Beginning university is like taking a ride on a roller coaster—there are highs, lows, and a few loops along the way.
The Charlatan talked to Owen Clifton, the mentorship coordinator at Carleton’s Student Experience Office, about the best tips for a smooth transition to university.
According to Clifton, first-year students face numerous challenges when beginning university.
“Each student faces unique challenges that are particular to them,” he said. “No two people are going to experience the exact same challenges in the exact same order at the exact same time.”
While each student’s struggles are different, Clifton said many have a tough time transitioning from high school to university life.
“There is a lot of data that seems to suggest that students entering first year, especially those coming from high school, are experiencing a lot of the same challenges at generally the same point during the academic year,” he said.
According to Clifton, one of the most common challenges faced by first-year students is adapting to a different lifestyle.
“It makes a huge difference if they are coming to Carleton from outside of Ottawa,” he said. “For those that are, they are leaving home for the first time and perhaps they are living on residence and moving in with a new roommate. Not only is it a new life in terms of schoolwork, but it is a completely new life in every sense.”
Clifton said first-year students coming from high school also commonly struggle with time management skills.
“Academically, it is a completely different ballgame. Students are having to time manage in a way that they have never had to time-manage before,” he said.
“In high school, they are monitored with regard to their assignments and attendance by teachers and school administrators . . . They do not necessarily have that personal connection or support with their professors like they did with their teachers during high school,” Clifton added.
Clifton said first-year students not only have issues time-managing their academics, but they also need to learn to manage their free time well.
So what tips does Clifton have for incoming students?
Get involved
Clifton said getting involved on campus is one of the best ways for first-year students to overcome challenges and ease their transition to university.
“The data that we have from Carleton, from universities in Ontario, and nationwide suggests that students that are involved on campus perform better academically,” he said. “People do well and are happier when they are connected. It is a big campus. Students can feel alone and alienated.”
“[Getting involved] can . . . help make them feel more grounded on the big campus and make it feel more like their home, which will in turn help them succeed more academically,” he added.
Clifton suggested that students get involved with one of the hundreds of clubs and societies overseen by the Carleton University Students’ Association.
“If there is something a student is into, there is probably a club for it,” he said.
He also said students should consider becoming involved with the opportunities offered by the Campus Activity Board, which runs events throughout the school year.
Take advantage of resources
Clifton said there are many resources on campus to help students transition and meet new people, such as mentorship programs.
“The First Year Connections mentorship program also helps with the transition process,” he said. “You are assigned a mentor that will guide you through strategies for getting connected, meeting new people, accessing resources, and joining clubs and societies.”
But Clifton added students can connect to resources in other ways, too.
“My first tip would be for a student to go chat with their teaching assistants and professors . . . They want to make a connection with their students, if [students] will meet them halfway by speaking with them after class and going to their office hours,” he said. “Making those connections is super, super helpful. They make students feel a little more at home.”
Face academic challenges
Clifton said speaking to professors and teaching assistants about expectations for their courses and asking them for guidance about how to perform well is the key to success.
He also recommended making use of academic support services.
“A student should also ask what resources and services their department and faculty offer,” Clifton said. “For example, if they are a science student, the Science Student Success Centre is one of the greatest resources for them. If they are studying math or a course that has math components, the Math Tutorial Centre is also fantastic resource.”
Clifton also recommended the Writing Tutorial Service, for students who need help putting their ideas to paper.
“They teach a student how to formulate theses, argue well, and present their ideas in a paper in a logical and coherent manner,” he said.
Although students will face many challenges at the beginning of their university careers, Clifton said it is important for them to remember that Carleton is here to help them.
“The university has resources available to help students succeed,” he said. And they “are dedicated to helping [students] have a successful and happy first year experience.”
