Back to School

So it’s mid-August. What have you been doing since June – travelling, vacationing with the family, taking a summer course to upgrade that pesky math mark, or just chilling with friends, resting up for September? Ideally, you all managed at least some of the above. For students entering G12 this year, it’s definitely time to be checking out what universities can offer, not just in terms of courses and programs, but also in terms of support services and environment – Western’s Student Success Centre, for example, offers a popular “Ready for University” program.

Needless to say, if you haven’t already taken one, Campus Tours are a must.

If you’ve just graduated from high school, though, the big adventure is looming – how can you prepare for your new life at university? While the decision you’ve made to attend a university is primarily academic, and should be, it’s also cultural, in the sense that you didn’t JUST decide to study History or Biology (for example), you also decided where you would live while pursuing those academic passions.

If you’re attending university in September, while you may already have registered in your courses, you should also review all the material you’ve been sent from your Admissions/Registrar’s, Housing, and Financial Aid Offices. You might also want to familiarize yourself with support services that are designed to help you with the transition from high school.

For students entering Western for first year, you’ll have access to a plethora of resources designed to help you succeed, with information and workshops about – for example - IT Services, Indigenous Services, Libraries, Book Store and Computer Store, Services for Students with Disabilities, the Effective Writing Program, Learning Skills. Once on campus in September, Orientation Week, quickly followed by Clubs Week, will expose new students to the myriad academic, social, cultural and athletic opportunities available, with hundreds of Sophs providing a friendly and welcoming introduction to the next phase of your life. Check out all the opportunities to participate in co-curricular activities – volunteering, co-ops, exchanges, work/study – any of which will not only enrich your experience, but enhance your resume.