Things to Know Before Your First Year
Bachelor of Technology - McMaster-Mohawk Partnership
Hello all incoming Bachelor of Technology students. We look forward to seeing
you at McMaster University in the quickly approaching academic year. We have put
together a short list of important things that other students wish they knew before
coming to the program, and want to pass that information to you for your first year of
University. Feel free to click underlined words to bring up their respective homepages.
You have resources to help you succeed
Remember, McMaster offers a wide variety of options for you to enhance you success.
There are four libraries with convenient hours and valuable services like the ability to
book private study rooms. There is a specially appointed academic advising who can help
you figure out if you’re on the right track and making the proper progress. ECCS
(Engineering Co-op and Career Services) is also there to help you in your search for a coop position and support you in the whole job acquisition process. All you have to do is
look!
Where are my classes?
The McMaster campus is very large and can be a little intimidating to new students. Take
time to learn the campus and make sure you know your class locations prior to the first
day of classes. For a campus map, visit
http://www.mcmaster.ca/welcome/campusmap.cfm
Some labs may not be on the McMaster campus
Our Four-Year Program students have the benefit of accessing state-of-the-art lab
facilities at both McMaster University and Mohawk College. You may need to travel to
Mohawk College to complete some labs during Year 2 or later. Luckily, the bus ride is free
with your student card and it only takes about 30 minutes to get there from McMaster.
You can even use Google Maps to show you the bus routes between the schools.
You can buy textbooks used, and from other students to save money
University can be a lot to handle, so you don’t want to be having to worry about money
as well. Remember that you have a few options when buying textbooks, you can get
them used at the bookstore or search the classifieds on the Titles webpage at:
http://icbb.sellmytextbooks.org/members/17/index.cfm?index=UBCSEARCH
learningin3d.ca
btechse@mcmaster.ca
Making friends is important in academic success
It is important to make friends with people who share classes or common interests.
Having someone who can explain a confusing topic, share a textbook or lend notes is
really helpful. An active social life will also help you relax and enjoy the University
experience more.
There are tons of ways to get involved
McMaster has clubs, teams, organizations and events that you can be part of. Don’t be
afraid to join a few and see where they take you. Use the athletic facilities and start your
own study sessions with others, for the full university experience.
There are things to do off campus
Believe it or not, things do exist outside of campus. Although it may be easier when you
have all your needs within reach, it is always good to get out a little bit and see what
Westdale Village and Hamilton have to offer. Whether you’re grabbing some dessert
with friends at the Bean Bar or enjoying the nightlife in Hess Village, it is always a good
option to have when you have some free time.
It’s not PURE fun and games
University may seem like an amazing place to be, and it is, but don’t expect it to be easy.
There may be courses you don’t enjoy and courses you struggle with. Stress can set in
during crunch time and loss of sleep is a realistic expectation. That being said, you should
still look forward to a fantastic first year experience.
Math and Electricity can be hard
The Bachelor of Technology program offers a wide variety of courses, and the ones that
stick out the most in terms of effort and comprehension needed are Math and Electricity.
Keep on top of these courses even if you’ve done well at similar things in the past, and
make sure to get help if you’re struggling before the problems grows. This leads to the
next point.
Studying is essential, it’s not high school
It’s not as easy to get through University as it was in high school. Even though studying
last minute or not studying at all may have worked for you in the past, those days are
over if you want to succeed. Tests are much more challenging and more content specific,
so take them seriously. Remember, resources and support are there if you need them.
learningin3d.ca
btechse@mcmaster.ca