I learned pretty quickly in my first week at SJ to never pass up on an opportunity! The first few weeks of university can be overwhelming, but getting involved right from the beginning will help you meet tons of cool people and you'll feel more at home! – Maya

You are smart enough, you are fun enough and you are strong enough to get through the hard and scary times. I wish I had known that my value didn't come from my grades and that learning is so much more important than any mark. When I finally realized this, school became easier and I was so much more excited to go to class and try - because there was less fear of failing.  - Haley

That what I called “studying” in high school wouldn't cut it here. – Caleb

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You are special, you are probably one of the only people with the exact same schedule as you. Everybody has different classes at completely different times. This means that you could finish early some days or late other days but that is okay, because at the same time, you are never alone! – Krystle

Going to lectures and doing the assignments isn't always enough. Doing more work than the Prof assigns is really beneficial if you want to do well in a course, especially in Engineering. – John

I wish that I had known not to put too much pressure on myself. You’ll do just fine. – Meaghan

It's not about how new the building is, it's about the people you'll meet in there! The superficial things you thought were the most important factors when deciding on a school (such as how big the rooms are) will seem insignificant once you make lifelong friends and seize opportunities unique to SJ. – Lauren Pa.

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The doors in residence rooms don't stay open on their own... bring a doorstop! – Luke

I wish I had known how much I would change and develop in university. I think being at SJU has provided a very safe and supportive environment of friends, but it has also given me so much independence that I never thought I could achieve so easily considering it was my first time leaving home for so long! – Bethany

I wish I knew I could seek help from the beginning instead of waiting until it's too late in the semester. Also, I wish I knew how to adjust and change my study habits and note taking skills. – Emma

Definitely plan to get sufficient hours of sleep. Sleep is super important. You will probably hear it all the time but there is a reason for that. – Sarah S.

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That failure is ok. Everyone is a little lost and everyone is struggling. Things will work out in the end, you just have to give everything your best shot. – Meredith

I wish I knew how big of a transition it actually is, but the fact that you are surrounded by so many other people in the same boat as you makes it easier. - Anna

You don't need to purchase the textbook for every class, and if you have to, make sure to check the Feds Used Bookstore. They may not offer the most current edition, but it rarely matters. – Brendan

Always have an open mind! New experiences, people, and knowledge can only come your way if you're open to them. You'll branch out, step out of your comfort zone and really grow. – Matteo

There is a lot of reading, and you need to prioritize for each class. – Jacob

I wish I had known that no matter how excited you are to move away from home, and no matter how prepared you are academically or socially, you're never completely ready to start at university. There is an unavoidable transition period for everyone. – Jocelyn

I have been doing this more often in my second term, but ask for help whenever anything, even the smallest thing, does not make sense to you. All of these things add up and the professors are more than happy to help you! – Kaitlyn

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You aren't necessarily going to be best friends with your roommate, it may happen but if not you'll meet a lot of other incredible people too! You will get along though more or less. Be open with your roommate and remember that you're living together for a year so make the best of it! – Diane

First year will fly by, do as many fun things and experiences as you can. Don't hesitate! – Cameron

I wish I knew how important textbook readings were. I came into university thinking that I didn't have to do the readings because the prof is going to lecture you about what is in the textbook anyway. I was way, way wrong. I leant within a month that if I didn't read the textbooks or readings that I wasn't going to get the results I was looking for. – Lexie M.

How hard/ how big the course load was going to be. – Sara

I wish I had known that before class reading was as big an aspect in classes as it is! In high school there was not much before class reading except for maybe a few novels in English. It was a surprise to see the reading lists in my first couple classes, but once I knew that they were there I was able to handle it! And I am sure any new student coming to Waterloo and SJU will as well! – Madie

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It takes a while to adjust to the amount of school work. Personally, I don't think the work isn't too much harder than in high school, there's just a much larger amount than I was used to. – Josée-Claire

Before I started first term, I was so nervous about keeping the perfect academic and social balance. If I could go back and talk to my lil’ first term self, I would tell myself that everything is going to be okay, there are so many opportunities to get involved and meet new people, you just have to be open to them. Always be up for new adventures! – Lauren Pe.

1. Professors are not out to get you.
2. Don't be afraid to knock on someone’s door and ask to hangout! – Sarah D.

Treat school as a job, it’s not enough to only go to the class. Also, pay attention to the lectures. Videos of dogs on Facebook are adorable but are not going to help you on your final. – Lexie E.

I wish I had known that university was not some big scary place and that I would make experiences worth a lifetime here that I honestly could not make anywhere else. – Sadé

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