December 23, 2021
By: The Student Success Centre and Student Wellness Centre
The Student Success Centre and Student Wellness Centre are here to help with five key strategies to help you meet your academic goals and take care of your personal well-being and mental health this term.
- Realities may be different than expectations.
- Try not to compare yourself to others.
- Grades may drop as you adjust to university learning.
- Know that you’re not alone.
- Embrace the awkwardness of uncertainty.
- Take risks and meet new people.
- Treat yourself the way you would your best friend.
- Fit in activities that you love.
- Be aware of burnout.
- Keep a routine using scheduling tools.
- Avoid perfectionism and understand procrastination.
- Check in on your mental health.
- Build your network with instructors and peers.
- Have work strategies for before, during and after lectures.
- Join a study group.
- Get note-taking support, courtesy of the SSC and SAS
- Support others and let them support you.
- Attend instructor office hours.
- Seek academic support (tutoring, coaching, writing) and wellness resources (workshops, groups) early.
Remember, there are resources that can help
- One-on-one academic support (academic coaches, writing advisors and educational staff): Book on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Academic Skills.
- Academic skills tip sheets
- OSCARplus (workshops, appointments and more)
- Self-help therapy modules: Register for free with your McMaster email.
- Group therapy and drop-in support groups
- One-on-one counselling appointments