Welcome to the Student Success Centre

Edwards Arch located behind University Hall. Spring 2020

We're glad you're here. Discover how we can support your success.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Blurred photo of Edwards Arch with superimposed graphic. Text reads: Back to Mac Town Halls.

Back to Mac: View the student town hall recording

June 17, 2021

Getting safely back to McMaster this fall is on top of everyone’s minds. View this recording of the student town hall to get answers to common questions and learn about the university’s Back to Mac strategy.

This livestreamed event featured an opening address from David Farrar, McMaster’s president and vice-chancellor, as well as a panel of university leaders.

View the Back to Mac town hall

Four students at the hamilton waterfront

Summer webinar series for first-year international students

Summer 2021

Are you about to start your first year at McMaster as an international student? Attend the summer webinar series to learn about study permits, housing, life in Hamilton and Canada, McMaster resources and more.

Each webinar is offered multiple times to accommodate different schedules/time zones.
All times listed are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Learn about the webinar series

Screenshot of Water Coolers comedy show. Three people in separate Zoom meeting windows talking at the same time.

The Water Coolers bring their virtual comedy show to Mac

June 23, 2021

Are you feeling all Zoom-ed out? Same. Join us at the Water Coolers comedy show to share a laugh about all the little mishaps and frustrations that happen in virtual environments. The Water Coolers are musicians, comedians and performers who combine original songs, skits and parodies about the world of work. Bonus: Attend for a chance to win a $100 Campus Store gift card.

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Make Connections

We may be apart right now, but we are still one McMaster community. Take part in these opportunities to stay connected.

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We hope you're proud of all that you accomplished this year. (We sure are!) From Gina Robinson, director of the SSC, "It's been a challenging journey at times, so take pride in your hard work, perseverance and commitment in getting here." Read this message from your SSC community.

Message to students

Student Journeys

Finding a co-op with help from CAPS

Booking an appointment with CAPS was one of the best decisions I have made for my career... I didn’t know McMaster offered a service like this, I was able to book regular meetings and do anything that I needed. The experience offered me a personalized support system for whatever my needs were, whether that was job hunting tasks like resume building or even just going over all the things I needed to do for my classes and making a plan to get them done. And sometimes, it was just nice to talk to someone and share about my day.

Read the Journey

Students in a Teams meeting: Richa and Rachel.

Richa and Rachel discuss what makes a professional and why you shouldn’t restrict your path

I used to be in nursing in first-year. I absolutely loved it — amazing program at Mac. But then I ended up switching into Commerce. At the beginning, I thought I'd wasted a year. But really, having that year of nursing on my resume, all of the employers and businesses look at [my resume] and they say — "She knows how to talk to people. She knows how to be compassionate and empathetic and understand the customer's needs."

Read the Journey

Students in a Teams meeting: Allan and Jayco.

Allan and Jayco discuss collaboration and career management

I think the one [skill] that I've been forced to use and, as a result, develop is career management. I think it's so important during these times to identify one's goal. [Whether] it's a long-term goal or a short-term goal, I think it's important that people identify such goals so that you can make a plan to execute your goals.

Read the Journey

Students in a Teams meeting: Sharon and Maham.

Sharon and Maham discuss transferrable skills and the transfer student experience

Since I am a transfer student, it has been kind of like a culture shock in a way coming to Mac from a different school. [This included] having to learn about the culture of Mac and seeing how things work, making new friends and building new relationships in my new environment.

Read the Journey

Students in a Teams meeting: Richa and Stephanie.

Richa and Stephanie discuss campus employment and community engagement

Working for campus events — that is a job that I got because I thought it was gonna be fun. It was gonna be an easy way to get to know students and participate in events while hosting them. That was something that I took up for fun, but now, looking back at my experience with campus events, I'm thinking — wow, I was really working and dealing with my problem-solving skills. I was working with a really tight-knit team, and there was a lot of problem-solving involved.

Read the Journey

Students in a Teams meeting: Allan and Tipu

Allan and Tipu discuss professionalism and cultural fluency

I think, in every group interaction that I've had here at McMaster, I've learned about putting together different views. In our program, Life Sciences, which is an interdisciplinary program, putting together different viewpoints enriched my experience and enriched my learning. And I hope to use the collaborative skills I've used [at McMaster] to collaborate with colleagues in the workplace.

Read the Journey

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