First-Year Success Strategies at McGill University

Leslie Copeland First-Year Coordinator First-Year Office, Student Services McGill University

First-Year Success by Design Have you conscientiously assumed responsibility for your success?

First-Year Success by Design Your success ties into how: - you manage your time; - effective your study skills are; - you manage your health & wellness.

First-Year Success by Design Ultimately your success rests on the daily & weekly CHOICES you make about how you will: Manage your time Apply your study skills Take care of your health

First-Year Success by Design Life still happens and support is available YOU MUST BE PROACTIVE Independent success means knowing where to go when you need help and then acting on that knowledge and getting the help when you do.

First-Year Success by Design FIRST-YEAR OFFICE Brown Student Services Building Suite 2100, 3600 McTavish Street 514-398-6913 www.mcgill.ca/firstyear firstyear@mcgill.ca Here to help with transitions, to provide year-long academic & social support and to help you make community connections.

First-Year Success by Design Transitions: QUESTION? What have been some of the biggest surprises / challenges / discoveries you ve made this past month since starting your university careers?

First-Year Success by Design Transitions: Many of you may be experiencing the following transitions: - leaving home for the first-time - managing your time, your health, your money - moving out of your comfort zones making new friends class sizes - re-learning how to learn especially in large class environment - realizing that your teachers probably won t know your names You are creating a new normal!

First-Year Success by Design COUNSELLING SERVICE Brown Student Services Building, Suite 4200 514-398-3601 www.mcgill.ca/counselling counselling.service@mcgill.ca Here to help with personal problems, transitional issues, not meeting friends, time management, homesickness, exam anxiety Workshops available

First-Year Success by Design Time Management One of the keys toward Designing first-year success Good news! It is a skill and it can be learned. Discipline / Habits = 21 Days

First-Year Success by Design Five Categories of Time Use Wasted time 1. 2. Busy time 3. Important and urgent 4. Urgent but not important 5. Important but not urgent We need to define these for ourselves

First-Year Success by Design Question: What are some of the biggest contributors to time lost?

First-Year Success by Design Procrastination! Procrastination is an invisible disease which takes talented individuals with great potential and turns him/her, slowly, bit-by-bit, over time, into a complete and utter failure. How can I get myself to do what I need to do? Author: Terry Gogna

First-Year Success by Design Time Management Tips Identify one day & time of the week (e.g., Sunday evening) to layout your week s commitments. Have a visual of the long term e.g., the semester Learn to protect your time

First-Year Success by Design Study Skills Re-learn effective use of class time Develop your note taking skills vs. highlighting Know when you work best Consistent place to work Take advantage of available workshops academic skills (study skills, essay writing, multiple choice exams) Counselling Service exam anxiety, procrastination, study skills, staying ahead

First-Year Success by Design TUTORIAL SERVICE Brown Student Services Building, Suite 4200 514-398-6011 www.mcgill.ca/tutoring tutoring.service@mcgill.ca Offers 1 hour of free tutoring each semester to first- year students.

First-Year Success by Design Managing your health and wellness - includes physical, mental and emotional wellness If you don t take care of your body, your body will punish you with colds, mono, exhaustion, inability to sleep, weight loss, weight gain, etc.

First-Year Success by Design HEALTH SERVICES (includes a Dental Clinic) Brown Student Services Building, Suite 3300 514-398-6017 www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth Ask Dr. T.

First-Year Success by Design Mental Health Service Chaplaincy Service Student Clubs Schedule play time movie night, dinner with friends Leadership for Life! Conference (Leading Change) - November Get Involved Look for ways to develop your soft skills not just your academic skills

First-Year Success by Design Have a great first semester!!