After graduating with Distinction from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto and earning a Master's in Economics at Oxford University, Tom Smith wrote a letter originally intended as advice only for 3 of his younger cousins just beginning their University careers. His blunt, unique advice evolved into this presentation - information you unlikely to find ANYWHERE else. There are secret rules to a successful university career - know before you go!

1. The Secret Rules of University:
Know before you Go!
Thomas Smith

2. YOU ...
• are now making university plans.
• will invest several years and thousands of
dollars.
• are setting course for life & career success.
• want the best return on time & money spent.
• don’t want nasty surprises
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3. Thomas Smith
• Grew up and
graduated from a
public high school in
Toronto
• Earned a Bachelor of
Commerce from the
University of Toronto
• Went on to do a
Masters in Economics
at Oxford University
• Now works in finance
in London, UK
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4. This presentation
After finishing university and leaping from
school to a career, Thomas wants to share the
advice he wished he had received before
starting.
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5. This presentation ...
• is about how to reach academic success and
how to move from university into your career.
• is not a motivational talk, but practical and
strategic advice.
• won’t help you choose your field; it will give
you things to think about, but not tell you
what to do.
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6. Two Questions About You
1) How high are you aiming?
2) Where are you on your university timeline?
... in high school and applying
... just started
... nearly finished
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7. How high are you aiming?
How you approach university depends on the
career you’re aiming for:
• “I want to go on and do a PhD.”
• “I want a professional career as a lawyer or
banker.”
• “I just want to pass and get a job.”
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8. Where are you on your timeline?
Stages on your university timeline:
• Early years: finishing high school, first year or
second year undergrad
• Later years: third and fourth (and fifth) year
undergrad
Some advice applies to ...
• the early years.
• the later years.
• all years.
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9. Advice for All students
No matter how high you’re aiming
Early years:
• Keep your options open
All years:
• Careers are long
• Beyond mountains, there are mountains
• Start planning next summer in September
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10. Advice if you are Aiming High
Early years:
• Schools are only good if you must compete
hard to get in
• A qualification is only valuable if lots of people
fail at it
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11. Advice if you are Aiming High
Later years:
• Third year – It’s really important.
• Reference letters must be planned in advance.
• Do assignments strategically.
For all years:
• Pain is temporary, grades are forever
• One strike and you’re out
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12. Secret Rules of University - Thomas Smith
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13. Keep doors open for yourself
• At the start, you never have
enough information to make
big decisions.
• Never make a commitment
you do not have to make.
• The world will change, and
you will change.
• You need time and
experience before you
narrow your focus.
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14. Careers are long
• You will have multiple jobs,
and each will last multiple
years.
• Don’t sacrifice a long-term
career goal for one that pays
off immediately.
• If you only realize in fourth
year you want something
different, go back and do it.
• Get yourself pointed in the
right direction; don’t worry
about how fast you’re going.
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15. Beyond mountains, there are
mountains
• In mythology, heroes conquer
the mountain and end in
Victory.
• In school and work, you never
get to “the end” where you
enjoy the fruits of your labour.
• The reward for hard work is
more hard work.
• Education continues forever,
you’re still at the start.
• “After climbing a great hill,
one only finds that there are
many more hills to climb.”
Nelson Mandela
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16. Plan next summer in September
Relevant work experience:
1. Provides you with practical
knowledge you won’t learn
in school.
2. Sets you apart from
competitors when
academics are not enough.
3. Is not just about making
money – you want
experience in your field.
4. Should be organized early
in the year. Don’t wait for
spring to start!
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17. University is more than education
• Elementary, high school, and skilled trades
training are about acquiring knowledge.
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18. University is more than education
• University is also about separating the
smartest people from the rest.
• It is a competition which decides some people
are smarter than others.
• Succeeding is a SIGNAL to employers and
other universities that you are smart and
committed to your field.
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19. Signalling Value of Education
Fields with codified knowledge (engineering,
science) have very clear standards.
• Brand of school matters less.
Fields with hazier achievement measures (law,
business) have more relative standards.
• Brand of school matters more.
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20. Signalling Value of Education
• Very bright people who choose easy degrees
are not signalling to employers how smart
they are.
Ask yourself:
• Do few people attempt the course?
• Do lots of people fail to get into the course?
• Do lots of people fail the course?
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21. Aiming high: where others fail
• Chartered Financial Analyst: 80% who start do
not finish
• Top MBAs: only 10% of applicants get
accepted
• Pure math degree: few people even attempt
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22. Grades
•
•
•
•
Grades are permanent
All grades count
Grades can always be higher
Every point on your grade can get you to a
better post-grad or career.
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23. Pain is temporary, grades are forever
• For grad school or a competitive career, grades
matter a lot.
Employers are concerned with these:
1. The school you attended
2. The degree you earned
Grad schools are also concerned with these:
3. Your GPA
4. The professors with whom you studied
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24. Grades
You have two levers to pull your grades
higher:
1. How hard you work
2. The courses you select
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25. How hard you work
You have to:
• Memorize pointless
material
• Pull all-nighters
• Miss parties and
family functions
“Good grades” are not enough. Go for every point.
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26. Courses you select
• Don’t make university harder on yourself.
– “I thought taking a Quantum Physics elective
would be fun.”
• Electives should be at the intersection of
interesting and easy.
– Interesting so you don’t get bored and neglect it.
– Easy enough that you can get a good grade.
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27. One strike and you’re out
• Your transcript needs to be a pristine,
unblemished record
• One bad grade can ruin the whole thing
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28. One strike and you’re out
•
•
•
•
If a course threatens to ruin your pristine
transcript, don’t be afraid to drop it if:
You have done poorly on early tests.
The probability of doing well looks very low.
Your supposedly fun elective is a lot more
difficult than expected.
A required course has begun poorly – drop it
and take it again.
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29. 3rd Year: Penultimate Year
• The year upon which you are actually judged.
• Graduate schools want your application
between Sept and Jan of your final year.
• Grad schools will decide on you before you
ever finish 4th year.
• You cannot leave important courses until 4th
year.
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30. 3rd Year: Penultimate Year
If you are going straight to work after 4th year:
• You will be applying and interviewing during
4th year.
• Employers will only be able to judge you on
the grades, projects and work experience you
have before 4th year.
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31. Reference Letters
• Employers and grad schools need more than a
number to judge you on.
• You need personal testimonials to support
your work ethic and enthusiasm.
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32. Reference Letters
For a good reference letter:
• The writer must know you and have good
things to say about you.
• The writer should come from a department
relevant to where you’re applying.
• The writer should be well-known in their field.
– This is very important for PhD programs; a high
quality application requires high quality referees.
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33. Strategic Research/Papers
• In later years, focus your assignments on the
niche in which you want to work.
• “Bend” assignments away from general work
and into your area.
– Professors will usually help you with this; if you’re
showing a real interest you can deviate from the
syllabus.
• Now you can use your current course work to
prepare for your future.
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34. Strategic Research/Papers
This is especially important for PhD
applications.
• Grad schools will want to see that you’re
interested and experienced in research.
• For a PhD application you should do an
independent research course during your
undergrad.
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35. Final thoughts:
• Work hard.
• Good luck!
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