Five Qs about you and TMU: Jack Wray

Interested in pursuing a double major? Jack is a third-year student who is double majoring in Sociology and Criminology in the Faculty of Arts. In the last few weeks, I have been talking with students from different programs and faculties to gain insights into what student life is like here at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). My conversation with Jack gave me perspective on how taking Undeclared Arts in your first year encourages the exploration of programs before deciding what you’d like to focus on. Read more about his experience below.

Hadiqah: Can you describe your program to me in one sentence? 

Jack: Both programs are quite connected. It is kind of like looking at society and the way people interact with how the world works. Criminology focuses on crime and looking at the changes to be made. That can connect to Sociology and the way we look at the world.

H: Why did you choose to study at TMU?

J: I'm originally from Vancouver, B.C. The main reason I came to TMU was the location. I wanted to leave Vancouver and experience a different city and potential career paths. I started in Undeclared Arts, which allowed me to then choose my majors for second year. It was one thing that was offered at TMU that definitely made me want to attend. I wanted to go somewhere where I could do more than just study.

H: Can you tell me about any experiential learning you’ve participated in? What other opportunities are you looking forward to?

J: As an Undeclared Arts student, I was still not sure what my future career path would be. However, a class I took that made me rethink my actions and ideologies was actually one of the required courses. SSH 105: Critical Thinking changed my perspective when looking at the majority of things in life. In addition to that was also SSH 301: Research Design and Qualitative Methods, which focuses on the study methods of ethical research.

There are student services too — like right now I'm in the Tri-Mentoring Program. I'm currently matched up with a person who has experience with human resources, so I'm using them for guidance on what I want to do for the future. 

I have also had different experiences outside of TMU. This September I volunteered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) (external link, opens in new window) , which sparked my interest in the entertainment aspect of Toronto. 

H: What is your favourite thing that you have experienced on campus?

J: Right now I'm working on campus as a student ambassador with Student Recruitment. I connect with prospective students and share my own experience. It’s kind of up to you how your university experience goes. Everyone has classes, but it’s up to you to decide what you do outside of those classes. You get as much as you put into your experience. For TIFF, I voluntarily chose to do it because I wanted the experience. I am really considering going back next year and actually working there.

H: What advice would you give someone who is starting their research about which university or program they want to pursue?

J: Make sure you go to all the universities and get a feel for their campus and student life. At the end of the day, student life is about how much you want to get involved. Try to do what's best for yourself in terms of academics. It's also okay to switch paths. TMU is one of the top universities in Canada in regard to student services — that's a reason why students should choose TMU. There’s support for students, and you can even connect with professors and people around you. There are also a lot of opportunities to connect with people on campus through events and socials.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Jack. I also agree, student life is about how much you want to get involved on campus. If you loved hearing about his experience, check out our How to Apply page to get your application started. 

Bye for now,

Hadiqah