Jenn Tsoung wrote:
I grew up in Vancouver, where I got my BSc in Chemistry at the University of British Columbia. I.m definitely a West Coast girl at heart and when I was thinking of pursuing graduate studies last year, I.d thought I would want to stay near the ocean. However, one very cold February weekend, I came to visit the University of Toronto and got lured in by the wonderful department here with its incredibly friendly residents and impressive facilities. It wasn.t a hard decision after that to come back in the fall where I joined Professor Mark Lautens. group and began my research in the development of new transition-metal catalyzed organic transformations."

I loved the fact that the university was in the heart of such a vibrant metropolitan city . I could live a short walk away and still be able to enjoy the city life. It.s a terrible life for my labmates and I, when we have to spend evenings after work trying to make the difficult decision about whether we.d grab dinner in nearby Chinatown, Little Italy, Kensington market or Koreatown, or take a short TTC trip out to Little India, the Danforth or the distillery district.

While I do miss the ocean and the mountains of British Columbia, Toronto has its fair share of great sights and activities. In the summer, I love going out to the islands to bike around and have barbeques. I go frequently down to St Lawrence market for the farmer.s market, and get drinks with friends on the sunny patios all around the city. I attend the many outdoor music and food festivals, and once in awhile take a hike out to the beaches to paddleboard and play volleyball.

And while yes it.s true, the winters here are pretty terrible and, like a true Vancouverite, I will complain about it endlessly, at least it.s not a huge burden to hide indoors among the many theatres, museums, galleries, pubs and restaurants around the city. I know it sounds as though I live an impossibly lavish lifestyle for a graduate student, but my average monthly budget probably breaks down to something like the following:

Ashlee Jahnke wrote:
I grew up in College Station, TX, a town of about 80,000 centered around Texas A&M University. I attended Texas A&M for my BSc degree in chemistry before going to work full time as a research assistant. I spent a year and a half working on diverse projects at a small research and development firm in College Station. I realized that I would like to some day run my own research projects, and that led me back to school. I began my PhD in September 2009 with Professor Dwight Seferos on the St. George campus. My current research involves tellurium based conjugated polymers for photovoltaics and other organic electronics.

I live in the Annex and have only a ten minute walk to and from work. I have a basement bachelor apartment in a home that is occupied by a young family. I do my best to maintain a balance between work and play. Toronto has a lot to offer in the way of entertainment, especially in the summer. I have a dog, Bandit, who accompanied me from Texas and we spend a lot of time walking the city and enjoying the numerous parks. I go to St. Lawrence market every Saturday morning where I am able to buy fresh meat and produce for low prices. I have found the transition to downtown life to be quite easy and Toronto already feels like home!

Here is an example of a monthly budget:

Brent Pautler wrote:
After completing my BSc in Honours Chemistry CO-OP at the University of Waterloo, I was unsure if I wanted to pursue graduate studies. After looking at what Chemistry at the University of Toronto had to offer, I decided to pursue an MSc degree in environmental chemistry. Within my first three months of graduate school, I knew this was the right fit for me and decided to complete my MSc and begin my PhD right away. I am currently working for Dr. Myrna Simpson at the Scarborough Campus who was also my MSc supervisor. My MSc research focused on carbon cycling in the Canadian High Arctic which could become an important atmospheric carbon source in the future with melting permafrost due to anthropogenic climate warming. My current research project focuses on the molecular-level characterization of organic matter in and on the surface of glaciers and from ancient Arctic paleosols by modern NMR spectroscopic techniques. My many research interests include: experimental NMR spectroscopy, microbial contributions to soil and dissolved organic matter (SOM and DOM), structural characterization of SOM/DOM by NMR, and SOM/DOM mineral interactions. In the end, the skills and experience obtained from graduate school in chemistry will be beneficial in my career development which I hope will one day lead to a chemistry faculty position.

I currently live on my own in a basement apartment about 10 minutes from the Scarborough Campus. I chose to live in Scarborough to be close to work and cut down on the daily commute. Surprisingly, I manage to be downtown Toronto more often that I originally anticipated because of all of the fun things this city has to offer. Often times I drive and leave my car at one of the Eastern TTC parking lots and take the subway downtown. I am a sports advocate and have been to see the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays, TFC as well as many U of T varsity sporting events. The music scene is also terrific with all major/minor bands usually making Toronto their main Canadian stop.

Living in Toronto is manageable on a Graduate Student salary with proper budgeting. Luxuries such as a car are not a necessity; however I do find it convenient to have a car at the satellite campus. Typically, living in Scarborough can be cheaper than right downtown which allows me to have some money to put towards car expenses. A monthly sample budget is shown below.

Monthly Budget:

Elyse Henderson wrote:
I'm from Vancouver, where I grew up in the Kitsilano neighbourhood and enjoyed nearby beaches and parks. Growing up, I spent every summer on Hornby Island, one of the Gulf Islands. I got into Ultimate Frisbee during high school and it's been great how easy it has been to meet new people through this connection/interest everywhere I go. Both the environmentally-conscious vibe of the West Coast as well as my summers on a rural island encouraged my appreciation of nature and played into my choice to pursue Environmental Chemistry here at the University of Toronto.

I knew I was interested in studying science in general from a very early age because I have always been interested in knowing how everything works, all the way down to the molecular level. This is what drew me to physical chemistry. I went to McGill for undergrad and received a BSc in Honours Chemistry with a focus in physical chemistry. I worked with ultrafast spectroscopy for my undergraduate project, and sought a more applicable way to pursue physical chemistry for my future research. So, I was drawn to the University of Toronto for its Environmental Chemistry program, and especially to the Donaldson group for its use of physical chemistry and spectroscopy to study environmentally-relevant reactions.

For the past two years I've been living in the Bloor/Ossington area, and absolutely loving it! It has so much character, and so many shops nearby, and a bus and a bike route basically from my doorstep to Lash Miller (about 20 minutes). I've also really enjoyed exploring other areas of Toronto. One of my favourite things about this city is how accessible it is, both by transit in the winter and by bike in the summer. There are so many unique areas to explore, especially in the summer when there always seems to be at least one street festival to grab a bite at and catch some entertainment. From everything to outdoor movies, to hidden restaurant gems, to fresh food markets, to the lead singer of your favourite band walking into the bar you're at and starting to play music while you eat dinner (seriously, that's happened), this city can be so much fun.

The students here also offer a great support network. Since there is such a broad range of research happening at U of T, there is bound to be someone around who can help you with any science question you have. The Chem Club also puts on a lot of great events where all the grad students can hang out and let off some steam!

Monthly Budget:

Hasan Khan wrote:
I grew up in a then-small-now-slightly-less-small suburb of Ottawa called Barrhaven. I was used to being surrounded on 3 sides by cornfields and experimental farms (imagine the early summer smells?).

I completed my B. Sc. Hon. at Ottawa University in Biopharmaceuticals with a concentration in medicinal chemistry. To be completely honest, I didn't know I wanted to pursue chemistry until I visited the department and met with the incredibly helpful and open staff, and the energetic and passionate faculty.

Once I met my current supervisor, Vy Dong, for the first time, I was sold. After having met the rest of the department and completed my first year of graduate studies, I have no regrets with my decision: I love it here. My current project involves rhodium-catalysis, namely the hydroacylation of ketones. Slowly, my project is shifting to include organocatalysis in order to combine both modes of catalysis to perform unique transformations either system would be unable to mediate individually.

Right now, I'm living in the heart of downtown Toronto at the corner of Bay and College. It's a remarkably convenient place to live; across the street is a 24h Dominion, there are two shopping districts each a 10 minute walk away, and Lash Miller is a 10-15 minute walk West. Everything is close enough that I don't need to buy a Metropass, although I do take advantage of the subway system's speed and convenience every once in a while. I live with two of my friends from Ottawa U, which really helps with the burden of rent.

The Chemistry Department at U of T is among the most collegial I've ever encountered. ChemClub organizes dozens of social events every year and there is a lot of mingling between groups. It makes it a lot easier to keep up the drive and motivation that this department is known for when you're surrounded by friends.

My monthly budget breakdown:

Hannah Morales wrote:
I completed my B.Sc. in Chemistry and some M.Sc. course units in the University of the Philippines-Diliman Campus, Quezon City, Philippines. I chose to pursue graduate studies in the University of Toronto mainly because of the vibrant research culture and greater opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary work. I am now a Ph.D. student in the Macdonald group doing diffusion studies using NMR spectroscopy. My project employs pulsed magnetic field gradients in probing the diffusive behaviour of molecules, such as polymers and proteins, while interacting with model lipid membranes.

Adjusting to life in a foreign country was a daunting task and required a huge leap of faith, but a lot of good people certainly helped me along. I appreciate that having a well-balanced grad student life in UoT is not a very difficult choice to make. One can definitely find a community or group that matches your interests and personality, whether inside or outside the university. For me, I make some time on Sundays to help out in the church community I found here, while I have the rest of the weekend to go exploring, shopping, or cooking at home. It also helps to live in an interesting multicultural city with lots of attractions to visit (time and money permitting) and different cuisines to sample!

I am now based at the Mississauga campus, but also experienced staying in downtown Toronto for a year. Toronto has an active, bustling city feel with many activities to choose from, while Mississauga is more laid back, great for nature lovers, and less expensive to live in. I get the best of both worlds by residing in a quiet neighbourhood that is walking distance from main thoroughfare and a good-sized shopping area. Coming out once in a while downtown for a special event is not a bad idea either.

Wise spending is the key to live a comfortable life in the Toronto area. Deals and sales and affordable / free stuff are easy to find, if you know just where to look... Here is a sample of my monthly budget:

Chris Caputo wrote:
I grew up in Windsor Ontario, about 4 hours south of Toronto. I completed my Honours BSc. degree in Chemistry at the University of Windsor. Growing up I always loved to visit Toronto, the big city had such an allure. When applying for graduate school I was torn between staying in Windsor or coming to the University of Toronto. When I visited UofT I was amazed by the quality of the facilities and the research that was occurring here, I instantly knew that I wanted to join the department. On top of the fantastic research, ChemClub makes the student life in the department second to none by putting on a variety of social events throughout the year. I began my PhD in September 2010 with Professor Doug Stephan and my research involves the activation of small molecules using metal free "Frustrated Lewis Pairs."

I live in a house in The Annex with two other roommates, one of which came from Windsor and one who I met in the department. Having roommates really helps keep the cost of living reasonable. The neighbourhoods surrounding the University are vibrant and have a lot to offer; every weekend I go down to Kensington Market to get some cheap groceries but Chinatown and St. Lawrence Market are also great alternatives to go shopping downtown. My friends and I also like to go out on the weekends and there is no better place for entertainment and bars than downtown Toronto.

Another great thing about Toronto is that it is so easy to explore without a car. I generally use my bike as my main mode of transportation however if the weather is bad or I'm feeling lazy the subways and streetcars offer a great alternative.

Lastly, the stipend that the Chemistry department offers allows me to live comfortably downtown without having to worry about where my next meal will come from. A monthly breakdown of my expenses is as follows:

Sample monthly budget:

Christina Mueller wrote:
I joined the Department of Chemistry in January 2009, after finishing my diploma at the Philipps-University of Marburg. Marburg is a typical German university town, with a castle on a hill and a cozy little inner city with old framework houses and cobble stones. From this idyllic place of about 80.000 inhabitants I came to Toronto, to U of T, with its approximately 80.000 students. As one can imagine, both, my private and university life, changed quite drastically with the decision to move to Toronto.

Despite this drastic change and obvious contrasts, now, about a year later, I find myself really comfortable in Toronto. The city itself has a lot to offer. From its international districts and their individual flair, its cultural opportunities, such as opera, ballet and museums, to its variety of clubs, pubs and bars. Whatever you might be interested in, or crave, is within reach within the opportunities of Toronto. Along the same lines, finding people who share the same interests as you to join in your extracurricular activities is also easy.

Of course, besides all the entertainment, the university plays a major role in my daily life. I joined Dwayne Miller.s research group, following my fondness for physical/laser chemistry. Our group is an international mosaic of biologists, chemists, engineers and physicists gathered together with one common goal: understanding of the basic principles that drive chemical reactions and transitions. With respect to this diversity, research in our group is very inspiring, and full of opportunities to learn.

In addition to great research, I enjoy the environment of our department and the university. I am particularly impressed by the efforts taken within the department, mainly through the (graduate) student union, to organize social events. University offers a variety of activities, aside from student events. I am personally a big fan of the sport facilities, which include swimming pools, running tracks and drop-in classes open to members throughout the year.

Altogether, city, department and research group, make my life here in Toronto interesting and full of opportunities to explore and learn. For all of you who might be thinking about joining the department of chemistry here; even though I had to leave family and friends far behind, I think the move was well worth it...

Below is my monthly budget.

Alon Eisenstein wrote:
I am an international Ph.D. student in the Goh group, working with nano-meter scale measurements using scanning probe microscopy.

I have completed both my B.Sc. and M.Sc. at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. The university is situated in the city of Be'er-Sheva, in the desert part of Israel, so coming to the snowy waterfront Toronto was a dramatic climatic change for me.

I came to Toronto together with my partner and our small child. The transition to Toronto was a hard decision to make, but was surprisingly easy.

We are currently living in the UofT family housing. Not only is it the cheapest place a family can find in the downtown area, but it is also a great place for kids to grow up in, having lots of families with children from all around the world. The George Brown College daycare is situated within the building, combining both convenience and professionalism, thus providing great comfort as far as childcare is concerned.

Living in downtown Toronto has lots of benefits for families. There are many museums with dedicated sections and activities for kids. Various drop-in centers around downtown have many programs for stay-home kids. The waterfront is always busy with excitement, especially in the spring and summer time. A summer favorite is the splash-pads and wadding pools, operated by the city for free use. In wintertime, skating in city rinks (free) and playing in the snow are excellent outdoor activities. More remote attractions, such as the Toronto Zoo and the Ontario Science Center, are easily accessible by public transportation, so having a car is really not necessary.

From a financial standpoint, the annual stipend is only manageable with the help of Toronto's child care fee subsidy (due to the high cost of daycare in the downtown area).

A rough estimate of the regular monthly costs:

Isaac Herrera wrote:
My name is Isaac Herrera and I was born in Guadalajara , Mexico . I moved to Toronto in 2005 after completing my M.S. Chemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso . Toronto is one of the largest cities in North America and people that live here come from all corners of the world, therefore, you will be able to find a neighborhood that you can call home during your stay here. It took a bit of moving around on my part before I made Portugal Village my headquarters when not at school. Its location is within a short bike ride from St. George campus and well connected to public transportation for those winter months. In addition, it is located next to Little Italy, which is known for its many restaurants, nightclubs, and shops. Among the many neighborhoods in the Downtown core, Kensington market is one of my favorites. Here you can find second-hand stores, coffee shops, and products from around the world at reasonable prices. It is within walking distance from the Chemistry building, and is an excellent destination for a cheap lunch, especially when your experiments are running and you have extra time on your hands [did I really say that...?].

My experience in the Master's program taught me that pursuing a Ph. D. would require long hours in the lab, but I strive to keep a balance in my professional and personal life. After all, most professors would agree that their best years were those spent in grad school, so why not learn from them! In my case, I took up dancing as my hobby, but you can find many clubs which might suit your taste at the Hart House ranging from archery to wine tasting. In addition, the athletic facilities on campus provide yet another alternative to help keep a balance between your mind and your body. Both the Hart House and the Athletic Center are close to the chemistry building and offer a range of drop-in, as well as registered classes. If this is not enough, then this vibrant city has more festivals and events throughout the year than you could possibly attend. To find information about these events, you can check out the weekly newsletters and online resources (e.g. NOW Magazine , City of Toronto Official Website ). Furthermore, graduate student have access to subsidized tickets for events organized by the Chem Club , the Graduate Student Union , or the International Student Center . So, there are plenty of things to do when you need a break from the lab.

Finally, financial planning is a must for any graduate student since this usually means not having a lot of extra cash. However, the stipend at the chemistry department allows you to live comfortably. As for other international students, this was my first experience away from home, so I gave myself some extra room at the beginning by saving some money. My savings was short lived, but it certainly helped me to get settled. Here is a current breakdown of my budget:

Sample monthly budget: