.</p> <p>Now in her third year at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, Demirag is specializing in the technology stream of architectural studies.</p> <p>鈥淚 saw the opportunities here,鈥 Demirag says. 鈥淭he job options are really good and the school has academically good standing.鈥</p> <p>Tennis has also remained a key part of her life 鈥 and 茄子直播鈥檚 tennis team was a big pull-factor, she says.</p> <p>When she was first applying to universities, Demirag considered going to the U.S., but felt that being a college athlete would be a huge challenge there. At 茄子直播, she believed, she could find a balance between her studies and tennis.</p> <p>The Varsity team has helped her build a home.</p> <p>鈥淲e have so many international players like me; they see you as a family member,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Although Demirag is from Istanbul, she graduated from an American high school. She says 茄子直播鈥檚 ranking and global reputation were well known at the school, but she still had questions.</p> <p>鈥淚 am coming from another culture, how am I going to communicate with them? How will they respond to me? Will I be able to make my jokes to them? How they will react?鈥</p> <p>She says she found her answers quickly.</p> <p>鈥淧eople are really friendly, the place is very multicultural which is really amazing, and they treat people really nicely,鈥 she says, adding that 茄子直播 has proven to be a place where 鈥測ou can change yourself, create a new individual out of yourself, you can reach your potential here.鈥</p> <p>Toronto is home now, Demirag says, but she connects with friends when she鈥檚 home for the holidays.</p> <p>鈥淚 miss my friends, but they are mostly studying abroad; so Turkey is kind of the meeting point for us now,鈥 Demirag says.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9946 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1207_NazliKaya001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>After she finished her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Bogazici University in Istanbul, <strong>Nazli Eser Kaya</strong> chose Canada to pursue her master鈥檚 degree in mechanical and industrial engineering. Her research focuses on driver distraction and attention.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 really interested in people; what makes them think the way they do, what motivates them to behave the way they behave, and how their lives can be made easier through a simpler design,鈥 Kaya says. 鈥淗uman factors engineering aims to design systems that leverage the capabilities of human operators while compensating for their limitations.</p> <p>鈥淢y research focuses on driver attention and distraction at urban intersections by utilizing a state-of-the-art instrumented vehicle and eye-tracking equipment. For road safety, an in-depth approach based on human-centred design is a necessity.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;A fluent German-speaker, Kaya applied to German universities but 茄子直播 offered a scholarship and the opportunity to be a teaching assistant. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 engineering is one of the top schools among the worldwide universities,鈥 Kaya says. 鈥淎lso, 茄子直播 and Toronto are so international 鈥 that makes me feel so comfortable, and that is not the case in Europe, for example.鈥</p> <p>Kaya has been in Toronto for more than a year and says the diversity makes it easy to feel at home.</p> <p>鈥淧eople don鈥檛 judge you based on your religion or ethnicity,鈥 Kaya says. 鈥淢e being Muslim or Turkish doesn鈥檛 affect how people perceive me.鈥</p> <p>Kaya says she has benefited from support&nbsp;offered to graduate students. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淪ince I came here, I have completed a lot of certificate programs, been involved with our department鈥檚 graduate association 鈥 and there are so many networking activities, too, and they helped me a lot.</p> <p>鈥淏ecause I don鈥檛 know many people here, I have to build connections and also do some networking to find a job after I graduate.鈥</p> <p>Students who are thinking of applying to 茄子直播, but do not trust their English levels, should go for it, Kaya says.</p> <p>鈥淒on鈥檛 be scared. I have taken many academic writing classes here for free; 茄子直播 gives a lot of resources to improve&nbsp;language skills.鈥</p> <p><em>International student Cansu Aydemir is an intern at 茄子直播 News. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in Toronto since 2012 and is now in her fourth year of studies at 茄子直播 where she is specializing in history and minoring in diaspora and transnational studies.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 24 Jan 2019 15:27:02 +0000 noreen.rasbach 150810 at 'An environment I wanted to be a part of': 茄子直播's American students on why they headed north /news/environment-i-wanted-be-part-u-t-s-american-students-why-they-headed-north <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'An environment I wanted to be a part of': 茄子直播's American students on why they headed north</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/1129_CelineSimone002-%28web%20lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=8XXdr00O 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/1129_CelineSimone002-%28web%20lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=2tEBCr5T 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/1129_CelineSimone002-%28web%20lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=6lNV6Xna 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/1129_CelineSimone002-%28web%20lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=8XXdr00O" alt="photo of Celine Simone"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-01-08T13:38:02-05:00" title="Tuesday, January 8, 2019 - 13:38" class="datetime">Tue, 01/08/2019 - 13:38</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Celine Simone, who is studying architecture, says she was drawn to 茄子直播's size, academic reputation and the way it's seamlessly incorporated into one of the world's most diverse cities (all photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cansu-aydemir" hreflang="en">Cansu Aydemir</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/artificial-intelligence" hreflang="en">Artificial Intelligence</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/computer-science" hreflang="en">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/john-h-daniels-faculty-architecture" hreflang="en">John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship" hreflang="en">Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mathematics" hreflang="en">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-college" hreflang="en">New College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trinity-college" hreflang="en">Trinity College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/united-states" hreflang="en">United States</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto is home to roughly 19,000 international students from more than 168 countries 鈥 with greater numbers of international students arriving every year.</p> <p>One country where the university's popularity has been rising fast is the United States, where applications to 茄子直播 soared by nearly 70 per cent between 2016 and 2018. 茄子直播's depth and breadth of academic disciplines, coupled with its global reputation&nbsp;and proximity to the U.S.,&nbsp;are just a few of the reasons American students give for choosing 茄子直播 鈥 along with the diversity and inclusivity of Toronto and Canada.</p> <p>One might think that being a student in Canada is easier for Americans than for students from other countries&nbsp;due to the similarities between two cultures. But is it?&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Cansu Aydemir</strong><em>,<strong>&nbsp;</strong></em>a reporter at <em>茄子直播 News </em>who is&nbsp;herself an international student from Turkey,&nbsp;asked five Americans to share their 茄子直播 experiences. Here's what they said:</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9906 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1129_RebekahRobinson002-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Home for <strong>Rebekah Robinson</strong> is Maryland 鈥 but it was a passion for Russian that brought her to the University of Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淣ot a lot of universities in the United States offer Russian studies as a major program,鈥 says Robinson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Yet, while 茄子直播's reputation in the field&nbsp;was a big draw, Robinson 鈥&nbsp;now in her second year of a double major in history and Russian language and literature in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science 鈥 says it was the university's people who&nbsp;sealed the deal.</p> <p>鈥淲hen I came to visit 茄子直播 for the first time, my tour guide was friendly, all the other students were friendly; it was the kind of environment I wanted to be a part of,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Once she鈥檇 settled in at New College on the downtown Toronto campus, the city 鈥 with its range of festivals, cuisines, and events 鈥 proved to be another asset.</p> <p>鈥淟ife is different in Toronto, there are so many people speaking so many different languages 鈥 it is really a multicultural city,鈥 says Robinson. 鈥淏ecause I study Russian, I am so surprised every time I鈥檓 walking on the street&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;I hear people speaking Russian and that makes me really happy.鈥</p> <p>Coming from a small high school, Robinson says she can see why some students might find 茄子直播`s size and competitiveness intimidating, but she says an international student orientation helped her settle in quickly. And once classes began, she made a point of visiting professors during office hours and getting involved. Now, Toronto feels like home.</p> <p>鈥淚 genuinely came here without knowing anyone. Now I want to spend more time here instead of going back home, because I genuinely feel like all my friends are here,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 miss my dog, I miss my family, but otherwise Toronto feels like home right now. When I am not here I miss this place.鈥</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9905 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1129_CelineSimone001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>San Francisco鈥檚 <strong>Celine Simone </strong>is a second-generation 茄子直播 student. Her mother, who was born in Croatia, came to Canada during the communist era, received asylum status and graduated from 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淢y mom really loved 茄子直播,鈥 Simone says. 鈥淪he liked the idea of me going to Canada and, because 茄子直播 treated her very well, she was very happy that I went to 茄子直播.鈥</p> <p>But it was more than her family鈥檚 ties that brought Simone,&nbsp;now in her first year studying architecture and history, to Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淚 know this is a very stereotypical response, but it really is the city&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;it is one of the most international cities in the world.鈥</p> <p>Coming from a high school in which the graduating class was 73 people, Simone says she always wanted to attend a big school. She was the only member of her class to apply outside the U.S.</p> <p>鈥淲hen you are from America and there so many of the world鈥檚 top universities and international students there, you just kind of assume by default, 鈥極kay, I will go to an American school,鈥欌 Simone says. 鈥淚 really liked the size of 茄子直播 and how incorporated into the city it was, and, of course, it is also an incredible school.鈥</p> <p>She says she also likes the way the sprawling downtown Toronto campus comprises smaller communities.</p> <p>鈥淭here are tens of thousands of students, but I am in architecture, which is quite small, and I live at Trinity College, which is also very small,鈥 says Simone. 鈥淚 thought it would always be giant, I鈥檇 always be surrounded by people I had never seen before 鈥 but I really like the combination.</p> <p>鈥淚t is both very big and very small.鈥</p> <p>Although she misses home, 鈥減olitically, I am very happy to be here; I was very happy to escape Trump,鈥 she says, adding that she encourages other American students to live a different experience by studying abroad.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淧eople are so focused on Ivy League schools, but I just want to let people know that you can leave America and still get an incredible education that you can compare with those Ivies.鈥</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Priyanshu Arora - International Student" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9901 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" src="/sites/default/files/1129_PriyanshuArora001-crop.jpg" style="width: 680px; height: 453px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>A keen interest in artificial intelligence motivated<strong> Priyanshu Arora </strong>to leave New Jersey for Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淚 knew that 茄子直播 was one of the best on AI in Canada and in the world,鈥 says Arora, now in his first year of studying computer science. 鈥淪ince it is such a research-heavy university, I assumed that the professors would be amazing 鈥 and so far that鈥檚 true.鈥</p> <p>A student in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, Arora says that he chose New College because of the all-you-can-eat dining hall plan and its close proximity to Bahen Centre.</p> <p>鈥淚 also heard from my peers on Reddit that New College dining hall is the best in all of 茄子直播,鈥 says Arora adding that the residence's modern buildings were another factor.</p> <p>Arora says he鈥檚 found enough similarities between American and Canadian culture to make life as an international student an easy transition.</p> <p>But there was one difference he wasn鈥檛 expecting.</p> <p>鈥淥ne surprising thing for me, at first, was the number of international students," says Arora. &nbsp;鈥淚 thought it was going to be 90 per cent Canadian students here.鈥 Instead, he adds, many are from "halfway around the world."&nbsp;</p> <p>Arora says he鈥檚 noticed that people from the same countries tend to form their own groups at the beginning. He recommends international students 鈥済et involved with sports activities, intramurals or clubs and to get out of their comfort zones.鈥</p> <p>Discovering that many of his professors are not only renowned for their research, but also for their teaching was another revelation.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淚 have one amazing math professor:&nbsp;<strong>Alfonso Gracia-Saz</strong>. He is a great professor 鈥 I absolutely love him, best teacher I have had in a long time,鈥 Arora says. 鈥淚f you look at the textbooks and if you look at the authors, the very authors of textbooks are the ones teaching the courses.</p> <p>鈥淵ou are being taught by the people who wrote the book, which is great.鈥</p> <hr> <p><img alt="Jacob Nazarenko - International Student" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9902 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" src="/sites/default/files/1129_JacobNazarenko001-crop.jpg" style="width: 680px; height: 453px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Boston鈥檚 <strong>Jacob Nazarenko </strong>had dreamed about going to a top school for computer science 鈥 and then a visiting recruiter from 茄子直播 told him about the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program.&nbsp;</p> <p>He applied, and won.</p> <p>鈥淎 dream come true,鈥 says Nazarenko, pointing out 茄子直播 鈥渋s very well ranked 鈥 top 10 or 15 in computer science.鈥</p> <p>Before coming to the school, Nazarenko says&nbsp;he had heard about 茄子直播鈥檚 competitiveness and the 鈥渨ork hard, play hard鈥 mentality of students.</p> <p>鈥淭here are definitely a lot of people who work hard,鈥 he says, but 鈥淚 think that aligns with my personality and goals.鈥</p> <p>A student in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, Nazarenko says that he chose New College primarily for its size, accommodation and dining options, as well as its proximity to his classes.</p> <p>鈥淚 also chose New because it is known to have one of the highest percentages of international students compared to other colleges at 茄子直播, and has students representing a variety of different disciplines, including my own.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Nazarenko says Toronto is 鈥渂asically a bigger and more diverse version of Boston, but it also has a somewhat different vibe.鈥 Every week he ends up trying some new food or hearing of a cool event.</p> <p>Nazarenko says 茄子直播 offers a great range of opportunities, events, clubs, and info-sessions for students.</p> <p>鈥淭here is something at 茄子直播 for everyone.鈥</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9907 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/1129_ChristinaVisser001-crop.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Michigan鈥檚<strong> Christina Visser </strong>wanted to leave home to attend university. Her mother wanted her to choose a school with a global reputation.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淚 wanted go out and explore intellectually, I guess.&nbsp;But I also wanted a different geography,鈥 Visser says.</p> <p>Visser鈥檚 mother, who works in&nbsp;education, suggested 茄子直播. But some of the online comments Visser read suggested the university had a reputation for being all about the books.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淚t was just like people didn鈥檛 socialize as they do in college towns was and academic rigor is insane 鈥 those were the expectations I went in with,鈥 Visser says. 鈥淏ut I know that what you put in is what you get out 鈥 and it is completely different; it is not antisocial at all.鈥</p> <p>Visser adds that, while the school is huge and academics are rigorous, 茄子直播 is no more difficult than other top universities.</p> <p>鈥淚t is not crazy,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Visser attends 茄子直播鈥檚 John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.</p> <p>鈥淚 wanted to focus on architecture, and I like that it is a small, specialized community so it's&nbsp;more intimate, which I think is very advantageous,鈥 Visser says.</p> <p>This is Visser鈥檚 fourth year in Toronto, away from home. She says she misses her family, but adds that she feels Toronto is now her home, too.</p> <p>鈥淲hen I go home now it just feels like I am visiting a place where my parents live,鈥 says Visser.</p> <p>She says she likes the slight differences she鈥檚 found between American and Canadian cultures.</p> <p>鈥淐anadians are noticeably nicer, and I think their general attitude towards each other is more collective; they are more aware of how their actions affect other people,鈥 says Visser.</p> <p>Visser says her experience as an international student has given her a critical perspective.</p> <p>鈥淭here is so much I have learned about myself,鈥 she says.</p> <p><em>International student <strong>Cansu Aydemir</strong> is an intern at 茄子直播 News. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in Toronto since 2012 and is now in her fourth year of studies at 茄子直播 where she is specializing in history and minoring in diaspora and transnational studies. </em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 08 Jan 2019 18:38:02 +0000 noreen.rasbach 150536 at Meet five impressive graduating students who got the most of their 茄子直播 experience /news/meet-five-impressive-graduating-students-who-got-most-their-u-t-experience <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Meet five impressive graduating students who got the most of their 茄子直播 experience</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-11-08-rachel%20mckenna-marshall-resized2.jpg?h=3fcbca33&amp;itok=N2ZXwc2l 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-11-08-rachel%20mckenna-marshall-resized2.jpg?h=3fcbca33&amp;itok=N5XoUgKO 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-11-08-rachel%20mckenna-marshall-resized2.jpg?h=3fcbca33&amp;itok=oqUlmQpd 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-11-08-rachel%20mckenna-marshall-resized2.jpg?h=3fcbca33&amp;itok=N2ZXwc2l" alt="Photo of Rachel McKenna Marshall"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-11-08T00:00:00-05:00" title="Thursday, November 8, 2018 - 00:00" class="datetime">Thu, 11/08/2018 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Rachel McKenna-Marshall of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design with paintings based on photographs she took of her friends under water</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/angela-gu" hreflang="en">Angela Gu</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cansu-aydemir" hreflang="en">Cansu Aydemir</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2018" hreflang="en">Convocation 2018</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">茄子直播</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/artificial-intelligence" hreflang="en">Artificial Intelligence</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation" hreflang="en">Convocation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-and-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/john-h-daniels-faculty-architecture" hreflang="en">John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/ontario-institute-studies-education" hreflang="en">Ontario Institute for Studies in Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h3>As this fall's convocation comes to an end, we introduce you to five students who have made the most of their time at the University of Toronto.</h3> <h3>&nbsp;Natasha Malik</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9582 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2018-11-08-uc-woman-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Natasha Malik </strong>originally wanted to specialize in a science field, but that changed when she took some elective courses in the humanities. In the end, Malik split the difference 鈥&nbsp;graduating this week with a bachelor鈥檚 of science degree, with a double major in English and health and disease.</p> <p>鈥淚 like arts and I like sciences, so I really liked that I could do both with my degree,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Malik, a&nbsp;University College student, took advantage of many of the opportunites the university offers, taking on&nbsp;student leadership roles and building&nbsp;an impressive resum茅&nbsp;with work placements.</p> <p>鈥淲hen I was a frosh, I didn鈥檛 exactly picture myself as a leader,鈥 she says, adding that&nbsp;鈥渓eadership is something that anyone can pursue.鈥</p> <p>After being introduced to student life on campus through University College's commuter orientation, Malik went on to become a leader in the program,&nbsp;holding an orientation executive role in her third year.</p> <p>She received a UC Merit Award this year, in recognition of her contribution to student life at the college. 鈥淚 really like the amount of exposure at UC to so many different leadership opportunities and engagement opportunities because they really allowed me to strengthen skills and become more familiar with who I am.鈥</p> <p>Malik also took part in the work-study program, working in the imaging facility at the department of cell and systems biology.</p> <p>She served as a&nbsp;student ambassador at Hart House, where she developed an interest in&nbsp;work in social media and later became a&nbsp;communications assistant at the department of psychiatry.</p> <p>In September, she started working as a social media intern in the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education.</p> <p>Malik plans on doing graduate work in media studies.</p> <p><em>- Angela Gu</em></p> <h3>Eray Sonmez</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9583 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2018-11-08-EraySonmez001-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> <p>When<strong> Eray Sonmez</strong> crossed the stage at Convocation Hall, he marked the end of a journey that began when he left his home in Adana, Turkey at the age of 17.</p> <p>Sonmez, who first came to Canada to attend an international high school, chose to remain here to study political science, history and Canadian studies at 茄子直播 Mississauga.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥溓炎又辈 has a global reputation,鈥 Sonmez says. 鈥淚 know that when I put my 茄子直播 diploma on the wall, that name will make a difference; it will open many doors to me.鈥</p> <p>Sonmez says he is returning home to work for his family business 鈥 and bringing a new perspective with him.</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 has changed my worldview and expanded my vision,鈥 Sonmez says. 鈥淣ow, because of 茄子直播, I am thinking bigger, and I believe my new international vision will be a big help for the business.鈥</p> <p>He is leaving Canada with more than an undergraduate degree, he says.</p> <p>鈥淭he best thing about here is that I have friends from all over the world.鈥</p> <p>Sonmez says he plans to write a book about the history of Adana, using the research and writing skills he honed during his time here.</p> <p>He also has a message for future international students.</p> <p>鈥淚f you are thinking about applying to 茄子直播, I strongly recommend it. The school makes you successful and at the same time it provides many opportunities.鈥</p> <p>The international students鈥 centre is a good resource, Sonmez says, and a significant help for students who are seeking a job.</p> <p>鈥淭he other thing is you can freely express your own opinions in classes with your peers and professors without hesitation. Everyone is open to discussion and respectful, even if you think differently than others."</p> <p><em>- Cansu Aydemir</em></p> <h3>Melinda Scott&nbsp;</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9584 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2018-11-08-deanofstudents-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Melinda Scott&nbsp;</strong>serves as the dean of students at University College and until this fall she&nbsp;was a student herself.&nbsp;</p> <p>"The perspective of being both a professional and a student helped me in both realms,鈥 she says.&nbsp;</p> <p>Scott graduated this week with&nbsp;a PhD in higher education at 茄子直播鈥檚 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, conducting research that focused on&nbsp;professional development planning in student affairs.</p> <p>She says her role as dean of students helped her identify research questions and issues that she saw as worthy of investigation, while her PhD research 鈥渉elped to bring an academic perspective鈥 to her work.</p> <p>Some of her best experiences at OISE involved getting to meet with other PhD students to learn from each other鈥檚 successes and challenges.</p> <p>鈥淚 found that really, really helpful,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Reflecting on her PhD experience, Scott says that despite the stress, the PhD program was 鈥渞eally interesting, and really worthwhile.鈥</p> <p>鈥淚 will miss it,鈥 she says.</p> <p><em>鈥 Angela Gu</em></p> <h3>Joey Bose&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__9585 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/2018-11-07-joeybose-resized.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Joey Bose</strong>鈥檚 interest in computer vision was sparked when he became a&nbsp;research assistant in&nbsp;Professor&nbsp;<strong>Steve Mann</strong>鈥檚 lab while working on his&nbsp;undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.</p> <p>鈥淲e see face detectors everywhere these days&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;they鈥檙e so prevalent,鈥 he says, citing as examples their use on&nbsp;social media platforms and airport security cameras. But, he says, the technology "doesn鈥檛 function as admirably as we would hope,鈥 adding that face-detection systems can falter&nbsp;if even a little bit of noise is added to the image.</p> <p>He graduated this week with a Master of Applied Science focusing on computer vision 鈥 specifically, artificial intelligence for facial recognition and protecting personal privacy.</p> <p>Bose has created his own company, <a href="https://faceshield.ai/">FaceShield</a>, which helps people protect their privacy online by shielding photos&nbsp;from detection software.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淭he idea is that anyone should be able to use these filters,鈥 he says. 鈥淚f you want to protect your privacy by adding these filters to your images, you can now do so.鈥</p> <p>Bose completed what is usually a two-year master's program in just a year, which he credits to the support of his supervisor, Associate Professor&nbsp;<strong>Parham Aarabi </strong>of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering.&nbsp;Aarabi encouraged Bose to start&nbsp;his company and pursue a PhD.</p> <p>鈥淗e helped me a lot.&nbsp;I can鈥檛 thank him enough,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Bose is now a doctoral student in computer science at McGill University and Mila, the inter-university machine learning laboratory run by both McGill and the Universit茅 de Montr茅al.</p> <p><em>- Angela Gu</em></p> <h3>Rachel McKenna-Marshall</h3> <p>When<strong> Rachel McKenna-Marshall </strong>ran the Toronto Waterfront 10K, she got to see a display of&nbsp;the fruits of her labour from the&nbsp;John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.</p> <p>Marshall, who came to 茄子直播 to study architecture two years ago, will be graduating this fall with a double major in architectural studies and visual studies.</p> <p>This summer, McKenna-Marshall took an intensive course where the class designed and built a meditation pavilion for athletic apparel firm Lululemon, with groups working on different aspects of the final product.</p> <p>She and a few classmates 鈥渨ere the most excited about it, so we got a lot done鈥 鈥 including&nbsp;building meditation chairs by hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The pavilion was&nbsp;displayed at the Toronto Waterfront 10k.&nbsp;鈥淚t was really incredible,鈥 she says, of seeing the pavilion in use, post-race.</p> <p>McKenna-Marshall also did an independent study this summer involving her artwork. She took underwater photos of friends in a pool, which served as the source images for her paintings.</p> <p>Her project was conducted under the supervision of Associate&nbsp;Professor <strong>Sue Lloyd,</strong> who praises McKenna-Marshall鈥檚 productive and self-led efforts and says the course allows students to do work at the master's level.</p> <p>Looking back, McKenna-Marshall is grateful for the opportunities she鈥檚 had, especially working closely with faculty members.&nbsp;鈥淭hey care about the individual students.</p> <p>鈥淚 think that it鈥檚 really good to have a lot of creative people in the same space," she says. "I think it helps your work, I think it helps what you produce."</p> <div><em>- Angela Gu</em></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 08 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +0000 noreen.rasbach 146256 at