First Week of Class: Quick Tips

Most of us start school tomorrow. Here are a few quick tips for starting off your week right, especially if you are entering your first year.

Make sure you have:

• your class schedule (include course name, course code, class location, professor's name, and class time)
• your student number (you'll need to memorize it eventually), photo ID, SIN card
• your mailing address
• campus map
• parking pass or bus pass
• essential school supplies (see checklist)

To-Do-List

• keep rechecking online that your classrooms have not changed location
• get your photo taken for your student ID
• make an appointment with financial aid if you need to
• get to know your campus (i.e. where is the library, cafeteria, financial aid office, registration office, help desk, etc)
• leave plenty of time to get to class

Good Luck !

Related Links

Back-to-School Clothes Shopping

Back-to-School Supplies

Keeping an Organized Schedule

Don't Wait to Write to Study Notes

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Brag or Bitch About Your Grades

This post is your chance to tell everyone how well (or not so well) you did this semester. Don't be shy. I want to know how you did. I myself have some bragging and bitching to do.

So make a comment and let everything out! I am sure a lot of people with sympathize with any problems you had. And I do not mind listening to bragging as I have been known to do that myself.

Bookmark this post to follow the discussion.

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Reading Week

For some students Reading Week is just ending. But for my school it has just started! Horray! Actually this Reading Week is gonna suck. No vacations for me. Everyday is going to be booked with work, group meetings, studying, and homework. But I am going to fit in some down time and a couple of drinking nights (I can't let the whole week go to waste). My overall goal is to get as much done this week so I won't be freaking out because of deadlines and midterms in the weeks after that.

York Update:
I'm so greatful for Reading Week, especially because not all students get one this semester. York Univeristy has decided that students won't get the break because there is no way then can catch up with it.

If you are in the same boat as me and have a lot of homework to do for reading week I suggest that you revist some of these older posts:
1. If you have a busy week --> Keeping an Organized Schedule
2. If you have midterms to prepare for --> Don’t Wait to Write Study Notes and 8 Exam Preparation Tips

Or if you have a lot of time to kill check out the featured Everday Living and Entertainment posts in the right column of this page. I recommend Alien Adoption Agency, a free online game, or pick up a book/watch a movie (refer to Recommended Reads and Recommended Movies).

My overall advice about Reading Week, if you are not going on vacation, use this time to catch up or get ahead in your work, but also remember to take some time to relax because final exams will be here before we know it!

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No Classes for York Students

As you may of heard, the facalty of York University in Toronto has been on strike since November 6. And that means that students still cannot go to class. You may think "Wow, that sounds great, a break from all the chaos of school for awhile". But the reality is that students are losing money and precious time is wasting. For many, it will now take longer to graduate or they will have to take summer classes.

Here is an update about the strike from thespec.com.

Talks resume in York University strike
Two-month dispute jeopardizes school year

January 05, 2009

Raveena Aulakh
Torstar News Service'

"Students across Ontario head back to school today - unless they attend York University.

York University and the union representing its striking workers have still not reached an agreement, but it's a good sign that talks haven't broken down, said a union member.

"Talks are still going on – that's a very good thing," said Christina Rousseau, chair of CUPE 3903.

Thousands of students - including commuters from Hamilton - have been idled for two months by the strike. The school year is in jeopardy for many, but the province has said it won't intervene in the dispute.

University officials and union representatives will resume bargaining today after negotiations ended late last night. The two sides have been working with a mediator since Saturday. The strike has shut down campus since Nov. 6, when 3,400 teaching assistants, contract faculty and graduate assistants walked off the job. This is the third attempt at reaching an agreement.

Workers are demanding better job security, benefits, wages and a two-year contract that will expire at the same time as other Ontario university unions, giving the Canadian Union of Public Employees more province-wide bargaining clout.

Rousseau said job security is a big point of contention. "We want a special contract which gives members five years instead of the eight months they have now," she said last night. "That will allow them to do some long-term planning."

Child care and professional development are also at issue.

A York University spokesperson was not available to comment. "

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Is it okay to skip class?

What do you think . . . Is it okay to skip class?

In the Beginning: I start off each semester with a vow that I will go to every class and stay for the whole class. But that promise is worn off very quickly sometimes. This semester I will usually go to class but only stay for the first hour and a bit (each lecture is 3 hours). And sometimes I skip the class altogether.

Excuses: I think this is largely because the classes are pretty boring this year. The professors just cannot keep my interest and attention for too long. I have had classes that I find very interesting, its not like I have a problem with paying attention to things. Also skip class because there are a lot of distractions in my life. Not all of them are major but I have work and money to worry about. But I also am distracted by the fun things I want to do like reading, playing games, watching movies, going out, blogging, etc.

On the Bright Side: There is one class that I have not missed once this semester. . . financial management. Accounting and finance is not my strong area. I find these classes to be the most difficult so I go to learn as much as I can and get clarification. I do all of my homework (that will be graded), I do enough studying, and my grades are really good and stable.

My Thoughts: Even though I am paying to go to class I do not take advantage of the valuable resources that can be obtained by actively listening to lectures and that makes me feel kind of guilty. But I am completely happy with my grades so far (on the honour role) and the semester is almost over.

I think it is not the responsible thing to do but I feel that I am getting what I need from the courses and I am proud of my accomplishments. My learning style does not always include verbal reinforcement. Most of the time my best learning comes from just reading the text.

Your Thoughts: What do you think? Is it wrong that I am not going to class? Or is it okay? Does it matter?

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