After a long year and a half of learning from home, we’re excited to get back to campus. If the idea of getting out of bed, getting dressed, and going to in-person classes every day sounds unimaginable, we’ve got some tips to help you adjust to campus life and make your uni experience unforgettable.
Don’t let academics be your whole life
Yes, academics are very important for a positive university experience, but they’re not the only thing that matters. UBCO is a big campus, with lots of opportunities to have fun outside of your studies. A great place to start is with UBCO’s student services. Services like SVPRO and Health and Wellness often run events to help you get your mind off your studies for a couple hours, with movie nights or arts and crafts.
Rec also has plenty of opportunities to take productive breaks and make friends at the same time. Signing up for a sports club or beginner’s lessons can be a great way to make a few friends at once, even if your sports skills aren’t exactly up-to-par.
If sports aren’t your thing, Rec also offers fitness-free events like Pottery Paint Nights. Check out their events calendar to see what’s coming up. If the Rec events aren’t speaking to you, there’s also a Student Union events calendar and a UBCO-wide events calendar.
Find your people
Bookmark the UBCO and UBCSUO events calendars because the best way to make friends is to get out there. Try out something casual, like trivia night at The Well, or check out an event or info session run by your course union. Drop-in events like residence mixers, trivia nights, or SOMETHING can be great for meeting new people without a lot of commitment. These events (especially the ones put on by The Well or the Student Union) are generally really chill and aren’t as awkward as “official” events, so if you’re nervous about meeting new people, these kinds of events are for you.
Another great place to start is with student clubs, associations, and course unions. They require a bit more commitment than one-off events, but you’re guaranteed to have at least one thing in common with the people you meet there. Joining a student club is an easy way to find people who are interested in the same things as you. Clubs usually have events/info sessions during the Weeks of Welcome, so join in and find your people!
Don’t struggle where you don’t need to
One big difference between high school classes and university classes is the importance of questions. Don’t be shy! If you don’t understand a concept, ask. If you’re still struggling, go to your professor’s office hours and ask them to explain it to you. Profs are required to hold office hours, even if no one shows up. If you go to office hours, there’s a good chance your professor will remember you (which is always a good thing).
The Student Learning Hub also has resources from math and science tutors to writing consultations to study and tech support. You can book casual appointments to ask questions, or meet regularly to get you on track and keep you there. Check out their services early in the semester to ensure your skills are solid by the time exams roll around.
Not sure what kind of support you need? Talk to your peer mentor.
Use the academic calendar
The academic calendar is an underrated resource at UBCO. It can tell you about:
- the dates and deadlines for tuition and for adding/dropping classes so you can pop those in your phone’s calendar and promptly forget about them (that’s what calendar alerts are for).
- The requirements for your program and your major are on the academic calendar, so you don’t have to add to your dozens of open browser tabs.
- All the research institutes at UBCO and what they specialize in
- UBCO’s academic policies so you can look up plagiarism when your prof gravely talks about it but doesn’t explain what it is. If you’re wondering about plagiarism, you can also check out our post on academic misconduct.
Know when you need to take a break
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by your coursework, but you should always put your own health first. It’s normal for mental health to fluctuate, and it’s okay to ask for help when it does. Make sure to take time away from your studies when you need it. Talk to a friend, give yourself a night off from schoolwork, or do whatever you need to do to feel your best. UBCO also has lots of health and wellness resources available, like counselling services, the Student Assistance Program, groups and workshops, and meditation resources made for students.
When you’re feeling stressed, it can help to get small tasks off your plate, like doing a load of laundry or watering your plants. Enter the productive study break. You can do anything that makes you feel productive: washing your face, getting a snack, going outside, whatever you need to feel refreshed and ready to get back to your studies.
Find your favourite spot
The best part of coming to a new campus is exploring! Check out every building to find your favourite study spots (I love the corridor between the Commons and the Library), restaurants (go to Spoon and get the focaccia. You won’t regret it), and overall hidden gems (the stairwell from level 2-3 of FCCS is really pretty). Let us know in the comments what your favourite places on campus are!
Your campus experience starts now, so make it incredible!
Looking for a little more guidance? Ask a Peer Mentor about anything from finding the right resource to building community at UBCO.
About the author
Sarah Kloos is a transfer student from Okanagan College. She’s a Creative Writing major, a collector of cool rocks, and a lover of novels. While she’s still not 100% sure what she’s going to be when she grows up, she’s okay with that. For now, she’s learning everything she can from her co-op work term, and loving every minute of it.
