I am graduating this month and I haven’t thought about the reasoning behind how I picked my programs of study (POSts) since the day I submitted my specialist application two years ago. That is, it hadn’t crossed my mind again until I was at a dinner set up by my program in March (pre-COVID-19 lockdown).

Somebody asked me why I chose to pursue a specialist in Peace, Conflict, & Justice, and I answered truthfully: “I applied because I heard it was hard to get in.” Everyone at the table laughed, which was beyond my comprehension. I wasn’t trying to grandstand— in fact, the reality was quite the opposite. I graduated high school with stellar grades and in first year I was crushed by U of T’s unforgiving standards. I have always appreciated a good challenge, but I also think a part of me wanted to prove something to myself by applying to such a difficult program.

Of course, that was only one of many valid possible reasons behind POSt decisions, but before I elaborate more on them, here is a small primer on how the system works at U of T. At other universities, you might be applying directly to the fields you want to major in. Here, if you are admitted for Arts and Sciences, you are accepted to the Faculty, and you apply for your programs of study (which you might also know as majors or minors) at the end of first year.

In order to graduate, you need an approved combination of POSts. Double-majoring is the norm here, even if it sounds impressive to parents and students from other schools. Students can also graduate by completing a specialist or a major and two minors. While these are the minimum combinations required to graduate, you can visit the Faculty of Arts & Science website or meet with your registrar to discuss specific or more elaborate combinations of POSts.

Don’t stress out too much about how to complete more than one major for now. There are many ways that you can make it work—for example, if your programs are related, then the same courses can count towards both programs. It just takes some good planning work, and remember that there are many people who can help you with this! I ended up with a specialist and two minors, but I took no more courses than the required amount to graduate. If you are an Innis student, I cannot stress how much of a blessing the registrar’s office is in helping navigate programs at U of T.

One consideration that might factor into which programs you apply to is the application process. There are three types of programs. Type 1 is the most accessible. If you complete 4.0 credits by the time you have to enrol in the program, all you need to do is add the program on your Acorn account and boom! you can be an English major.

For a Type 2 program, you need to complete certain prerequisite courses and achieve minimum grade requirements. If you have both of those, add the program on Acorn, wait for the department to verify and approve your request, and you’ll be a Sociology specialist. If your desired program is a Type 2L, the ‘L’ marker indicates that there are limited spots in the program. Some Type 2 programs will also accept students even if they’re missing one (or even two) prerequisites if you email and talk to the program coordinator— you’ll just have to complete them before graduation.

Type 3 programs have the most extensive application process. After having the required courses and grades, the department requires supplemental information from you. This can include a written application, resume or CV, and even an interview. After you complete these and if you are accepted, you can be invited to enrol as an Immunology major, Computer Science minor, or, like yours truly, a Peace, Conflict & Justice specialist. In my case, the application process included submitting a writing sample, an application essay, statement of intent, and an online interview, but each program is unique in the selection process.

In my opinion, the first rule of selecting a POSt is your own interests and passions.

In my opinion, the first rule of selecting a POSt is your own interests and passions. You don’t want to be locked in a program that you detest for the next three years, but also keep in mind that switching programs is common and doable. Do what interests you most and think about what will help you achieve your personal goals. With that in mind, here are some more things to consider:

1. Program prerequisites: for example, all the Psychology POSts (Type 2L) have a Math prerequisite. You might need to take a summer math program if you don’t have this requirement already. Most Life Science programs have a specific math requirement, too.
2. Program requirements: what are the criteria necessary for you to complete the POSt? In my program, Peace, Conflict, & Justice, you must complete either a semester abroad or service learning module. If you are a PCJ specialist, you must complete a senior research project class. It’s important to consider the types of courses you’ll need to take to complete your program when making your choices.
3. Class sizes: some programs are much bigger and some are much smaller. Which kind of environment do you thrive in? If you are interested in a bigger program, what kinds of opportunities are there to talk to professors or TA’s?
4. Opportunities: programs have specific opportunities! Are there networking dinners, job shadowing programs, medical school symposiums? Scholarships, grants, abroad modules? Which of these are important to you?
5. Post-grad requirements: in first year my roommate was considering what courses she needed to take in order to qualify for a Masters of Linguistics in the future. It might not be a bad idea to think that far ahead when choosing your programs if you know what further education you want to pursue.

This long list of considerations is not meant to scare anyone. Like I mentioned earlier, one of my main reasons for choosing my POSt was just to take on the challenge. However, the structure of the POSts system, along with the multiple requirements to graduate, makes students feel like their choice of program in first year can determine their entire undergraduate career.

I certainly felt like I needed to have everything figured out from day one if I wanted to graduate in four years. However, looking back, I can clearly see the multitude of other paths that I could have taken and I would not have regretted taking a longer time to figure it all out. I could have never predicted then where I am today.

It was my former boss at Innis who gave me the best advice. Your undergraduate degree is more about character development than anything else. I take that to mean: do what you can with what you have right now! Don’t worry so much about crafting the perfect transcript and more about how you can explore your own interests and build opportunities for yourself.

Your undergraduate degree is more about character development than anything else.

At the end of the day, your programs of study are not the be-all-and-end-all of your life. Pick what you are interested in. Pick what sounds good to you. Pick based on the classes you enjoyed in first year or the ones you did well in.

I hope that these tips have helped you approach choosing a POSt. You can always discuss with an advisor if you’re unsure about program combinations, requirements, or anything else related to your degree. At the end of the day, choosing your program is just that—a choice. And later, if you want, you can certainly change your mind.