Is the work harder in older grades?
Ben Swadron (S6) says...
I found that in F1 and F2 I learned a lot about developing good work habits and strategies to help deal with heavy work days and crunch weeks. By the time I got into M3 all I had to do was stick to what I had learned to do in my foundation years and the work has only been getting less stressful ever since.
I found that in F1 and F2 I learned a lot about developing good work habits and strategies to help deal with heavy work days and crunch weeks. By the time I got into M3 all I had to do was stick to what I had learned to do in my foundation years and the work has only been getting less stressful ever since.
How important is schoolwork right now and when does it become important?
School work is always important! What you shouldn’t be stressing out as much about are grades. I know I used to think that getting good marks was the most important thing to gain from doing school work, but in younger grades especially the important thing is that you are learning and taking advantage of the resources UTS offers. That way, when it comes time to start thinking about university applications in S5 and S6, you’ll have little trouble getting the grades you want.
What were your first few months like at UTS (especially new students)?
Ashna Thaya (S5) says...
I remember my first few months at UTS as a whirlwind of trying to be as cool as possible, get good grades, and navigate transit. To my F1 self, getting dressed every morning could have meant the difference between whether or not I was accepted into the coolest clique in my class - obviously a super unhealthy and twisted way of approaching life. Also the 'realization' that I wasn't actually as smart as I thought I was affected my self-confidence pretty badly. This way of thinking actually carried over into F2. I entered my second year of UTS with a mindset that prioritized gaining a 'popular' social status over grades. Luckily for me I made an accidental friend half way through the year, and like all healthy relationships should do, it made me realize that I - without trying - was already pretty cool.
I remember my first few months at UTS as a whirlwind of trying to be as cool as possible, get good grades, and navigate transit. To my F1 self, getting dressed every morning could have meant the difference between whether or not I was accepted into the coolest clique in my class - obviously a super unhealthy and twisted way of approaching life. Also the 'realization' that I wasn't actually as smart as I thought I was affected my self-confidence pretty badly. This way of thinking actually carried over into F2. I entered my second year of UTS with a mindset that prioritized gaining a 'popular' social status over grades. Luckily for me I made an accidental friend half way through the year, and like all healthy relationships should do, it made me realize that I - without trying - was already pretty cool.
Georgia Laidlaw (new to S5) says...
Is M3 really the hardest year?
I know this isn't a very satisfying answer but it really depends. The general consensus is that S6 is the most stressful because of university applications, but every grade level has its stressful points and its advantages. In M3 there can be a lot of stress resulting from the increased workload and involvement in extracurriculars, in M4 sciences are a killer for most people, and in S5 your grades are really important. Fortunately, as you move up the grades you find more effective ways to cope with stress and your friendships become even stronger so you have lots of people to rely on for support.
Have people changed from M3 (hopefully for the better)?
Yeah, totally! You can check out the "Social" section for a more detailed description of our grade dynamic, but overall our grade is now like a family (pardon the cliche) in which people respect and appreciate each other. I can't speak for anyone specifically but as your time at UTS gets shorter and shorter you really come to value all of the people that make the community so amazing and the moments you spend with them. Furthermore, by the time you're in S5, most of the friend groups are solidified and a lot of the tension or conflict that may have characterized the younger grades generally disappears.
What was your hardest year?
In terms of stress M3 was my hardest year because of what was happening in my personal and family life, but academically M4 was the most challenging because I really struggled with the sciences.
Did your music taste change from F1 to now?
HELLA. When I was in F1 I barely had a music taste, I kind of just listened to whatever was on mainstream radio. In F2 and M3 I started building my library through 8tracks, Pitchfork, Songza, various YouTube channels, film scores, and more, and now a good taste in music is one of the main things people associate with me so that's pretty cool! Another great way to discover new music is creating a Facebook group with your friends and sharing links in it; that way you get exposed to a whole variety of different styles. I also try to download one or two songs every day to expand my repertoire because there's so much amazing music out there.
Some of the artists/bands I like include Passion Pit, Florence and the Machine, Matt & Kim, Young Galaxy, Owl City, Banks, Sky Fereirra, Vampire Weekend, CVRCHES, Of Monsters and Men, The Black Keys, HAIM, The National, and so much more...
Some of the artists/bands I like include Passion Pit, Florence and the Machine, Matt & Kim, Young Galaxy, Owl City, Banks, Sky Fereirra, Vampire Weekend, CVRCHES, Of Monsters and Men, The Black Keys, HAIM, The National, and so much more...