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.
Registration for Mac101 sessions are now closed. In case you missed it, check out the session recordings below.
International Student Panel Q&A
July 24, 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 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 24 to July 28, 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. ETWe can’t wait to get to know you! Let’s meet up each morning, Monday to Friday, 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 24, 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. ETWhether 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 24, 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 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.
You Belong at Mac: Yes, You!
July 24, 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ETWhat if I’m not smart enough? What if I don’t make new friends? What if my cover is blown? Together we will explore strategies to navigate common doubts and fears you may have about surviving and thriving at McMaster. This workshop will be a space where folks are encouraged to be vulnerable and discover tangible ways to build community, overcome imposter syndrome, and embrace uncertainty.
How To: Be a University Learner
July 24, 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. ETWhat does it mean to be a university learner and set yourself up for success? Attend this session to explore differences between high school and university, manage independence and learn what it takes to succeed inside and outside the lecture hall.
Ask Me Anything: Academic Advisor Panel
July 25, 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 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 25, 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 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.
How We Can Help: Beyond the Classroom
July 25, 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 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.
How To: Research and Write in University
July 25, 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. ETCome learn how to meet university expectations for your written assignments from experts in the fields of academic support. We can help you get the grades you want.
International Student Experience (ISE): Studying at a Canadian University
July 26, 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. ETIs university different than high school? Learn about the undergraduate classroom experience, how to be a successful student in Canada and ways to access valuable resources and support.
How We Can Help: Navigating Academic Supports
July 26, 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 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 offer support and help you develop your academic skills.
Finances FYI: Mastering the Student Budget Game
July 26, 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. ETCreating a functional student budget can empower you to navigate the financial challenges of student life successfully. Join us to learn more about how to begin building toward financial independence in your undergraduate journey.
Ask Me Anything: Secrets to Success with Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
July 26, 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ETUpper year students invite you to “ask us anything”! These panelists will share their secrets to success and answer your questions about SAS and supports available to students with disabilities.
How To: Write Lab Reports (Concurrent Session)
July 26, 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. ETRunning concurrently, students can either attend a session on how to write lab reports or how to write essays. In each session, students will learn the expectations of the writing assignment in university, as well as what supports are available as you continue to develop your writing skills.
How To: Write Essays (Concurrent Session)
July 26, 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. ETRunning concurrently, students can either attend a session on how to write lab reports or how to write essays. In each session, students will learn the expectations of the writing assignment in university, as well as what supports are available as you continue to develop your writing skills.
How To: Get It All Done
July 27, 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. ETThe one thing you’ll hear the most from upper-year students is that they wish they knew how to manage their time, stop procrastinating and find a balance earlier. In this session, our experts will share proven ways to get it all done and have time left for fun.
Ask Me Anything: Building Your Resume
July 27, 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 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.
Transfer Student FYI
July 27, 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. ETHave you transferred to McMaster from another university? Will September be the first time you’ve been to McMaster’s campus? Do you have questions about transfer credits? Join this webinar to learn about orientation programs that are available for transfer students, how transfer credits work, tips to help you discover what McMaster has to offer, and resources that can support you throughout your first year here.
How To: Take Lecture and Reading Notes
July 27, 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. ETNotetaking 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. This is always one of the most popular sessions. We will be joined by a McMaster professor who will be doing a mock lecture, so students can practice note-taking methods.
Off-Campus Student FYI
July 28, 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ETAre you living off-campus in your first year? Feeling nervous about what it will be like? If so, join us for this session to talk to upper year students for tips and tricks on how to make living off-campus the best experience possible.
First-Year Social
July 28, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ETJoin your peers for a virtual escape room 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.
All sessions for parents, family and caregivers will be recorded
In case you can’t make it, we’ll be uploading session recordings for these sessions. Check back soon.
Supporting Your Student: Information for Parents and Families
July 29, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 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 29, 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.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.
Residence FYI
July 29, 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ETCome meet staff from Housing and Conference Services who will be sharing information for students living in residence this year and answering your questions.
McMaster Zoom account activation
Follow the instructions below in order to activate your McMaster Zoom account. You will need to use this account to access any McMaster events hosted on Zoom, including Mac101 sessions.
Step 1: Go to the Zoom sign-in page. Click “SSO” (Single Sign-On).
Step 2: Type “McMaster” into the company domain.
Step 3: Enter your McMaster email.
Step 4: Enter your password.
Step 5: You have now activated your McMaster Zoom account. Please ensure that you are signed into your McMaster Zoom account when attending all Mac101 sessions.
McMaster Presence account activation
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!
Step 1: Click the icon in the top right corner.
Step 2: Click “Login”.
Step 3: Log in with your MacID (full email) and password.
Step 1: To view Mac101 sessions, click on “Events”.
Step 2: Scroll through the “Events” page to view all sessions that are offered. You can also filter the events in several ways.
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- Use the search bar to do a keyword search for events.
- Use the “Tags” button to filter events based on certain features.
- Use the “Dates” button to filter events based on when they occur.
- Click on the calendar icon to view all events on the dates they occur in a calendar.
Step one: To view the organization page for Mac101, click on “Organizations”.
Step two: Click “Mac101: Introduction to University Life” for general information about Mac101 and sessions.
Step 1: Select the event you would like to register for. Click “RSVP”.
Step 2: Fill in your First Name, Last Name, and McMaster email address. Click “Register”.
Step 1: Log in to your McMaster Zoom account.
Step 2: Click “Join on Zoom”.
Step 3: Click “Launch Meeting”.
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Gaǫdadęihwahni:ya:s Summer Transition Program
July 17 - 28Find a culturally safe space to develop your community and access support among Indigenous learners before the year starts. Gaǫdadęihwahni:ya:s is a summer transition program for Indigenous students starting their studies at McMaster in September. Over two weeks in the summer and workshops continuing in the fall, you’ll learn about culture, university life and academic skill development while celebrating Indigenous values and ways of learning.
EMBER
August 7 - 25EMBER prepares students who are entering their first year of Engineering, the Bachelor of Technology program, Computer Science, and Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences (iBioMed) for academic and social success. Mix and match courses and other opportunities to create your own unique, customized EMBER experience. This program is offered at no additional cost to students.
MacStart Transition Program
August 8 - 25MacStart is a free summer program designed to help you transition to university learning. Our goal is to support the needs and interests of incoming students with disabilities. This orientation program is offered in a choose-your-own-journey style. This means that you register once for the whole program and attend only the workshops that interest you. Through this program, you will have a chance to make connections and become acquainted with like-minded peers before you even start classes. MacStart is run through Student Accessibility Services (SAS).
Ignite Program
August 23 - 25McMaster’s Ignite Program is a pre-arrival orientation for international students designed to help with the transition to university life. By attending this program, international students will have the opportunity to get basic settling needs organized, a chance to make friends and connect with other international students, and receive information related to student services and getting involved on campus. Note: This program is only open to international students staying in residence.
Surviving and Thriving in the Social Sciences
August 29 - 30, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ETJoin this tuition-free mini course designed to help familiarize common learning tools such as key success strategies, skills and tips. In addition to the in-person sessions, the course will contain online content that will be available through McMaster’s Avenue to Learn, helping you prepare for success in your degree.