With a new year on the horizon, scores of new students will be flooding the halls of the University of Saskatchewan in their ongoing pursuit of higher education. Starting university is stressful enough and we at the Sheaf wanted to help out however we could.

As a service to those who are new to the university — or even those returning students who could use some advice on making and getting the most out of their U of S experience — the Sheaf approached various citizens of the campus community and asked them what is one thing they wish they had known in their first year of university. If you look closely, you might see a bit of a common thread among students and alumni.

 

 

“I never saw an academic advisor. Academic advisors are not just for when you’re in trouble.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I wish I would have known to start studying as classes were going as opposed to leaving it all to the end, because that sucks.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I wish I had known that school is not the most important thing and that it’s important to take university seriously, but it’s also more important to have a good time and make sure that you’re enjoying yourself and creating a school-life balance.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I guess just to be more connected to the university. I was kind of a ‘put your time in and leave the campus’ kind of guy. After being involved here with everyone and the organization I work with, — the USSU — I know that there’s a bigger connectivity and a bigger world you can put your time into and actually enjoy university. You pay for the experience as much as the education.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I wish I knew that I should get involved. My university experience significantly changed once I did get involved with student groups. I co-founded with my roommate the International Women’s Movement, and after that I just got more and more involved with the university community. I made so many new friends and I experienced the university from different views because I did work with students from colleges I never had any contact with before, and it truly enriched not only my educational experience, but also my personal experience.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I wish I knew how many services there are available to students. In the library, there’s so many resources that are there to help you. Same thing with the USSU. We’re always here to help — and the Help Desk — they can do literally anything for you. It’s amazing.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I would have liked, in my first and second year, to get more involved with things on campus — different groups and stuff like that. Get into it more in the beginning rather than wait or you’re going to regret it. Even now I’m like, ‘I don’t meet as many people.’ In my first few years, I was studying too much, almost.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Something I wish I knew when I first started university was there’s actually a lot of things you could get involved in. Student leaders are very, very friendly and always supporting new students and they’re welcoming to anyone who wants to be involved in their groups.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Where to find academic help. For example, the Help Centre exam files, which one of them I found my final exam on — the whole thing, top to bottom.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I definitely wish I knew about the Women’s Centre in my first year. I didn’t learn about it until the end of my second year, so those were a couple of lonely, stressful years. When you get really stressed out during finals, it’s good to have a support system or a place to retreat to. So I really wish I’d known about that. I wish I’d known how accommodating it was — and how inclusive and positive.”

 

 

 

 

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Zach Tennent / Opinions Editor

Photos: Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor