YouAlberta
Put it on the record: YouAlberta loves tips. Good tips, hot tips, insider tips; we take them all and distribute them to our U of A community in the hope of making your university experience a little smoother or easier.
With September now in full swing (the leaves are yellow, the mornings a little early), I thought I'd reach out to both some of my fellow YouAlberta writers (who are also students returning to class) as well as a few folks running student services on campus to get some advice to start the term off well. So here you have it, a collection of tips to make this a great Fall Term to remember!
More than resumes.
Emily Gregory, Manager Career Education, Career Centre
It's never too early or too late to start managing your career. Whether you're a first-year student or in the final year of a doctoral program, we encourage you to get involved and keep your options open. Through your experiences at the U of A, you can learn about your likes and dislikes, develop employability skills, make connections and explore potential career options.
Career Centre
The Career Centre is your source for career and employment expertise at the U of A. We can help you explore your career options, gain experience, make connections and look for work.
It is never too soon to start reaching out to your classmates!
Kathryn, YouAlberta blogger
Finding time to connect with friends is crucial during a stressful time like the beginning of a new school year. An on-campus coffee date is one of my favourite ways to catch up with friends—especially those you don't have classes with! Be sure to shake things up and try different coffee spots around campus; the Remedy in CAB is my go-to. Chatting with friends is also a great way to gain a new perspective on any back-to-school worries you may have—bonus points if it's over coffee. Implementing these kinds of manageable breaks into your schedule is a perfect way to prioritize yourself throughout this hectic time.
Studying with friends is another way to stay connected with friends without neglecting your coursework and approaching deadlines. Making new friends early on in your classes will help you to create study groups for the term ahead; new connections also make your class time more enjoyable. It is never too soon to start reaching out to your classmates! Settling into your new courses can be intimidating; if you're a returning student, it is a great idea to remind yourself of your growth from this time last year to today. You've got this!
Don't forget to take some time out for yourself.
Iman, YouAlberta blogger
The Fall season can be very stressful for both new and returning students. It's full of preparing for the upcoming term, and it can be very easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle and lose yourself in it, getting caught up in your courses. But amidst the chaos of it all, don't forget to take some time out for yourself; check out club fairs and other events going on around campus, especially in the first couple of weeks while you still have some spare time and things are still kicking off. Try to get involved in a few clubs or groups around campus so that you have something to fall back on when you need something to do outside of studying. It's a great way to meet like-minded people, and there really is something out there for everyone. Week of Welcome is happening now, and there are so many events to stop by and quickly check out or events you can grab tickets for and enjoy for a while. Get out there and meet new people! You'll end up thanking yourself for it later in the term when things get too busy to do much aside from focusing on your courses. The memories you create now are so important!
It all starts with hello.
Clint Galloway, Director, Wellness Supports
Get involved and meet new people. Whether you are a returning student or new to campus, take the opportunity to come out to events, join student groups and participate in activities on campus!! Meeting new people and developing a social circle is essential to help you build a sense of belonging on campus. Your social connections can help you adjust to campus life, reduce your stress and have a positive impact on your academics! Simply put, don't be afraid to get to know new people! Just start by saying "hello."
Wellness Supports
1:1 support through our social workers, training and workshops for mental health support, support with programming related to wellness and equity, diversity and inclusivity.
Sexual Assault Centre
The SAC offers free, anonymous and confidential in-person or virtual drop-in, phone, text, chat or email crisis intervention support to anyone on campus or in the wider Edmonton community who has been impacted by any form of sexual violence. They also offer free, longer-term psychological supports to staff and students who've experienced sexual assault or abuse.
Take the first couple weeks of school to really get ahead!
Jaden, YouAlberta blogger
Oftentimes, the beginning of a new term is the least intensive week of your classes and, therefore, your opportunity to get a lot of work out of the way. For example, get started on assignments weeks in advance, do notes in advance of the next month, etc. This will alleviate pressure on you as the term progresses and exams are thrown at you. Additionally, having a start already will help push you forward instead of starting from scratch later on!
Take time for your hobbies.
Ishan, YouAlberta blogger
When those numbers stop making sense, and the assignments just keep piling up, staying home and getting coffee to keep up with classes might seem like the most sensible thing to do. I'd recommend you give it a second thought. I have had my fair share of all-nighters and self-study sessions where I spent days working on assignments while neglecting the need for a good, long walk or maybe a solid 60-minute workout in the gym. As a former athlete and a fourth-year Finance student, I can tell you that it is not sustainable. Try and take some time for your hobbies regardless of how busy school gets. Whether it's dancing to your favourite beats or running 5k, make sure you take the time to take care of your body in order to stay in good shape, mentally and physically. It is probably the most important thing you can do if you really want those A's in your classes this fall term.
Eat plenty of nutritious and tasty food!
Rebeca, YouAlberta blogger
To have enough energy and motivation to study throughout the day, I always make sure that I eat plenty of nutritious and tasty food. This starts with having breakfast in the morning or a quick milkshake when I am running late. I spend the whole day on campus, so I also make sure to pack some lunch. For me, the key to staying motivated throughout the day is to carry a variety of snacks in my backpack so that I have them easily accessible when I get hungry. Often, it might be a challenge to get a quick snack between classes, so I make sure I always have granola bars, gummies, chips, cookies and some fruit. Also, when I have to study a more difficult or less interesting topic, I divide my study material into sets and give myself a snack once I have completed each portion of studying. The calories of the snacks allow me to have the energy to focus while studying, while the idea of eating a tasty snack motivates me to complete my tasks faster. As a fun and bonding exercise, I share snacks with my friends while we study; we call it the "surprise snack exchange." This helps make studying more fun, especially when you have multiple classes throughout the day.
Join a student team/club.
Makenna, YouAlberta guest blogger
Mission SpaceWalker is a student team that not only helped me gain experience in science, engineering, administration, and outreach but it also helped me get my internships at the Canadian Space Agency and the National Research Council Aerospace facility. Choose a student team you are passionate about, and what you put in, you will get out. You get to develop skills across various skill sets that are hands-on. And that will set you apart on your resume and give you something to talk about in your interviews. No matter your discipline, there are clubs out there that can suit your needs. And try different clubs throughout your university career. And network with your team, as they could be your colleagues one day. I believe student clubs are key to making the most out of your university experience, which you wouldn't normally get otherwise. I know many teams like Mission SpaceWalker have tasks in all disciplines, and you can find many of these teams on our school website or by messaging teams directly on social media! I know my team @missionspacewalker is always recruiting ;)
Say, "Howdy!"
Jeremy, YouAlberta blogger
Last but not least is my tip: if you're up for it, say "howdy" to the person next to you in class. A lot of us are sitting beside people we might never have seen before or seen but never talked to before. I'm not asking anybody to jump into an in-depth conversation, but just to give a friendly greeting to someone new. Who knows, maybe you'll share some great Fall Term tips with each other.