Jodie Vanderslot | Health Editor
Featured Image: Who better to ask for help than those who have already been in your shoes? | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Q: How do your grades in first year compare to your grades in high school?
-Beste Cobanoglu, first year, Children’s Studies
What do you need to do to get and maintain a 9.0?
-Ahsan Khalid, first year, Biology
A: You should expect your grades to drop a little during the first semester I’d say, because you’re not used to the new workload, and the expectations that the profs have for you, but it’s a matter of acclimating to the new environment. If you stay on top of things and manage your time well, even with a healthy social life, you should do well regardless. It just takes a little more effort.
-Mustafa Murtaza, fourth year, Biotechnology
Q: How do you balance a social life and get good grades? Preferably without losing sleep.
-Rachel Sybblis, first year, Undeclared major
A: I manage to divide my time by giving myself study time early in the mornings and getting my assignments and school work done by the week they’re assigned. Many people get surprised when I tell them and they ask “how? Usually the professor or TA will explain it more only the week before it’s due?” My answer is always “I follow the professor to get them to explain the work and have the TA review my end result before the week is up. That way, I never need to stress about homework, assignments, exams, and other class work.” The reason why I prefer doing this is because I’m an athlete and I’d like time for my training. The plus side is, post-secondary education never takes away from any quality family time.
– Fourth year, Sociology and Anthropology
Q: Is it really stressful coming into the first semester?
-Kirsten Davidson, first year, Children’s Studies
A: It can be! York is big and it’s a huge change from high school. No one is there to tell you to do your work…but not that stressful because the workload in first year wasn’t as hard as I was worried it would be. It’s manageable, so don’t stress!
-Kathlyn Fernandes, fourth year, Children’s Studies and Concurrent Education
Q: What do you do when you have late classes?
-Maxi Brown, first year, Undeclared major
A: Use goSAFE and shuttle buses if you’re living in The Village! It’s the safest way to get around campus in the evening. Walking with a buddy is also safer than being alone.
-Danae Guerra, fourth year, Social Work
Q: What’s better: e-books or textbooks?
-Faiaz Tahmid, first year, Electrical Engineering
A: E-books! They’re easier to access and take with you on the go. They’re also cheaper.
-Alia Manji, fourth year, Children’s Studies
Q: Do you recommend a full course load in the first year, or is it better to stretch it out?
-Nikita Sahayaraj, first year, Hons. BComm
A: I would definitely recommend stretching it out, or at least taking 24-28 credits in the first year. It makes adjusting to university life easier and makes a huge difference in stress levels. Get your general education courses out of the way first.
-Kiran Farooqui, fourth year, Children’s Studies
Q: What’s the difference between taking a three-credit course, six-credit course, and nine-credit course?
-Fatima Haggar, first year, Hons. Economics.
A: A three-credit course is always a semester long, either in the fall or winter term, or S1 or S2. A six-credit course is usually a year long or SU, but sometimes they can be a semester long. It will be the same course load, but they condense it into a single semester. A nine-credit course is always a year long, but heavier than six credits.
-Manisha Khan, fourth year, Economics
