Five Ways to Prep Early for the Winter Term

Posted by Deea Deb on December 21, 2021

Academic Success | Student Life

Image of a man working on a laptop and taking notes with the text "Five Ways to Prep Early for the Winter Term"

I don’t know about you, but I am super excited about the end of the term. This excitement usually leads to a lot of slacking during the holidays and before I know it, the next term would have begun. If you are anything like me, you know what I’m talking about. This time around, you don’t need to worry. This #YUBlog will take you through five ways to prep early for next term, while you still are in the groove of things so that you can chill during the holidays.

The best part about this is that York has collated all this information for you on the Start Strong website! Here’s what you need to do:

Save all the important dates

It is always a good idea to save all the important university dates in your calendar, including all your course-related deadlines that are available. This way, you will be all set to go when the term begins.

Success tip: I always say this, but in case you’ve missed it, having some kind of planner is essential for university life. If you don’t have one already, here is everything you need to know before buying a planner.

Familiarize yourself with all back-to-class resources

York has a ton of resources that can help you succeed at university. Whether you need academic, learning, financial, mental health and wellness, career or community support, there is something for everyone. Check out the Start Strong Start of Class page for more information on these resources.

At university, Academic Advising will be your best friend. Book an appointment with them to ensure that you are taking the required courses and are on the right track to graduate. If you are thinking of changing your program or Faculty, make sure to discuss this with your advisor to get all the information you need.

Success tip: If you need a quick guide to your courses, you can also check your degree progress report which gives you all the details you need to complete your degree.

Check out York’s various student services

York also offers a variety of student services that are tailored to our needs. The Start Strong Student Services page provides a handy reference guide to help you navigate in-person, online, and hybrid student services.

Success tip: Attending Learning Skills Services workshops in my first year really helped with my transition into university life. As an upper-year student, I now know exactly how to prepare myself and where to reach out for help if I need it.

Keep yourself updated on all things COVID-19

While students may be eager to come back to York’s campuses, we need to consider COVID-19 regulations and ensure that we keep our community safe. Given Ontario’s increasing case numbers, please remember to pay attention to public health announcements and visit York’s Better Together website for the latest updates.

Don’t forget that for the Winter 2022 term, all York students are required to disclose their vaccination status on YU Screen, regardless of their current location and whether or not they are seeking access to the campus. Disclosure of vaccination status includes unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, fully vaccinated or seeking an exemption from vaccination.  

If you have already disclosed your vaccination status and provided proof of vaccination, kudos, you’re sorted! If you have not, please do so as soon as possible.

Ask SAVY for help

SAVY is your virtual assistant who brings information to your fingertips! SAVY can get you connected to York’s resources for academic success, health and wellness, student life, campus services and career development, no matter where you are. You can access SAVY through eClass. If you want to know more about how to use SAVY to get organized, stay tuned for our upcoming post in the new year!

Success tip: SAVY learns continuously by interacting with students. So, make sure to use keywords and provide feedback whenever you use the platform. Let’s all pitch in to make SAVY a rockstar!

These five ways will definitely help you plan ahead for a successful term!

Let us know in the comments below if you have used any of these services and how your experience was so that we can help the York community find the help that they need.

To stay up to date on campus life and events, connect with York on social media. You can follow us on Facebook @YorkUStudents, Twitter @YorkUStudents, Instagram @studentlifeyu and with our weekly This Week @ York emails.

Deea Deb
Deea Deb

Deea Deb is a third-year English and Professional Writing major at York University. She loves reading, travelling, being organized, and writing. She hopes to help York students succeed at university.

See other posts by Deea Deb