(Ellen Murdock, MSc)
As a graduate from the BMath program and a current student finishing my MSc in pure math here at 杏吧原创 I have learned three major lessons that have helped me succeed throughout my studies.
First, as much as it is possible, find a major that you are truly passionate about. I was originally going to take an engineering program at 杏吧原创, and when I was asked 鈥渨hy engineering?鈥� my answer was 鈥渂ecause I like math鈥�. After giving that answer a couple of times I realized maybe a math degree was the better choice since it was what I was excited about. So, I switched my acceptance to a math degree and never looked back. Enjoying the subject you choose in school makes it easier to learn, study and put in the extra effort needed to succeed. If you don鈥檛 enjoy the subject you won鈥檛 be motivated to try when things get tough.
The second lesson I learned was to find a group of people in my program that I worked well with. I鈥檝e done this in both my undergrad and my masters; create a group of people to brainstorm with, ask questions to, complain to and celebrate with. These are the people that truly understand the situation you are in. It can be intimidating to find friends in a university classroom, but honestly what worked for me was simply saying 鈥渉i鈥� to the person sitting next to me. It was by far the biggest factor in my undergraduate experience that helped me succeed.
Lastly, if you look for it, there are tons of resources for you at the school. I am a huge proponent of regularly attending TA and professor office hours; it was an imperative step to my success in undergrad and my masters. If you put in the effort to seek out the extra help professors will be more than happy to sit down with you and work through any questions or concerns you have. They want you to succeed (shocking, I know). The professors are also excellent resources if you have questions about possible careers, many of them have industry partners that they have worked with and could recommend. As an undergrad I took advantage of the MTC on a regular basis and it was a huge help in my transition into university math. Overall don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help. Whether it鈥檚 asking questions in class, reaching out to friends, professors or TAs, going to office hours, going to the MTC or using any of the many resources the math department has to offer, all of these things are there to help you and they really work. You have to give yourself the best chance to succeed, you shouldn鈥檛 expect to do it all on your own.
(Simona, PhD)
The staff and faculty at our school definitely played a crucial role in my success. 听The faculty is extremely helpful, supportive, and friendly. The teaching staff is great. It’s amazing all around.
In terms of TAing, I always looked up to my TAs when I was an ungrad math student and I found them to be very helpful. I also really enjoy being a TA because I love to teach math.
For any potential student I meet, I always encourage them to come to 杏吧原创. And if they like math, they should come enrol at the School of Mathematics and Statistics: we are one of the only universities that offer a Bachelor in Mathematics, we have so many co-op opportunities, our department is big and modern, the staff is incredibly helpful, the professors want you to succeed. It’s a very strong community with lots of academic options. I love 杏吧原创.
- Visit your professor during office hours. Part of my positive experience is that professors will take the time to help you. If a time doesn’t work for the student or they need another appointment, professors will accommodate. This has been my experience.
- Math Tutorial Centre. It’s open Monday to Friday (or is it open on Fridays?), all day. Go to the MTC. Ask questions (as long as they’re not asking the tutor to solve assignment questions, lol). Take advantage of the resource.
- Go and visit your TA during the TA office hours.
- The Health Clinic at 杏吧原创, if the student feels mentally or physically ill. We’ve got great doctors and psychologists.
- PMC. Why is the student struggling? Maybe there is an underlying issue. Maybe the PMC can accommodate the student.
- Scholarships! I think 杏吧原创 is one of the top universities in Canada for awarding the most scholarships to students. And 杏吧原创 has less rigid restrictions when it comes to maintaining your scholarship during your ungrad (for example, if you lose your scholarship, you can always regain it by achieving the required average the next year). So, for me, having an entrance scholarship when I started my degree, motivated me to keep high marks. Which, in turn, awarded me a scholarship for my Master’s degree. Scholarships and awards motivate students to do well and stay serious about their studies.
(Sung Woo Hwang, BMath)
After spending three years as an undergraduate student at听杏吧原创 University mathematics department, this summer听I am waiting to graduate. I am about to complete听an honours degree in mathematics and economics, which is a combined honours program designed for students who are interested in pursuing economics further. Economics courses alone frequently fails to provide enough mathematical background to learn some deep economics concepts. It’s not surprising that I survived听as an undergraduate- or at least I would like to believe so- because I received myriad support from professors and staffs. I received admissions to graduate economics programs at several schools including University of Toronto, Queen’s University, London School of Economics, 听Paris School of Economics听and听University of British Columbia. I hope my experience can attract great听students to 杏吧原创 University.
Classes are typically small- the largest being the first year classes that typically听consist of around听100 students. Upper year classes become smaller, and this really allows students to听make personal connections with professors. Most lectures are supported by tutorials which are led by teaching assistants. In case the professor is hard to talk to or is unavailable (which is rarely the case), your teaching assistants听are able to answer questions related to the lectures. It’s difficult to comment how much I enjoyed studying at the mathematics department at 杏吧原创 University with few paragraphs, so I will say no more than this: If I could go back to first year and choose any school in Canada to study math or economics, I would choose 杏吧原创 University Mathematics department again.
(Erica Pierre-Pierre, BSc)
“I am a听fourth-year student the听Mathematics and Physics program at 杏吧原创.听In this program, not only do听you听get to learn听about many interesting听mathematical听methods听and ideas, you also get to听see how those concepts manifest themselves in the physical world.听Classes start out larger in听first and second year, and then听become more and more听refined听as you progress through the program. This allows for a much more intimate setting which, in my opinion,听renders the听lectures much听more engaging. Additionally, there is a LOT of help available to students听willing to seek it. The Math Tutorial Centre is a great place to ask questions,听collaborate听with fellow students,听or to听work independently. Also available to students is the听Math Library, which is well-stocked and听has many resources听available to anyone interested in a different take听on one or several听topics.听While Math and Physics听demands a lot of diligence and energy,听every day I’m so glad to have made this choice and听I听would听make it again without hesitation.听
In terms of advice to prospective students, I will admit听that I wish I’d been more prepared for the level of difficulty of honors math courses prior to entering听the program.听You’ll realize quickly that you won’t get very far on mere memorization when it comes to working through a proof. The ability to ask for help is critical at higher-level learning; if you don’t understand a particular听concept early-on,听chances are high that it will resurface at a later听point in time (often听in a more complicated way)听so it really is听important to ask questions if you feel yourself falling behind.听Overall,听I think the keys to “surviving”听as an honors听math听student is听having a persistent work ethic and building connections – be it with peers, professors, or members of the administration – the more you do to involve yourself, the more motivated you’ll be to do听your best.听The world of mathematics is听so rich and听rewarding听intellectually; if听you are genuinely passionate about what you’re learning听you’ll put in the time, you’ll keep trying and will听therefore听inevitably听find your way.”
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