From High School to SMU: How To Make The Big Transition Easy
Written by Payton McPhee
Thumbnail and Header Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
The transition from high school to university can be one of the most challenging experiences for a young adult… but it doesn't have to be! Oftentimes, incoming first year students are greeted with stress, anxiety, and homesickness when they first say goodbye to their family and friends and move into a dorm room. However, there are plenty of resources, services, and support available to help make the transition easier, more comfortable, and even enjoyable. This article aims to give incoming students a list of advice for how they can make sure that the beginning of their university career is exciting rather than overwhelming.
Take a Campus Tour
First and foremost, a great way to become comfortable with an environment is getting your bearings and understanding your new surroundings. Taking a tour of the campus is the perfect way to do this. By taking a tour, students can have peace of mind when going to their classes and have a sense of direction, rather than a sense of confusion. At SMU the interconnected campus, which allows students to access most areas of campus without going outside, can be confusing to navigate. Additionally, McNally is one of the main classroom buildings on campus and it can be difficult to navigate since its levels are mismatched with more floors on one side of the building than the other. Students can walk down a hallway in McNally on the 2nd floor and then somehow end up on the 3rd floor without walking up a set of stairs. Navigating through campus can easily lead to confusion but taking a campus tour can help to alleviate this. Campus tours can be booked through SMU’s Centre of New Students here: https://www.smu.ca/campustours/index.html
Explore the South End and Downtown Halifax
For many students, coming to university involves moving to a new city. For these students, being in a foreign city can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking: which is why getting acquainted with your new city is just as important as getting accustomed to campus. Taking the time to walk around your neighbourhood and check out the nearby shops, parks, and cafes can allow students to feel less overwhelmed with being in a new city. In addition, getting accustomed to your surroundings can make the city feel more familiar and welcoming rather than intimidating and new.
Pack What You Need, Leave What You Don’t
Packing can be stressful and chaotic at the best of times, let alone packing to move for an entire school year. Whether you are moving into residence or an apartment near campus, there are some items that are necessary to take, and some that are not. For example, packing a fan is a necessity, whereas bringing every pair of shoes you own will just crowd your room. The best tactic to pack efficiently would be to talk to someone in your family or your friend group who has lived in residence (or an apartment) for university. Additionally, students can reach out to their residence team or search the internet to gain some insight as to what they should and should not take to university. A great example of a packing checklist for moving into a dorm room can be found here, and a helpful list of necessary apartment items can be found here.
No one should have to struggle alone, and that is why SMU offers a fantastic counselling centre on campus. At the Counselling Centre, students can find well trained and extremely helpful counsellors who are ready to talk to them, and to help them through what they may be struggling with. The Counselling Centre can help students who feel homesick, anxious, struggling with mental health issues, or just need someone to confide in. It is so important to be aware of the mental health resources that are available to students so that they do not need to look for services while in a crisis. Currently, The Counselling Centre is offering virtual sessions by phone or video and students can book an appointment by emailing counselling@smu.ca.
Photo by Loïc Fürhoff on Unsplash
In high school, most students are introduced to picking their own classes, but picking high school classes is much simpler and straightforward than that of university classes. In university, there are hundreds of classes that all have specific prerequisite requirements and it can often be difficult to understand what classes are needed. This is why it is strongly encouraged that students meet with an academic advisor before classes start, if possible. Academic advisors specialize in helping students understand what classes they should take, how to register for them, and how to map out their degree path. Students can find the contact information for their program here.
Visit the Career and Experiential Learning Centre
Some people arrive at university knowing exactly what they wish to do for a career and they know exactly how to achieve that. Unfortunately, for the majority of students, it is nowhere near that simple. At the Career and Experiential Learning Centre, students are able to meet with career counsellors to discuss their future career plans and develop an understanding of how to achieve their goals. The career counsellors are there to help students visualize and develop a career plan as well as provide a safe place to talk about the challenges along the way. Additionally, the Career and Experiential Learning Centre offers students career-oriented services such as job search support, resume support, help with co-op placements, and can act as a liaison between students and employers. Students can find out more about this centre on their website.
Reach Out to Others
Although this may sound like the simplest piece of advice on this list, it is not as easy as it sounds. For most people, it is intimidating to reach out and talk to people they either don’t know or just met. However, in university, especially for students who travelled to a school in a different city, the people in your classes, the people on your floor, and the people who you meet will become your main source of camaraderie. For this reason, it is important to make connections with the people around you. To do this, students can make an effort to speak with and connect with their RA, their floormates, and the people that they sit beside in class. New students should try and make friends and connections every chance they get.
Get Involved On Campus
One of the most rewarding ways to feel comfortable while transitioning to university is to feel as though you are a member of a group, family, community, or movement within SMU. Luckily, SMU offers an abundance of ways to become involved such as through varsity and intramural sports, clubs, societies, volunteering and job opportunities, and even just by being a team-spirited Husky while attending events. Being involved in the activities that take place on campus can help to build a sense of belonging within the community of the university.
University should be an exciting adventure, but sometimes this is hindered by nervousness and a sense of unknowing that accompanies this transition. At SMU, the faculty, staff, and students do a great job of trying to ease this feeling for first-year students and that can be seen in the many different activities and services that SMU offers to their incoming students. To read more about other resources that are offered for new students at SMU, students can visit https://www.smu.ca/resources-for-new-students/welcome.html