University of waterloo Association of Caribbean Students'
Caribbean Guide to UWaterloo
DOING WELL
in
SCHOOL
University work can be challenging! Thats why there are several resources avaliable to help you achieve your academic goals!
Some Advice!
Here are few perhaps-obvious, but essential pro-tips for doing well at university and managing the heavy workload:
Ask
Don't be afraid to ask questions inside and outside of class! Your professors and TAs are here to help you learn! Also take advantage of the knowledge and experience of upper-year students you may meet. They may have faced the challenges you're facing, before!
Go to Class
Attend lectures! If you aren't proficient at studying from home, missing out on classes is going to make things harder for you in the long run.
Study
Don't wait until the last minute to prepare for tests and exams! Its not possible to learn 10 weeks of coursework in 2 days (though many have tried)! The more exposure to your coursework you have, the better your brain is able to process and store the information and the better you will do on exams and tests.
Tutoring
UW has various tutoring resources available to students. Some are faculty specific and some are open to all students. The Student Success Office also facilitates Tutor Connect, where you can find a personal tutor if you need one. Check out the Student Success Office's full list of tutoring resources here.
Study Facilities
There are various rooms and buildings on campus dedicated to studing. Some popular areas for silent or quiet study are the Davis Centre (DC) Library, the Dana Porter Library (DP) and the Student Life Centre (SLC) which has roomes dedicated to silent study on its 3rd floor.
Textbooks
Textbooks can be crazy expensive! The UW bookstore is a convenient place to find all the reading material you might need for your courses, but it can be hard on your budget! Here are some more cost effective ways to get your hands on the textbooks you need for your upcoming term:
UW Textbook Exchange
The UW textbook exchange is a UWaterloo Facebook group where you can buy and sell used books and save yourself (and bank account) some heartache! You can join the group if you have a Facebook account here!
FEDS Used Bookstore
FEDS operates a used bookstore located on the basement floor of SLC. You can find used textbooks at lower prices than you would at other bookstores. You can also open up an account with the store and get your old books sold once you are done with them! Check out their web page to search their inventory and learn more!
Abe Books
There are also various places you can find used and discounted textbooks online! AbeBooks.com is one such place. Here you can find used copies of some textbooks as well as international versions. International versions of the textbooks are simpler publications of the original textbooks (more basic outward appearance and quality, but containing the same content). These versions of the textbooks are much cheaper than their North American / European counterparts and are much more feasible for a student budget.