What is a College? Understanding the College System

 

As a student in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto, you will enjoy all the advantages of a major international institution with a rich array of courses and programs. Every student in the Faculty of Arts and Science also belongs to a college, an intellectual and social community that provides a wide range of services and facilities to its members.

 

College membership enables you to enjoy the best of both worlds: a small community within the larger university environment. Think of your college as a familiar neighborhood where students, teaching staff, administrative staff, and alumni benefit from associating with one another.

 

Whether you commute to the campus or live in residence, your college will bring you together with people you may know for a lifetime.

 

Your college is your home away from home and your support system. It will enrich your university experience and assist you in many ways. When you graduate, your college will welcome you into its alumni community.

 

Although the colleges differ from one another, they all provide certain services and activities. Your college registrar's office gives administrative matters a human face and is your first stop for academic, personal, and financial counselling. Colleges provide many academic support services such as writing centres, math aid centres, libraries, and computer facilities.

 

Your college's staff and student organization work together in the summer, during Orientation Week, and throughout the year to ease your transition into university life. The students of each college organize events and programs to enhance your time at university. Student government, social gatherings, peer counselling, clubs and societies, recreational and competitive sports teams...all are found in the colleges.

 

Each college has its own residence, but you will be included in college life whether you live in residence or commute.

 

 

Frequently asked questions about the colleges

 

Does belonging to a particular college limit my academic choices?

No, you may choose from the full range of Faculty of Arts and Science courses and programs regardless of college affiliation.

 

Do I take my classes in my college?

Many students take some classes in their college from instructors affiliated with that college, but many also do not.

 

Is there a science college, a humanities college, or a commerce college?

No, all the colleges admit roughly the same proportion of humanities, science, and commerce students.

 

How do I request my choice of college?

You will choose your college at the same time that you submit your application to the Faculty of Arts and Science through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). You will be asked to rank the seven colleges according to your preference. Remember that colleges give priority to students who have listed that college as their first choice, so be sure to put your favourite college at the top of your list.

 

Can I change my order of college preference?

Yes, you can change your order of preference on the OUAC website up to the deadline date of 22 February 2013.

 

Can I change my college after I've received my offer of admission?

It may be possible. You will need to contact the college to which you would like to transfer to find out whether space is still available.

 

How do I decide which college I prefer?

Your choice will be strictly based on personal preference. Each college has its own character and personality and different things appeal to different students:

• location
• residence
• size
• traditions
• architecture
• family affiliation
• religious affiliation
• many other features

Find out about the colleges:

• Look at each college's website
• Review the Faculty of Arts and Science's College Brochure
• Review the University of Toronto Viewbooks (for domestic and international students)
• Come and visit the colleges in person if you live close enough
• Take a look at Innis' student-run web service that offers advice on everything about life at the University of Toronto from a student perspective. Called askastudent, it has dealt with the question of college selection many times and even has an entire page devoted to this issue.

 

One thing is certain: the college to which you belong will give you a warm welcome and personal support throughout your years at the University and into your future.