Peter Cen, a fourth year life science student and part-time web developer, was bored one summer. Out of his boredom spawned an iPhone (and iPod Touch) application for U of T students. The free app, called myUT,  has already been downloaded 200 times since its release one month ago.

Here are some of the cool things you can do with it:

- Add schedules and courses
- View updated course information
- Display your weekly timetable
- Find building locations on a map
- Find nearby food and drinks
- Read the U of T News and Events feeds
- Read the Varsity Blues sports feeds
- Quickly access U of T links

Although the course listings available currently only include those from the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Faculty of Engineering, Peter is looking to add others, and has received requests to do so from several grad students.

A demo slideshow is available on the website: http://c-ut.ca/myut. Check it out!

Whew! First week over, and 11 more weeks to go.

The number itself seems small, but it’s a LOT. I’m amazed at how many things a professor can cram into one or two hour sessions.

Overall though, I’m getting quite a good feel for the classes – profs are cool, classmates are great, and the lessons themselves are quick, short, and to the point. But I have to always remain at the top of my game – I can’t lose focus or I might veer off to something that’s totally out of the point.

Classwork is…an interesting point when it comes to university. Never do any of the professors claim that they’re going to bug you to do something – if you don’t, then you don’t get the mark. This brings me to a strange feeling that I’ve been experiencing for the past week. I always feel that I am forgetting to do something, even though I’ve already done all the readings, note taking, and homework. It’ll pass hopefully, but in the mean time, I’ll have to keep up with my studies.

The major side effect of this, however, is ending up home being really, really tired. So I apologize in advance if my post is quite boring.

…Wait, why am I apologizing when I’m almost done?

..Ehh.

I’ll roll with it.

Finally, the first week of university is done! We’ve checked out the classes, got freaked out by the syllabus and how much reading there is and defined the Prof as either quirky or just plain boring. Either way, it seems to be a great start of the 2009-10 year. Luckily, two of my classes have online readings so yay for not spending money on textbooks but not so yay for my eyes which will be glued yet again to my computer screen for another term.

One thing I am making my goal this year is to get involved. I cannot stress how much this changes your experience and how much more you actually want to come and be a part of University of Toronto, in all its glory. Having spent my first year in denial I hardly did anything beyond going to my classes. Last year, I figured, Why not join a hobby group? and it changed the way I see my uni experience. Meeting so many people, some of them turning into my good friends and study buddies, I suggest you go for it! It might be just the inspiration you need to finish that paper. If not, I’m sure that one of you new buddies will think of something.

With the new term being compressed, I’m sure its daunting to realize that everything is due so soon, but keeping on top of work and accepting our inner nerd is all that we can do, with a little fun on the side. Good luck for the term guys!

Readings are very elusive things, but probably only to first-year students like me who only have two or three days’ worth of experience at university.

Of all three of the lectures I’ve been to, none of the professors have told me (or rather, the whole class of several hundred or even a thousand students) to read pages X, Y, and Z. Nope, they didn’t mention readings at all before, during, or after their lecture.

If this were high school, we’d all be cheering, “Yay, no homework!” at this point. Heck, it might even turn into some crappy remake of (the already-mediocre) High School Musical.

That was how I was feeling for the past couple of days. I mean, I knew I had readings… I just didn’t take it very seriously yet. I thought, I can read fairly speedy. I have the weekend to read. I can handle this.

Today, since my ECO prof. cancelled today’s lecture, I visited my high school. And one of my teachers said ominously (when I admitted that I hadn’t purchased all my textbooks yet), “Oh, you better get started soon then, or it’ll be very hard to catch up.”

With that word of warning in mind, I finally cracked open my new PSY textbook this evening, and started reading. And what do you think surprised me most? No, it wasn’t the interestingly easy and understandable way they wrote it, nor was it the fact that my highlighter didn’t soak through the pages. What surprised me most was: “Why is the reading so, so, SO very LONG?!”

Maybe it’s just me and my note-taking, but I’ve only gotten slightly less than half of the way through the required chapter. At least I still have until Tuesday to finish reading it, which is probably manageable.

But after Tuesday’s lecture comes Thursday’s lecture, and that means reading (and comprehending) one chapter in two days. I just hope I won’t be done in by that…on the second week of school.

Disclaimer: No offense intended towards High School Musical, Disney, or Zac Efron fans out there. You like what you like. That’s fine with me.

This blog was submitted by a reader, Anubha Momin (who also wrote Cut-Rate Culture)

I’ve gone through lists of Toronto’s best hair salons, but as someone with really basic hair requirements (trim, cut or grow-out bangs, add layers), I’ve never been able to justify spending over $60 on a cut. Sure, the experience at some of our city’s finer establishments can be fun or luxurious, but I’ve never risen from the stylist’s chair thinking, “Wow! Money well spent!”. That is, not until earlier this year when I tried the Marvel Beauty School. Since that fateful day in March, I have been enthusiastically recommending the school to anyone who will listen (or read). You may be nervous about getting your hair done by a student, but before you scorn the service entirely, read through this list of pros and cons!

PROS

1. Cost: It’s only $10 for a woman’s hair cut, and $7 for a man’s! The salon offers highlighting, updos, and other hair services as well. Prices will vary, but remain low.
2. Location: At 25 Yorkville Avenue, just north of Yonge and Bloor.
3. Staff: The students who are eligible to work in the salon have a certain amount of class time under their belts, so none of them are new to the trade (you’ll see the newbies practicing on mannequins, which is kind of creepy but entertaining). All the students who have cut my hair were also currently working at external salons, many in the Yorkville area, offering the exact same service at a much higher price. Also, there are always instructors on the floor, continuously inspecting the progress of each pupil.
4. Service: There are always cheerful support staff ready to explain the school’s available services and products. The instructors are also very helpful, offering advice to the students in a kind, courteous manner. The school’s salon is run in a professional, efficient way that does not make you feel like you are getting a budget haircut.
5. Altruism: As the client, you are also providing a service – the students need both the practice and the hours in order to receive their diplomas. Think of it as community involvement. In addition, should you investigate its client base, you will find that most of Marvel’s customers are elderly women; as such, the students are very excited to have young heads of hair that ask for something other than a full set of tight curlers.

CONS

1. No Appointments: The salon works on a drop-in basis. Though I’ve never had to wait more than ten minutes for a stylist, it is wise to have an empty block in your schedule before seeking a cut.
2. Hours of Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10:00-2:00; Wednesday, 10:00-5:00; Friday, 9:30-2:00; and Saturday (beginning September 12), 9:30-2:00. They don’t leave a lot of options for people with 9-5 jobs, but this should work into a student’s schedule. Just take note of the next con…
3. Lengthy Sessions: The students cum stylists are not only cutting your hair for you, but for themselves. Teachers are on-hand to critique or compliment their technique, so they tend to take a long time to finish the job. Be prepared to be sitting in that chair for about an hour, and after the ‘do, you’ll have to be inspected by an instructor before you can leave. Again, you need to have some time on your hands before you can go to Marvel.
4. Simple Styles: If you’re in the market for a brand new you, this may not be the right place, right now. Simple, standard haircuts are the way to minimize the risk of a bad hair day. And you must know what you want – the students are not going to offer many suggestions or try to convince you to try something else (this actually might be a pro…).

As students and consumers, many of us seek ways to save money, by buying used textbooks or taking advantage of student discounts on entertainment. Marvel Beauty School offers another way to minimize everyday costs while contributing to the teaching and training of its students. Give them a try, and let us know how you felt in the comments!

Contact Information:
Web: www.marvelschools.com
Phone: 416 923 0991
Address: 25 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, ON

The new school year is rolling around and the course textbook list is out now on the U of T Bookstore website.

Before you head on down to the bookstore and leave a dent in your credit card, you might want to try to:

1. BUY YOUR BOOKS USED

   You can get used books from a number of places, including:

   a) Book exchange websites, such as TUSBE (my favorite)
   b) The UTSU book exchange
   c) Websites that sell used books, such as abebooks.com and even Amazon
   d) Your friends!

   Don’t forget that the U of T Bookstore also sells used books, but you might be able to get a better deal if you look around other places.

2. BUY YOUR BOOKS FROM THE DISCOUNT BOOKSTORE

   If the book you want is the latest edition and you can’t get it used, then your best option is to buy it from the discount bookstore, located across the street from the U of T bookstore. The price difference isn’t crazy, but it’s probably the cost of a cheap meal.

3. SEE IF THERE’S AN ONLINE VERSION

   Sometimes if you Google hard enough, you can find a PDF version of a textbook you can view for free. You might prefer to have a hard copy of all the pages to carry around, though it can be handy for those times that you don’t have the book on you.

To make sure you are getting the right book for the right price, remember to:

• Check the ISBN number of the book you want with the one you’re buying
• Look around at the prices people are offering for the book and see if you can get a cheaper deal
• See if the book is actually “Required” for the course; I often find that I don’t even use books that are “Recommended.”

If you have any tips on buying or selling textbooks, leave them in the comments!

This was submitted by a reader, Anubha Momin:

Here comes September, and with it, tuition costs, book money, and empty wallets. As students, many can feel as though their money is stretched thin, that little is left for enjoyment and pleasure. An evening at the opera? Not possible… or is it? There are lots of ways to enjoy an evening of fine art, music, or dance in Toronto, but here are some of the city’s major institutions at some very minor price points.

Art Gallery of Ontario
A stunning building in and of itself, the new Frank Gehry-fied gallery houses more than 79,000 works and hosts a changing set of exhibitions.
Cost: FREE Wednesday nights from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Website: http://www.ago.net/hours-admission

Canadian Opera Company
The largest Canadian producer of opera in the country’s largest city, the COC offers world-class performances out of the Four Seasons Performing Art Centre. The 2009/10 season includes opera classics like Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Bizet’s Carmen.
Cost: COC’s Opera for a New Age provides a limited number of tickets for most shows at $20 each for anyone under the age of 30. Book early for the best availability.
Website: http://www.coc.ca/PerformancesAndTickets/Under30/OperaforaNewAgeTickets.aspx

Justina M. Barnicke Gallery
Alright, so this may not be a “major” institution, but you don’t have to travel beyond the campus walls to indulge your inner artiste. The Barnicke Gallery is constantly changing its exhibits, and staff are always available to walk you through their collections.
Cost: FREE for all, all the time. Take note of opening night festivities, where the free entrance includes beverages, fruit, and cheese. As an added bonus, the gallery is within Hart House, which boasts its own impressive collection of art work.
Website: http://www.jmbgallery.ca/exhibitions.html

National Ballet of Canada
Headlined by Tchaikovsky’s perennial favourites, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, the National Ballet of Canada promises another stellar season of elegant, entertaining performances.
Cost: Anyone between the ages of 16 and 29 can register with DanceBreak in order to gain access to $20 tickets. DanceBreak tickets are purchasable online at midnight the day of performance.
Website: http://dancebreak.ca

Royal Ontario Museum
This fabulous attraction has been recently covered on blogUT, so I shall direct you to the post: http://www.blogut.ca/2009/08/02/travel-the-world-for-free.
Cost: FREE for post-secondary students on Tuesdays, half price for everyone Fridays from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Website: http://www.rom.on.ca/visit/tickets.php

If you have any other suggestions for enjoying Toronto’s cultural landscape, feel free to post them in the comments!