Are you wondering how you’re going to survive university? Put your worries aside, because these 13 tips will help you make the most of your uOttawa student life. While getting out of bed for your early morning classes will always be tough, we hope to help make everything else about uOttawa totally worthwhile.
1. Student life includes parties — and so much more
No doubt your first week at uOttawa will be spent attending Welcome Week activities (and 101 Week if you’re a first-year student). Throughout the year, you’ll have opportunities to hear lectures by world-class experts, participate in cool workshops on topics like 3D printing, get bendy in free yoga classes and attend on-campus highlights such as the Poutine Festival and the Snow Festival. Check the uoCal listings for all upcoming campus events.
2. Your first few weeks will go by fast
Before you know it, you’ll be juggling project deadlines, readings, group assignments and exams. Logically, you know not to leave school work until the last minute, but with so much happening, it’s easy to fall behind. If this happens or you need some support, contact the Student Academic Success Service, a network of free services and programs, including the Academic Writing Help Centre, the Indigenous Resource Centre for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students, and 19 mentoring centres.
Also, printers magically smell fear and have a tendency to run out of ink or jam 10 minutes before your paper is due. Avoid these woes by finishing your assignments early and printing them the day before!
3. Free stuff is everywhere (but you have to know where to look)
Some of our favourites are the Free Store, a student-run facility where you’ll find everything from household items to clothes, and Muggy Mondays, where fair trade coffee, tea and hot chocolate are served every Monday during the academic year from 8 a.m. to noon on the second floor of the Social Sciences Building. Bring a reusable mug. Low-cost and free food possibilities exist too.
4. Save money by renting textbooks
Visit the Campus Store once your course materials are posted in Virtual Campus or you’ve got your course syllabi. You can search the book titles on the Campus Store site first. There usually are options to rent used or new textbooks, as well. But note that for some courses, books are available instead at Benjamin Books (122 Osgoode St.) or the Agora Student Bookstore (145 Besserer St.), both located close to campus.
5. Hundreds of scholarships and bursaries are available
The University provides hundreds of scholarships and bursaries annually to students of every faculty and from all backgrounds. Most involve a simple application process. Go to your uoZone account under “Applications.”
6. Your uOttawa Card is your everything card
Your uOttawa (student) Card is also your campus debit card. Use it to access your meal plan, the library, the gym and photocopying services! It’s a vital little item, so try not to lose it. Replacing it (as well as your U-Pass) is a relatively easy process, but it’s not free! First, try and find your missing card. If that doesn’t work, get a uOttawa Card (with some proper ID and $25) at InfoService in Tabaret Hall or at the uOttawa Card Service. To replace your U-Pass, visit the SFUO main office in the University Centre.
7. Use uOttawa Flex/Dining dollars on campus
With a simple tap, use your uOttawa Card Flex/Dining dollars at various campus locations, including the 24-hour Dining Hall, Pivik, the Campus Store, Tim Hortons, the Second Cup (153 Laurier Ave. East) and other places. You can also use Flex Dollars to buy textbooks, school supplies, uOttawa apparel and other gear. With some exceptions, a leftover Dining Dollars balance greater than $25 is automatically converted into Flex Dollars.
8. Getting involved is easy
Discovering a new passion, meeting new friends and bonding with like-minded students is easier if you join one of the more than 250 clubs on campus or play a sport. If you don’t find the activity you’re looking for, start a new a club! Great clubs have been created over the years thanks to students, such as the uOttawa Quidditch team. You also don’t have to be an athlete to play sports at uOttawa. In fact, one in five students participates in the intramural program.
9. Making a difference, in Canada and abroad
The Michaëlle Jean Centre for Global and Community Engagement can connect you with a variety of volunteering opportunities in Ottawa and abroad. You can even receive a Co-curricular Record, an official University document that records approved volunteer activities, for your leadership role with a club or campus activities. If you’re interested in an experience outside of Canada, uOttawa has more than 250 partner institutions in some 52 countries, providing students with interesting international exchange options. The Co-operative Education Program also offers international placements, as well as placements locally and across Canada, for its CO-OP students.
10. Your profs: Experts in their fields
Your professors are experts in their fields of study, so be sure to ask them questions. Your education is more than what is written in a textbook, and your profs and TAs will help you understand course material and review your exams or papers. If you don’t like speaking in class, see them afterwards or during their office hours. They can give you the tools to achieve your goals, including pursuing graduate studies.
11. Libraries are for more than cramming
You can reserve a group study room, use the computers, print your papers, and use the Media Centre to access workstations equipped with Adobe software. There are three main libraries on uOttawa’s three campuses, Morisset (arts and science), the Brian Dickson Law Library and the Health Sciences Library. They offer free workshops and other services to undergraduate and graduate students. Subject librarians who specialize in your program of study are available to help you with your research.
12. A green campus you can be proud of
One of the things that distinguishes uOttawa as one of the most sustainable campuses in Canada is its dedication to reducing waste and remaining sustainable. For example, bottled water has not been sold on campus since 2010 and the Social Sciences Building Living Wall is one of North America’s largest biofilter walls. You can be part of the ongoing green effort in numerous ways, such as participating in Bike to Work Month, joining the Green Reps program and even planting a garden!
13. Extra support is available in a heartbeat
No matter how busy you’ll be as a student, make time for activities to alleviate stress. And if you need extra support, we’ve got your back. Mental Health and Wellness services (including pet therapy) and Counselling and Coaching are available.
The next four years will go by fast, so don’t forget to enjoy yourself. We’re glad you’re here!