Planning Your University Life
As offers start to roll in, many students are now tasked with the difficult yet exciting decision of choosing a program to commit to. The transition from high school to university can be daunting and challenging, but there are several things you can do to prepare yourself for university life! Here are some tips that could help you in selecting the right program and planning for university life:
Research Universities
First, dig deeper into what your life may look like attending each university by thoroughly researching the universities you applied to. Other than information about the program itself, also consider looking into:
- What types of work experiences are available? For example, does your university offer co-op, internships, or research opportunities? Also, consider whether you plan to work in industry or research after you complete your undergraduate studies. Some fields have opportunities in both research and industry, and different universities may be more heavily involved in one or the other.
- What type of student support systems and services does the university offer? Does the university have a college system? Looking into the community of your potential school can help you decide whether the social environment suits you, and will help you navigate the support systems available to you.
- What is the living environment around or on the university campus? What are the residences like? A big part of first-year university life is living in residence (if you choose to do so), and it’s important to consider the environment you will be living in. After all, our environment can have a big impact on our ability to study effectively and stay active. Also, consider how you will commute to school daily and the expenses that come with living in the city where you will be studying.
- Aside from the academic aspect of your program, what extracurriculars and student organizations are available in your school community? Through these activities — whether be a robotics team, the orchestra, or a sports team — you can build your resume and connect with peers while pursuing a fun hobby.
Consider Class Size
Another factor to consider is class sizes. Both small and large class sizes have their advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important to figure out which environment is right for you! Large classes allow students to strengthen their independent learning abilities, allow for a large pool of diverse perspectives, and great networking opportunities to meet many new people. However, large classes may pose some difficulties in receiving personalized support and engagement. Small classes allow students to build strong relationships with their professors and classmates and to get more personalized feedback but can lack some of the advantages of having a larger class. Whether a larger or smaller class is beneficial to you depends on several factors like what you care about the most in your education and what fields you plan on going into. Researching how class sizes might impact your learning is something to consider when choosing a program.
Consider Finances
Many universities have scholarships and bursaries that you can apply for. Consider the tuition of your program and any other fees that you may be required to pay for, such as textbook, residence, and meal plan fees. Then, plan out how you might account for these fees, whether that be through applying for scholarships, working a part-time job, participating in a co-op opportunity, or getting support from your family.
Employment Success Rates
Another aspect that many students worry about is employment rates after completing their undergraduate studies. If you want to learn more about this topic and you’re a student heading to an Ontario university this fall, then good news: the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities requires that all Ontario universities make the statistics on key performance indicators available. This includes graduation, employment, and government loan default rates. Here are the key performance indicators for some of the universities in Ontario:
Many universities also include common career pathways that their students go into depending on the undergraduate program on their website; this is also worth looking into to see if the program suits your future career goals.
Visit the Campus
Finally, universities across Ontario have hosted several insightful open houses and campus tours. These experiences are great opportunities to explore the school environment that you may be living in for the next four or so years. Take a fun trip to your potential future schools when you get the chance, and meet the residences, future peers, campus, lecture halls, and the city environment!
We hope this list of tips will help you prepare for your future studies. Good luck with planning and navigating your university life!
