Get introduced to university life at Mac101
July 18–28, 2022
Welcome to McMaster! This summer, join students, staff and faculty for Mac101, a series of sessions, discussions and activities to ease your transition to university life. Learn about strategies, skills, programs, tools and campus resources to support your success at McMaster.
Registration is coming soon
Check out the program schedule while you’re here. And save this page for updates.
International Student Panel Q&A
July 18, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ETJoin us for this interactive webinar to learn from upper-year international students about their experience at McMaster and how they made the most of it. There will be plenty of time to ask questions during the session.
Marauders Morning Meet-Ups
July 18–21, 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ETWe can’t wait to get to know you! Let’s meet up each morning before the sessions start so you can make friends with other first-year students and get prepared for a great day.
Meet Archway
July 18, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ETArchway is here to support you and your fellow class of first-year students! Join this webinar to find out what Archway is, how the program can support you and how you can make friends and thrive during your first year and beyond.
Ask Me Anything: Student Life Panel
July 18, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ETUniversity is about more than just academics. Come and meet a panel of upper-year McMaster students from a range of campus services, academic programs and student groups. Learn more about the McMaster community so you can discover opportunities to make connections at Mac.
How We Can Help: Beyond the Classroom
July 19, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ETJoin this session to meet many of the offices on campus that can support your successful transition to student life in university. It’s important to get to know your support network and find out how to get help now instead of waiting until you need it later.
Presenters include the Student Wellness Centre, Student Accessibility Services, Student Success Centre, Black Student Success Centre and Indigenous Student Services.
How We Can Help: Navigating Academic Supports
July 19, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ETThere are many academic resources at McMaster to help you succeed in university. Come to this session to meet some of the experts and offices that can help you develop your academic skills and access technology support.
Presenters include University Technology Services, McMaster Library, Student Success Centre Academic Skills, Student Accessibility Services and the Campus Store
Meet the Student Success Centre
July 20, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ETAt the Student Success Centre, there are many programs, services and events that can help you achieve your academic, professional and personal goals in university. Come to this session to meet the team of professionals who are here to support your success. We’ll share information on how we can help you build your university experience outside the classroom.
Ask Me Anything: Academic Advisor Panel
July 20, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ETAs a student preparing to come to university, you probably have a lot of questions. What is an academic advisor, and how can they help? How is my GPA calculated? How can I transfer out of my program and into another program? Join a panel of academic advisors to get answers to your questions.
How We Can Help: Tech Talk
July 21, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ETIn university, you develop your digital literacy skills by using different technology platforms inside and outside the classroom. Attend this session for an overview of these platforms and tips on how to increase your individual and group productivity, collaboration, self-management and content creation. Our presenters will help take the stress out of tech and show you the possibilities that platforms can provide.
Let’s Talk About: Asking for help
July 21, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ETAsking for help can be scary, especially in a new environment like university. It can be hard to admit, even to ourselves sometimes, that we’re struggling. But we all need and deserve some support. In this workshop, let’s discuss why it can be hard to ask for support, address some assumptions we tend to make about other people and learn how we can overcome these things by asking for help when we need it.
Fun Social with Archway
July 22, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ETJoin the Archway team and end the first week of Mac101 in a fun way! Meet new people, make some memories and continue to build your community at Mac.
Build Your Resume: Jobs, Volunteering and More
July 23, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ETJoin this webinar to learn how the Student Success Centre’s employment and experiential opportunities can enhance your academic journey through work-integrated learning opportunities (paid and volunteer), career exploration activities and more. These experiences will help you learn and develop in-demand skills that employers value
Financing Your Education
July 23, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ETThere are many resources at McMaster to help you finance your education, in addition to your personal and family contributions. Join this session to learn about government aid, scholarships, bursaries and campus work opportunities. Our financial experts will share the many resources available at McMaster to help you along the way.
Marauders Morning Meet-Ups
July 25–28, 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ETWe can’t wait to get to know you! Let’s meet up each morning before the sessions start so you can make friends with other first-year students and get prepared for a great day.
Transitioning to University Learning
July 25, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ETLet’s get ready to transition to university learning. Attend this session to find out the main differences between secondary school and university. Plus, learn ways to manage independence and what it takes to succeed inside and outside the lecture hall.
Note-Taking in University
July 25, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ETNote-taking might be a new skill for you — and that’s okay. Come to this session to learn different note-taking strategies for university and how to use your notes while studying and reviewing content. Dr. Krista Howarth from the Faculty of Science will lead a mock lecture on the topic: “Can exercise help improve your grades?” This is a great way to start practicing and developing your skills before classes start in the fall.
Managing Your Time
July 25, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ETTime management is key in achieving your goals in university and beyond. Join this session to discuss how you can manage your short-term and long-term goals by staying motivated and avoiding procrastination. Plus, learn some practical tips to manage your time so you can find time for fun, too.
Academic Writing
July 26, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ETAcademic writing in university is different than in high school. Come to this workshop to learn the requirements and expectations for university-level writing. Learn how to craft a thesis statement, structure an argument and write clearly and concisely. We’ll also talk about finding and integrating sources.
How I Write: Humanities and Social Sciences Panel
July 26, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ETYou probably know about the structure of paragraphs, and you might even have practice with integrating sources, but how do experienced academic writers actually write? How do they get through long papers? Join us for a discussion with two upper-year students to talk about the reality of academic writing in Humanities and Social Sciences. There will be short presentations and time to ask questions.
How I Write: STEM Panel
July 26, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ETYou probably know about the structure of paragraphs, and you might even have practice with integrating sources, but how do experienced academic writers actually write? How do they get through long papers? Join us for a discussion with two upper-year students to talk about the reality of academic writing in STEM. There will be short presentations and time to ask questions.
Writing in University: How Different Is It?
July 26–28, 2022Appointments available throughout the week:
- July 26, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET
- July 27, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
- July 28, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Everyone keeps telling you writing assignments are different in university, but what does this mean, exactly? Sign up for an appointment with a writing advisor to get answers to your questions. You can bring an assignment from your grade 12 courses and ask us to explain how assignments in university might be different. We’ll highlight your strengths and give you tips for adapting to your new program.
Book an appointment on OSCARplus under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Academic Skills. You must activate your MacID to access OSCARplus.
Study Smarter, Not Harder
July 27, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ETHave people told you that exams in university can be difficult? Well, there are strategies that can help you prepare. Most students find that they need to change the way they study, since university assessments test much more than your memory. Come to this session to learn how to move from passive to active studying. Find out how to make content memorable, find connections and make the most of your studying time.
How to Manage Group Work
July 27, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ETAre you nervous about working with others on group projects in university? Don’t worry! Come to this session to learn strategies for effective communication and collaboration techniques. Discover practical tools that will ensure your group succeeds.
How to Write Lab Reports
July 27, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ETWill you be writing your first university lab report in the fall? Don’t worry! Come to this workshop to get a sense of the overall structure of lab reports and the writing skills you’ll need to succeed.
Student Services Open House
July 28, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET (on campus)Let’s be honest, browsing websites and reading to learn about campus services isn’t the most fun way to discover your support network at McMaster. Come to the Student Services Open House to meet the people behind the services and explore how you can get support during your time at Mac. Swipe your student card at each booth to get points for your chance to win Mac swag, t-shirts and campus store gift cards. You can track your points on the Presence app.
Reading Effectively and Efficiently
July 28, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ETFaced with piles of textbook readings and journal articles throughout the semester, you’ll need effective ways to stay on top of course content. Come to this workshop to learn strategies for reading faster and more efficiently. Get the most out of each reading while saving time for other assignments, studying and fun.
Supporting Your Student: Information for Parents and Families
July 23, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ETJoin administrators for a panel discussion and live Q&A session where they’ll discuss how McMaster is prepared to help your student thrive in university. We invite you to share your questions and comments when you register.
Parents and family members of international students are encouraged to attend this session.
Financing Your Education
July 23, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ETThere are many resources at McMaster to help you finance your education, in addition to your personal and family contributions. Join this session to learn about government aid, scholarships, bursaries and campus work opportunities. Our financial experts will share the many resources available at McMaster to help you along the way.
Instagram giveaways
Prizes: $50 Campus Store gift cards
Follow @MacSSC on Instagram during Mac101 for giveaway posts. Consider this an easy way to meet the McMaster community and potentially win some money for the Campus Store.
- Tag a friend and comment one thing you’ve learned from a Mac101 workshop to enter the draw.
- Each post is another opportunity to win!
- You must be an incoming first-year McMaster student to participate.
Reflect on your Mac101 experience for a chance to win up to $150
Prizes: $50, $100, $150 Campus Store gift cards
The transition to university can be both exciting and challenging! In a 200-word response, share how Mac101 helped you prepare to overcome potential academic setbacks in your first year.
- Email your submission to skills@mcmaster.ca to enter the draw.
- The deadline is July 30, 2022, 11:59 p.m. ET.
- You must be an incoming first-year McMaster student to participate.
Stay tuned for student blogs breaking down the skills you need to succeed in university
We’ll share tips, strategies, resources and more to help you feel prepared to start classes in the fall.
Start university with success (and earn credit!) with INSPIRE courses
McMaster Intersession Learning offers flexible courses on diverse topics that will improve your transition into post-secondary life while earning credit through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Workshops and some assessments take place in August, meaning you’ll have fewer tests to think about when exam season comes.
The University Success INSPIRE courses are designed to provide you with the skills, tools and resources you need to thrive and succeed at university.
- INSPIRE 1AA1: Academic Skills
- INSPIRE 1BB1: Professional Skills
- INSPIRE 1CC1: Wellness Skills
- INSPIRE 1DD1: Numeracy Skills
- INSPIRE 1EE1: Writing Skills
- INSPIRE 1FF1: Financial Literacy
Note: Connect with your Faculty academic advisors to ensure these courses are eligible towards your degree requirements before enrolment.
Have questions?
Email the Intersession Learning team at intersession@mcmaster.ca.
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