Student Profile Pranay

Non-traditional academics

Of all the classes he’s taken, Pranay’s favourite one remains an elective he took in his first year: “UNI197: Hamilton Musical & History”. This was a special topics seminar course offered through University College, though open to students of any college affiliation. The course countered the assumption he had as a first-year student that all university courses have to be rigid and big; this was a 20-person class discussing a niche topic, exploring how history is portrayed in musicals. He’s thankful he didn’t have to Wait For It and was able to take this class as early as his first year.

Lending a helping hand

One of Pranay’s favourite experiences at U of T has been working as an Arrive Ready Assistant at Sidney Smith Commons. This was a structured summer internship opportunity where he was able to combine and apply the skills he’d been learning in his humanities courses to help incoming students in their academic transition to university. Pranay also enjoyed being part of the First Year Council on the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU), as he felt it gave him a voice to advocate for his fellow first-year peers, and he liked helping to organize fun events like hot chocolate destressors during finals.

Finding community 

Pranay’s tips on finding community? Attend college-based events and programming, especially if you’re a commuter student. This provides intentional time for you to meet new people you may not otherwise get to see. One example of this is the pancake breakfasts that Victoria College hosts.