Curran’s First Year Crash Course
Hey! My name is Curran, and I’m a first-year student in the Faculty of Social Sciences. As an ambassador, I’ve been tasked with giving you the rundown of what you really need to know when it comes to your first year at Mac.
In the six short months since crossing the stage at my high school graduation, I’ve become something of an expert…don’t fact check that. Anyways, being here now and having a recent high school experience to compare it to, I hope you’ll find some value in what you’ll read below.
Introducing: The First Year Crash Course.
Friends: We All Need Them, But How to Find Them?
Graduating from a fairly small high school and being the only person coming to McMaster, thinking about how to meet people was a bit intimidating to say the least.
Using social media to your advantage is HUGE. Reach out, make a group chat, get to know each other. In the spring after I had accepted my offer and began to connect with people through social media, I found myself in a social science group chat with more than 100 people.
We talked and got to know each other over the summer, and then, after arriving on campus, we were able to meet each other and not feel quite as lost. It was quite the fun game of match-the-name-and-profile-picture to person.
Academically Speaking, What’s the Deal With Academics?
Now, the second most asked about topic: academics. You’ll soon find after your first few classes that whether it’s a Monday morning lecture or Thursday afternoon tutorial (because yes, most Social Science students really don’t have Friday classes), any new learning environment really boils down to you, the professor, your notes, and the projector screen.
Although it may be daunting to focus on your learning in a room of other people, the other people in the room are easy to forget about. After the first couple of weeks, I think you’ll find it really is not all that different.
To Nap or Not to Nap: The Age-Old Question of Balance
Something that I think everyone wonders about when coming to university – I was no exception – is how to keep up with the pace and manage all these new parts of university life.
On this topic of striking balance, it’s important to remember that what balance looks like is unique to everyone.
In your first few weeks, you’ll learn a lot of things about how you operate. This includes how much time you need to do certain tasks, how many other commitments you have alongside your academics – and, if you live in residence, how you approach living alone for what is often the first time.
Whatever your style is, staying organized is the most important thing you can possibly do. For me, I keep a list of every date for every assignment in every class that I make at the beginning of the term. Being able to cross them off after completion and seeing the list get shorter as the term goes on is a feeling I would recommend!
I also have a monthly calendar with personal events and non-academic commitments so I can see what’s coming up and have something to look forward to. With a schedule you get to design, you’ll have a lot more time than in high school to balance your schedule to fill as you need and want.
Remember: with such power to rot in bed does come great responsibility to actually study, but once you strike the balance you’ll be just fine!
It’ll All Work Out, Seriously.
Above all else, people are here to help you. I know you’re probably used to hearing that a lot, and sometimes it can feel vague sometimes. I get it, I’ve heard them a lot over the last year as well.
While it may seem like you’re on your own during this transition, the reality is that McMaster can give you more resources than you’ve ever had in high school to support you however you need it.
More than this, other first years are going through the exact same experiences as you. Everyone, and I mean literally everyone, wants to make friends and have a great university experience. So, give yourself a chance to do the same!
All the best as you navigate this new chapter – I hope to meet you on campus one day 🙂
Curran