Antoine Finot
Computer Science specialist, Statistics minor
Victoria College
Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?
I chose U of T for its well-regarded academic programs and flexibility in switching majors throughout undergrad. I was also pulled by the opportunity to study right in the center of a large city since I had grown up in the suburbs. There’s always so much to do!
What inspired you to study computer science?
I played a lot of video games growing up, and my parents often encouraged me to try making one instead of just playing them. While I never got around to making one (I tried!), I took computer science courses in high school and really enjoyed them. So much of our lives revolve around technology, and I find it really cool that there are just regular people behind it.
Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?
Professor Paul Gries! He was my professor for CSC207 Software Design and was also part of the Technology Leadership Initiative. He always brought energy to the classroom and was always positive, no matter the situation. He’s been an amazing person for me to talk to for many topics, from running a club to grad school.
How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?
I was involved in multiple extracurriculars during my undergrad. I was on the self-driving car team, helped run the engineering and computer science career fair, started a computer science club, mentored international students, and managed finances for Victoria College’s intramurals. I was also a Teaching Assistant for several first and second-year courses.
If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?
Have fun, but know your priorities! There is so much to do on-campus and around Toronto, and there’s a balance between those activities and academics.
Is there a lesson you learned as an undergraduate student that you’ll take with you moving forward?
Try new things and take risks. There’s nothing from the past four years that stands out as truly regrettable, and some of my best memories are from things that I was initially hesitant about trying.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be working at a startup called Ridgeline in New York City!