MSU Spark Guidebook #1

GUIDEBOOK#1 Tips and Tricks for Starting the Year Off Right

MYTHBUSTING DECONSTRUCTING McMASTER MYTHS

Myth vs Fact Academics are the highest priority, there’s no time to join anything!

Both experiences inside and outside of the classroom are valuable to your growth! The things you do outside the classroom can be just as important (if not more important) in shaping your university experience. Take the time to try things that are out of your comfort zone, and you might be surprised at how much you learn!

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Your grades drop 30% from high school to first year, and you’re probably going to fail a class!

First year can be challenging, but with the right study tools you can definitely succeed! Recognizing areas of improvement, asking questions during office hours, and studying effectively can definitely make the transition easier! There’s also plenty of

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resources to help you along the way--whether it’s class Facebook pages for student collaboration, or midterms from past years for extra practice!

If you do end up failing a course, remember that university is challenging, but there’s ways to get back on track!

Some programs are more difficult than others and have smarter students!

Every program has unique challenges about it, and has highly motivated and talented individuals in it! It’s easy to look at someone’s schedule and think just because they have less class than you that they have “easier” courses or that they’re doing less work. However, lecture time doesn’t dictate how difficult a class will be, or how much effort someone needs to put in to succeed!

Remember that we’re all passionate about different things and have a variety of different backgrounds and skills.

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Take “Bird Courses” to get easy 12s!

If a class isn’t interesting to you, you’ll probably have to put in more work/motivation to do well! Every year during course selection there’s always a buzz about which “bird courses” to take, but the truth is that a bird course for one student may not be for a bird course for another.

Instead, look for courses that make you excited, and also courses that challenge you to learn in different ways, like writing essays or working in groups.

MYTHBUSTING DECONSTRUCTING McMASTER MYTHS

Myth vs Fact If you commute to campus you won’t make friends or be able to participate in extracurriculars!

There are lots of ways to make McMaster feel like your community, regardless of whether you live on or off-campus!

While residence is an exciting experience, living at home provides many potential benefits, and half of the first year student population lives off-campus! Joining a club or going out to a campus event are just a few small things you can do to make Mac

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feel like home.

Be sure to check out the Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS) for exciting events both during welcome week and throughout the year!

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If you’re not stressed all the time, you’re doing it WRONG Most students will undergo some stressful periods, but it’s important to find ways to destress and take care of yourself!

University life is not all about worrying when the next assignment is due, or whether you’ve spent enough time in the library! Finding ways to balance different parts of your life will help keep you motivated and re-energize you!

If you don’t get involved during ClubsFest then it’s too late to join!

McMaster has so many diverse opportunities, and it’s never too late to try some! The first month of university can be pretty overwhelming, so don’t be stressed if you haven’t taken the time to find out the different ways to get involved! ClubsFest is just one of many different ways to learn about these opportunities, but you can also check out Clubza for a complete list! And if you don’t

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want to join a club, McMaster and the Hamilton community offer many other ways to spend your time or volunteer!

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No one can avoid the Freshman 15!

There are ways to maintain a balanced diet at University! Centro may be just an underground tunnel away (great in the winter!) but there are so many other interesting places to eat on campus! Try Bridges for some delicious vegetarian and vegan options, or consider heading off-campus to Locke Street for a delicious dinner in downtown Hamilton! Reading nutrition information, carrying healthy snacks, and avoiding late night snacks will help you eat healthier, and more balanced diet!

SETTLING IN

HELPING YOU START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT!

Academics Start the year off right by finding a good scheduling/calendar system!

Once you get your course syllabus, put all your major deadlines on a calendar of your choice so you get an understanding of when your busiest weeks will be (and also which weeks you can take some more time off).

Google Calendar is also a perfect way to sync all your important deadlines with your McMaster email.

Back up all of your important documents to avoid losing files!

Every McMaster email comes with some space on your google drive to store files, and this also let’s you access it from any computer and share documents easily with others! It also prevents a lot of stress in case your laptop breaks right before an assignment is due!

Textbook costs can add up quick, so save money by waiting or buying second-hand books from an upper year!

Textbooks can be very expensive if bought from the Campus Store, so wait until class starts and ask the professor if the textbook is mandatory and whether past editions can still be used (these will be cheaper!)

Talk to upper years or friends who’ve taken the course to see how helpful they found the textbook, but keep in mind that everyone will have a different experience

Look online (i.e. Facebook: McMaster Used Textbook Sales) to see if upper years are selling used textbooks at a lower cost

Roommates/Floormates Find out which floormates have the same classes as you so that you always have a study buddy!

Your Roommate may become your best friend, or they may just be a friendly face to see everyday, either way be respectful!

Take some time to get to know your roommate, whether it’s going to lunch once a week, or joining an intramural team together. Small gestures are a good way to relax and support one another!

Make some ground rules with your roommates early on to avoid any tension!

Discuss things like noise, having people over, cleaning, and class schedules to determine how each of your daily routines will work with one another!

NAVIGATING THE McMASTER COMMUNITY

Getting to know your University FACULTY During welcome week you’ll see all sorts of jumpsuits, each colour representing one of the SIX faculties found on campus! Your faculty is a great source of information, including academic advisors to help you with program/courses, as well as bonding opportunities such as socials events.

You migh t also con sider getting in volved as a first year rep, where yo u would he lp run am azing events, lik e semi-fo rmals, musicals, and more !

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CLUBS

CLUBS From Engineers Without Borders to Macapella, there are over 300 unique clubs on campus, serving the most diverse interests! A lot of clubs will be represented during the second week of school at ClubsFest.

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MSU The McMaster Students Union (MSU) is first and foremost an organization that’s all about YOU! The MSU offers a number of services, such as Spark, that are aimed at addressing the needs of students at Mac. Check them all out here.

ster Check the McMa bsite we n io Students Un ter.ca) (www.msumcmas ugh a full and browse thro Clubza! list of clubs using

You have an opportunity to shape the MSU both by voting in elections for its main governing body the student representative assembly (SRA), or by running to represent your class as a member of the first year council (FYC)!

FIVE FUN THINGS TO DO ON AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON

Nature Must See WaterFalls: Probably one of the top items on every Marauder’s bucket list is to visit some of these waterfalls!

1. Webster’s Falls

Check out Dundas peak for a breathtaking bird’s eye view too!

2. Chedoke Falls 3. Tiffany Falls 4. Devil’s Punchbowl Falls

Cootes Paradise Trails Bright red maple leaves, plenty of deer, and a great lookout spot for a sunset (Sassafras and Princess Point!), what’s not to like about Cootes Paradise? Whether you’re looking for a fun way to explore campus or want a new jogging spot, check out the various trails behind Les Prince Hall and Brandon Hall which take you around the waterfront and into Westdale.

COOTES PARADISE

Westdale

Check out the restaurants in westdale for a great dinner spot.

BEAN BAR

EXPRESS ITALIAN

SAIGON RESTAURANT

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WESTDALE

If you’re tired of watching netflix in your room, why not grab some of your new friends and head to Westdale Theatre for a Friday evening!

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Downtown Not only does Hamilton have some of the best waterfalls you’ll find, but it’s also home to a beautiful waterfront just east of Westdale. Head past Princess Point in Cootes Paradise and you’ll find Hamilton Harbour has got everything from cafes to biking trails, and even a pier side ice skating rink!

Hamilton’s James Street is the place to be this September 11-13th for the annual SuperCrawl! Live bands, food trucks, performances, and all sorts of artists and vendors line the street for this dynamic and diverse cultural festival!

JAMES STREET

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CRAWL

And don’t worry, the festivities don’t end in september, Art Crawl occurs on the second Friday of every month and continues showcasing all the city has to offer!

WELCOME WEEK 2015/2016

Parties & Drinking There are lots of ways to make friends, and many fun activities that don’t involve alcohol!

Although it may seem like everyone is heading to a party every night, that doesn’t mean you and your new friends can’t stay in and watch a movie, or enjoy a cool evening event! If you decide to go to a party, it’s completely okay not to drink, and people won’t make a big deal out of it!

Be safe with the choices you make, and take care of others around you!

Drinking does not have to mean getting drunk!

Don’t wait until you are throwing up to realize you may gone over your limit.

If you’re on campus, consider calling the Emergency First Response Team (EFRT) to help anyone who’s not feeling well If you’re off-campus, Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT) can come to YOU and help you get back to your res or off-campus house within walking distance!

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Events Welcome Week is a great way to step out of your comfort zone, but you don’t have to go to EVERY event to enjoy it!

There will be a wide-range of events running all day, whether it’s a big concert or painting a banner for your residence! But sometimes it can also be nice to just take a break and get to know your roommate better, or explore what Hamilton has to offer.

Welcome Week Events SHINERAMA CHARITY CASINO MAC CONNECTOR

MSU AIRBANDS FACULTY FUSION

PJ PARADE

THE SHINING ROPE

WESTFEST

MACPASS CONCERT

MSU CONCERT

SIDEWALK SALE

CLUBSFEST

and MORE!

Making Friends You are going to be meeting dozens of new people everyday, but the friendships you make are the ones you take the time to invest in!

Don’t worry if you haven’t met your new BFF by day one, you have at least another four years to meet some amazing people on this campus! But a great place to start is on your res floor, or the students you’ll sit with in lecture classes!

It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, but talk to someone if you’re having a hard time!

While everyone may look like they’re beaming, that doesn’t mean they’re not nervous and panicking on the inside too! However, if you’re having a rough start, consider talking to your new support system: your CAs, Res Reps, upper-year students, or drop in to the Student Wellness Education Lower Lounge (SWELL) for more support!

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@MSUSPARK Visit our website for more info

MSUMcMASTER.CA/SPARK