REVIEW OF University of Toronto Schools BY Alum, Janine Burtnick

(4) Overall Experience

UTS is a school that selects the smartest, most passionate students in the GTA. As such, the school community is very engaged, and for the most part, happy to be there. I found it very encouraging to be in a community of like-minded learners. Students were always willing to lend a hand and support each other. The staff were also great and were very engaged with their students. Overall, I felt understood and supported at the school. For me, it was really the learning community that made it so special. Furthermore, the wide variety of academic and extracurricular options allowed me to explore my passions and helped me choose a university and a major that suited my skills and passions. I will say, however, that the small student body had both benefits and challenges. While it was nice that most of the students knew each other well, not everyone was able to find people with whom they really connected.

(3) School Leadership

UTS has a very large administrative team, especially compared to other schools of a similar size. This means that administration covers a wide variety of different concerns, and is able to be heavily involved in student life. There was a large turnover in the administrative team during my final year there, so while I cannot say I am intimately familiar with all of UTS' administration, they were overall helpful and involved during my time there. Administration's communication with parents was frequent, although communication with students could have been stronger.

(5) Teaching

The teachers at UTS are incredible. The teachers are all highly knowledgeable about their respective subjects and eager to share this information with the next generation. The teachers, overall, are passionate about their work and do their best to connect with their students, fostering strong relationships over the years. Teachers are also frequently available to offer extra help or support when students need it. The dynamic between students and teachers tends to be less formal, though there is still a great culture of respect at the school. Teachers do their best to foster curiosity, improve their curriculum, and liaise with other teachers, students, and administrators to make the classroom experience as strong as it can possibly be. Overall, the teachers are one of UTS' greatest strengths.

(4.5) Academics

UTS' academic program is accelerated, providing a challenge for students who are interested in truly engaging with the curriculum. For students who enter the school in grade 7, they will complete the grade 7 and 8 curricula in both science and math during their first year. This leaves them a year accelerated in these subjects for the rest of high school, offering the opportunity to explore courses in their later years that they might not have otherwise had the time for. While UTS students generally tend to be interested in STEM, the arts and music programs are also robust, and many of my peers excelled in these areas. While students can be somewhat competitive, especially in their younger years, it is my experience that students learn the value of helping each other, especially as they mature and face more challenging curricular expectations.

(5) Extracurriculars

UTS places a lot of weight on extracurriculars, and students tend to excel in a large variety and quantity of clubs and teams. During my time at UTS, I was on the volleyball team, the yearbook committee, was a Student Outreach Coordinator, and competed on the Mock Trial team, among other activities. Through extracurriculars at UTS, I met some of my closest friends and explored my interests outside of the classroom.

(4) Students

UTS' student body is smaller than most other Toronto high schools. This means that students tend to know each other very well, which works well for many students, though some wish for a broader social community. Another aspect of UTS' student body I appreciated was that it includes both a middle school and a high school. When I was in middle school, I appreciated the opportunity to learn from the older students, who helped me adjust to the school and feel comfortable in the community. As a high schooler, I was able to develop leadership skills from opportunities I took to mentor younger students. The UTS student body is quite diverse and welcoming towards a variety of people. Students generally strive to understand and uplift each other, and by the later years, most students have found a close group of friends.

(5) School Life

UTS student life is overall great. Some strengths of student life are frequent trips (including overnight trips) that allow students to connect with their classmates and learn new skills. For me, these trips were where I was able to best bond with my grade. Another strength UTS has is its facilities, which were recently renovated and are pristine. I really appreciated having well-equipped chemistry labs, art studios, and generally spending my time in a nice building. I would strongly encourage any prospective applicants to take a tour and see the facilities for themselves. UTS also places an emphasis on the mental health of its students—while some stress is inevitable in a high school, a wide variety of supports were made available to me and my peers, from guidance counselors to teachers, to school social workers.

(5) Community

UTS has a very strong community spirit, which was of note to me throughout my time there. Alumni and parents are encouraged to participate in school events, and are a regular fixture of the school community. Since leaving the school, I have remained connected with many of my classmates. I expect that I will remain in contact with my close friends for years to come, and will also enjoy occasional contact with many of my other classmates and fellow alumni. There have also been several opportunities to connect with UTS alumni since graduating, which can be a great networking tool due to the success of many of our alumni. I myself intend to remain connected to the school as an alumna, and I hope many of my peers choose to do the same.

(4.5) School Location

UTS is located in downtown Toronto, at Bloor and Spadina. The school is conveniently accessible by public transit, which many students use for their commutes. Students are allowed to leave school during lunch and in their spare time. Nearby, there are many popular lunch spots and convenience stores. Overall, while the commute can be far for some, the location is very convenient and is a credit to the school experience.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process included written testing and in-person multiple mini interviews. For me, the interviews were the real challenge, as you have a small time allotment in which you must answer questions and portray yourself well. My advice to applicants would be to practice the interviews. Practicing with a parent or friend is one option, or you could record yourself answering a question and watch it back, reflecting on your strengths and areas for improvement. The admissions team is incredibly helpful, however, and does their best to make the experience comfortable and minimize stress for the applicants.

(4.5) University placement and counselling

The university counselling program is one of UTS' great strengths, in my opinion. Upon their arrival at the school, each student is assigned to a guidance counselor, who is available to answer any academic and post-secondary questions. Post-secondary options are explored in the mandatory grade 10 Careers class, where students start thinking about their interests. In grade 11, students have a weekly guidance seminar that prepares them for the university application process—everything from selecting schools to writing supplementary applications. Guidance seminars continue into the grade 12 year, along with one-on-one guidance meetings to ensure students are well-prepared for their applications and meeting all necessary targets. Overall, I felt very supported throughout the university application process. I was very grateful to have guidance counselors and staff available to answer any questions that arose, and to give advice on anything I needed.