A guide to succeed in your first six weeks

In university, successful students plan for success. They find support early, manage their time using schedules and tools, study actively, participate during and after classes and keep a healthy school-life balance.
June 15, 2021

As part of your new university support system, the Student Success Centre academic skills team is here to help you stay on track and develop your skills. The following tips and strategies can help ease your transition to McMaster. However, your university experience is unique to you, and this impacts the types of resources and activities you need to succeed. We recommend that you use these suggestions as a starting point, but feel free to create a plan that works for you!

  • Create a weekly schedule that includes:
    • Your class schedule
    • Dedicated time for each class to complete studying, reading, writing, researching and other tasks
    • Volunteer or work commitments
    • Time to relax and reward yourself for your accomplishments
  • Make an appointment with an academic peer mentor to develop skills in goal setting, time management, note-taking and much more. Book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Academic Skills.
  • Use to-do lists to prioritize tasks.
  • Start breaking down large assignments into manageable chunks or tasks.
  • Improve your study habits by reviewing materials and notes often and using active study strategies:
    • Use graphic organizers to make connections in content.
    • Test yourself.
    • Teach others.
    • Review the LibGuide: Studying and Taking Exams.
  • Start a study group and meet often.
  • Discover campus resources that can support you: Faculty, Student Affairs, McMaster Students Union, McMaster Library and more.
  • Research clubs or other ways to network, socialize and have fun.
  • Make an appointment with the Writing Centre. They can support you with brainstorming, outlining and drafting your first assignments. Book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Academic Skills.
  • Make a mid-term study plan:
    • Schedule time to review course material over multiple days.
    • Use the Pomodoro Technique.
    • Find out the test format.
    • Keep using active study strategies like graphic organizers.
    • Review the LibGuide: Studying and Taking Exams.
  • Meet with professors during their office hours. This is time specified on the syllabus that professors set aside to meet with students outside of class to discuss material and other issues.
  • Review the LibGuide: Communicating with Professors.
  • Find a tutor through the Undergrad Peer Tutoring Network. Tutoring costs cost of tutoring is between $15-20 hour; all tutors are current McMaster students who have earned an A- or above in the course.
  • Attend academic skills workshops on studying and preparing for tests. Register on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events. Then, you can filter the calendar by “academic skills.”
  • Focus on a healthy school-life balance. Include self-care and time to relax and reward yourself. Visit the Student Wellness Centre website to learn more.
  • Check out McMaster Library research consultations for support with assignments.
  • Reflect on your current status:
    • How are your grades?
    • How is your well-being?
    • What support do you need?
  • Review your short-term goals and revise as needed. Check out the LibGuide: Goal Setting.
  • Do a midterm performance review.
    • Did you start studying early?
    • Did you use active study strategies?
    • Were you prepared for the test format?
  • Find supporters to keep you on track: accountability buddies, academic peer mentor, instructors and more.
  • Find ways to stay motivated:
    • Start for five minutes.
    • Envision success.
    • Find purpose in the task.
  • Sign up for Academic Reboot in October to develop academic and writing skills. Registration will take place on OSCARplus several weeks before the date. Go to Student Success Centre > Events. Then, you can filter the calendar by “academic skills.”

Need extra support? Check out these resources

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