Last week, U of T Engineering welcomed 1,254 new undergraduates and 740 graduate students to campus with a number of exciting events including parades, fairs, campus tours and a Plenary Lecture from entrepreneur and alumnus Mike Branch (ECE 0T3).

Dean Cristina Amon was proud to welcome the record-breaking group of students at the lecture, who join U of T Engineering from over 50 countries and nine provinces.

“I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all of you on behalf of the Faculty. We are delighted that you have decided to join our dynamic community here at the University of Toronto,” she told students in her opening remarks on September 4, 2014. “As a group, you have the highest admission average in the history of our Faculty at over 93%.”

She closed her welcome remarks by reminding students to make the most of their undergraduate degrees: “During your time here at the University of Toronto and throughout your career, immerse yourself and get involved wherever you can.”

With over 80 clubs to choose from, it is easier than ever to get involved with the Faculty.

“This year, students in the Faculty have so many choices for getting involved that appeal to many interests, from academics to extracurricular activities,” said Engineering Society president Teresa Nguyen (CivE 1T5).

And getting involved on campus is not only a great learning opportunity; it is also a great chance to meet other students.

For first year engineering student Sharpay Hanxing Yu (ChemE 1T8), choosing U of T meant leaving her family and friends in Shanghai, China, uprooting her life and moving to an unfamiliar city thousands of kilometers away.

It was a big risk, but she says she already feels at home because of the welcoming community and opportunities to get involved around campus.

“I’ve met so many people from so many different cultures,” Yu said. “Coming to Toronto is like travelling the world – everything is right here.”

In fact, over one third of new undergraduate students join from outside Canada, and 30.6 per cent are females. This diversity enriches the undergraduate experience both in and out of the classroom.

In addition to extracurricular activities, the Faculty is also thrilled to announce new and innovative learning opportunities for the 2014-2015 academic year.

“We are always looking for new and exciting ways to engage students,” said Susan McCahan, vice dean, undergraduate. “This year, for example, we’ve added online course options, which allow for more flexible scheduling and the option to get involved from anywhere.”

With new learning initiatives, clubs and activities, students like Yu have a wealth of opportunities to make the most of their time at U of T. And if the first week is any indicator, this undergraduate cohort will be an engaged and energetic group, eager to avail themselves of new possibilities.

“F!rosh Week has been amazing,” said Yu. “This was truly the first time I felt proud that I was on the path to becoming an engineer.”

Learn more about the many clubs and activities offered by U of T Engineering.