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We are now in the middle of December, which means that many York U Lions are in the midst of exams. Whether you are already finished your exams, nearing the last stretch of studying or getting ready to begin your studies at York in January, the holidays are approaching! Before you go into holiday mode and enjoy the winter break, here are several things you should keep in mind to prepare for January and the upcoming winter term.
Get Ahead On Term Work
The winter term starts on January 4, 2018. Start off right by setting your academic and personal goals for the coming term over the winter break. Look at your course outlines before the first day of classes so you know about important deadlines and required textbooks beforehand. If you are enrolled in a full year course, review your syllabus to get an idea of the upcoming readings and projects you will need to complete in the new term. Searching for your books during the break is a great way to skip the start-of-term line-ups at the bookstore. Check out our previous post “Getting Your Textbooks on a Student Budget” for our tips about how to save money on your books.
To help you through the exam period and prepare for the January term, the Current Students home page has been temporarily updated to include the most relevant, sought-after resources for this time period. The site features resources for both current and future students. Whether you’re wondering about your January OSAP payment, getting your YU card, enrolling in courses or transportation, the Current Students website provides an overview of every resource you may need at this time of year.
Check your Degree Progress Report
Before you go on holiday, it’s also a good idea to check your Degree Progress Report to make sure you’re on track to receive your degree and aren’t missing any credits. If you notice that you may be missing some courses, it’s a good idea to book an academic advising appointment for January and speak to an advisor at the start of next term. Refer to the Academic Advising page to connect with your individual Faculty advising office.
It’s also a good idea to create an effective learning strategy for the upcoming semester, which may include accessing York’s academic support services. York U has a range of learning resources to help you adjust to the back-to-school rush. You can find a list of the academic support services and resources, such as the Learning Skills Services (LSS) and Writing Support Centres, on the Academic Resources page.
Completing Your Student Financial Profile
The Student Financial Profile (SFP) is a multipurpose online application form used by current York U students to apply for scholarships, bursaries and on-campus employment programs. If you’re a new student starting in January, or a continuing student who hasn’t yet completed an SFP, there is still time to do so, and be considered for:
- Work/Study Program (RAY, CLAY and YES Work/Study) – Deadline: January 26, 2018
- York University Undergraduate Bursary – Deadline: March 2, 2018
- Some York University awards for international students and International Student Bursary – Deadline: January 20, 2018
- Some York University graduate bursaries – Deadline: January 19, 2018, and awards
To apply to York U’s unique Work/Study programs and bursary program, you must submit your SFP on or before the corresponding deadline to be eligible for consideration. You can find more information about completing your SFP in our previous #YUBlog post “Submitting Your Student Financial Profile.”
Keeping Track of OSAP
If you successfully applied for and received OSAP for the full 2017-2018 academic year, your financial aid is provided in two installments. You should have already received 60% of your funds in September and should receive the remaining 40% in January, provided you have maintained your eligibility. Log in to your OSAP account to ensure that all of your supplementary information and supporting documents are in order, or to update your application with any changes in your course load or contact information to avoid delays with your funding! For more information, refer to the #YUBlog’s three-part series called “Understanding OSAP” which gives students an overview of the complete application process.
If you are applying for OSAP funding for the winter term (instead of the January term), February 19 is the deadline for most study periods. Please check the OSAP web page for more information.
Staying on Top of January Deadlines
The beginning of a new semester is always busy between catching up with friends, adjusting to new classes and keeping track of deadlines. It’s important to stay informed of important dates to make sure that you do not miss them. Take note of the following important dates now so that you’re not caught off-guard in January:
- January 4, 2018 – Winter term classes start (and full year courses resume)
- January 10, 2018 – Winter Undergraduate course fees & residence and meal plan fees due
- January 17, 2018 – Last date to add a course without instructor’s permission
- January 31, 2018 – Last date to add a course with instructor’s permission
The full list of important dates for the Undergraduate Fall/Winter 2017-2018 year can be found on the Registrar’s Office Important Dates page. You can subscribe to the Fall/Winter 2017-2018 Important Dates calendar to sync academic deadlines across your devices.
Explore New Transit Options
The York University Subway Stations will officially be open for service starting December 17, 2017!. Changes will be made to existing transportation services once the new subway stations are open. Visit York U’s Transportation page to learn more about new transit options on campus and potential changes to your route. Double check if your commute to York has changed. If it has, plan your new route in advance and estimate the travel time to ensure you are not late for the first day of class!
Stay Connected With York U
Connecting with York U on social media is one of the best ways to stay up-to-date on campus life. You can follow York University on Facebook @YorkUStudents and on Instagram @yorkuofficial. York University’s main Twitter account @YorkUniversity has been newly renamed @YorkUStudents to better reflect the focus on student information. To ensure you don’t miss the name change, follow @YorkUStudents on Twitter now.
From everyone at the #YUBlog to every York Lion — have a wonderful holiday! We’ll be back on January 4 with a brand-new blog post.
What do you need to prepare for in January? Comment below or tweet us on Twitter at @YorkUStudents.
Shannon Hui
Shannon is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Program at York U. She is also an ice cream fanatic (especially for chocolate chip cookie dough), bookworm and stationery enthusiast, and she hopes York students enjoy reading her posts!
