Reading week is coming. College education is good, but it’s time for all-round development with student benefits.
Students spend lots of money on their education, but many don’t spend enough time using the benefits that their student ID cards can afford to them.
Students across Ontario with valid student ID cards are provided discounts and even free admission to museums, galleries, theatres, and other attractions across the province.
According to the Art Gallery of Ontario’s (AGO) website, students under 25 years old are granted a free, one-year membership that gives them access to special exhibitions at galleries and museums.
The golden ticket? Their student ID card.
Ivan Radchenko, an international student at George Brown College studying Financial Services, said that taking advantage of the benefit was easy and timely.
“At the entrance, they ask if the visitor is a student, ask them to go to the website and fill out a questionnaire. Then you need to confirm it, and it is saved on the phone for one year,” Radchenko said.
Although not all attractions offer free entrance, most do provide some sort of a student discount in the form of a student rate.
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) offers student rates at $5 off the regular adult rate with proof of a student ID card.
The Textile Museum of Canada provides students with an even bigger discount with the student rate at $6, compared to the regular adult fare of $15.
Tarragon Theatre in Toronto also offers student rates if students can provide a valid student ID card. If purchased through their website, students can buy tickets at $15, while the regular price is $55.
Public transit student discounts are something that most, if not all students take advantage of if they choose to commute.
For those that use the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) daily, the monthly student pass costs only $128.15 compared to their regular monthly pass at $156.
Sofiia Bruk, an international student at Humber College studying Film and Media Production, said the two main benefits of being a student that she currently takes advantage of are a free credit card and a TTC student monthly pass.
Students can also download the UNiDAYS app which displays offers and discounts available to students from many companies. Students must download the app, and verify their account with their student email before looking for discounts.
Similar to UNiDAYS, Toronto CityPASS is a ticket that saves students 38 per cent at Toronto’s top five attractions.
Students can purchase a CityPASS and visit the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Casa Loma, the ROM, as well as either the Toronto Zoo or the Ontario Science Centre.
According to the CityPASS website, the validity period is nine consecutive days, starting with and including the first day you visit an attraction. Pass holders have one year from the date of purchase to start using their tickets.