Mac101: Introduction to University Life

July 18, 2022 to July 28, 2022

Get introduced to university life at Mac101

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.

How to register

Presence, the student experience platform and app, is your go-to place for everything related to Mac101. This includes registration, event details, points for prizes and more. You must log in to Presence to view events and RSVP.

Visit Presence, the Mac student experience platform and app. Select the account icon from the top navigation bar and log in with your MacID.
After you log in, select “events” or the “Mac101” organization page to start browsing.
Then, select “RSVP” on an event page to register for each event you want to attend. You’re ready to participate!

Note: If you’re a parent or family member, you can register for the sessions using the direct links on the Parent and Family Sessions tab on this page.

Access Mac101 recordings

International Student Panel Q&A

July 18, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET

Join 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. ET

We can’t wait to get to know you! Let’s meet up each morning, Monday–Thursday, before the sessions start so you can make friends with other first-year students and get prepared for a great day.

Your First Year at McMaster

July 18, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

Whether you’re living on campus or off campus, the Archway and Residence Life teams work together to make sure you’re supported throughout your first year at McMaster. Join this webinar to learn more about what you can expect during first year, how you can stay connected to your upper-year peers 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. ET

University 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. ET

Join 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. ET

There 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. ET

At 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. ET

As 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.

Mac101 Campus Tours

July 20, 2022, 8:00 p.m. ET (virtual)

Get to know the McMaster campus through virtual tours broadcasted live on YouTube. A tour guide will guide you through campus while another guide will be available to answer your questions in the live chat. Tours are 60 minutes long. You will receive an email with the link to view your tour 24 hours before your tour time.

How We Can Help: Tech Talk

July 21, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

In 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. ET

Asking 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.

Mac101 Social Event

July 22, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

Join 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. ET

Join 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. ET

There 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. ET

We can’t wait to get to know you! Let’s meet up each morning, Monday–Thursday, 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. ET

Let’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. ET

Note-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. ET

Time 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. ET

Academic 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. ET

You 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. ET

You 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, 2022

Appointments 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.

Book on OSCARplus

Study Smarter, Not Harder

July 27, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET

Have 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. ET

Are 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. ET

Will 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 Online Fair

July 28, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET (virtual)

Come to the virtual Student Services Online Fair to meet the people behind the services and explore how you can get support during your time at Mac. Plus, 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. ET

Faced 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. ET

Join 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. ET

Mac101 points

Attend virtual events to earn Mac101 points to win prizes!

Mac101 points enter you into different opportunities to win prizes throughout the week. Make sure you’re logged into your McMaster Zoom account when you participate, so that your points can get added to your profile.

300 points: Receive a discount code to the Campus Store. This code will give you 20% off all regular-priced crested clothing, giftware and stationery (online orders only). This prize has been provided by the Campus Store (some restrictions apply*). The code expires on August 19.
750 Points: Get automatically entered into a draw for one of 50 McMaster-crested t-shirt.
1,200+ points: Get automatically entered into a draw to win one of 30 $100 Campus Store gift card. Alternative prizes are available for students who are living outside of Ontario this fall.

*The Campus Store discount code is not valid in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts. All items found in the computer department, class rings, graduation frames, staff uniforms, hospitality baskets and group orders are excluded from this discount.

Learn more on the Mac Student Experience App.

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.