The Back to School (FOR REAL) Guide

The time has finally come to ditch the sweatpants and blue light glasses, crawl out of bed and overcome our Tik Tok addictions. We are finally going back to school, FOR REAL this time. For some of us there might be a bit of reverse culture shock as we return to in person learning. Whereas for others who began their university careers via Zoom (or are attending university for the first time this fall), in person lectures with other real-life-human-beings will be a completely new experience. To help guide us as we head back to school this fall (FOR REAL), Hannah and I have compiled some tips & tricks to make in person learning a little easier….

Sarah’s Tips & Tricks ….

Where to get coffee on (or close to) campus.

Coffee (in healthy quantities) is a helpful ingredient when attending in person lectures, especially when they happen to be at 8:30 am. Unfortunately, due to Covid (the beginning of every bad sentence ever since 2020) many of Dal’s on campus coffee shops are ‘temporarily closed’. Thankfully, there are some great local coffee shops nearby that will be able to help you get your caffeine fix! Coburg Bar and Social Café and Tart & Soul are two local coffee shops located in close proximity to Studley Campus, and if you willing to go (walk) the extra mile just down Vernon street you will find Dilly Dally Coffee. Another option is to invest in a reusable travel mug, that way you can make coffee at home (or take it to-go from dining hall) and save some money (<3 saving money)!!!Pro tip: purchase an aesthetically pleasing travel mug such as the Porter Mug and it will become like an accessory, you will be forced to make your coffee at home (aka saving money) just so you can take it with you.

How to pay attention in class.

Now that we will be attending classes in person, we will lose the luxury of recorded lectures and the ability to re-watch them. This means we will actually have to pay attention, especially because our exams will no longer be open book. As someone with an adult attention span of forty-five minutes, I understand that paying attention and staying focused can be a grueling task. However, through trial and error I have discovered some great strategies that have kept me present and focused whilst attending class in person classes. The first strategy is to sit near others who are attentive and focused on learning the content being taught in the lecture. This will decrease your chances of getting distracted by chitchat and motivate you to remain on task. The second strategy is to take notes (of EVERYTHING), taking in depth notes requires a lot of listening which will help to maintain your attentiveness. The final strategy is to participate; ask & answer questions (when appropriate) and contribute to class discussions. This strategy will help keep you present as you will be engaged in the lecture itself! As the wise Zac Efron once said, “get’cha head in the game”- but seriously make paying attention and staying focused a priority because it will pay off!

The back to school (FOR REAL) essentials.

It's time to channel the excitement that our sixth-grade selves had about new school supplies…because now that we're going back (for real) we will need them. I have put together a list of what I believe to be the back to school (for real) essentials….

• Notebooks - for notetaking, SO ESSENTIAL! Superior to binders with loose paper that you could lose. Also, professors love trees and will rarely give out handouts! (Pro tip: colour coordinate them to your classes)

• Pens, Pencils & Highlighters- (obviously)

• Agenda/Planner - a little (maybe aesthetically pleasing) book to plan your schedule, classes, assignments and everything in between!

• Business Wear - the full pantsuit, the zoom-suit (a dress shirt & sweatpants) will not cut it at in person networking events and in class presentations.

Hannah’s Tips & Tricks….

How to develop and maintain a great relationship with your professor.

I don’t know about you, but with classes being online the hardest part for me was the ability to develop and maintain relationships with my professor through a virtual lens. Thankfully, with classes now in person, say no more to continuous email threads back and forth, spotty internet connection cutting out half the lecture, and an hour and a half of just listening with no ability to put a face to a name. Believe it or not, no matter how intimidating a professor may be their number one goal is to watch their students succeed. What better way to get on a professor’s good side then to develop a great relationship with them? To start out, it is extremely important to establish yourself by going up to the professor on the first day after class to introduce yourself, or even to describe your interest for the class (if you are actually interested in the material). Secondly, something that may come as a broken record is to ACTUALLY go to their office hours whether that be to ask a question about the course, or just to go and hang out. All professors provide office hours for a reason, and when students show up to them it makes the time that they dedicate to these office hours worthwhile. Lastly, when finishing the course make sure to express your gratitude towards them as a teacher and focus on extending that relationship further by keeping their e-mail, and name for a later date. Although these steps may seem straight forward you would be surprised by the lack of initiative taken by students, you never know when you may need a professor as a reference in the long run!

How to be productive in between classes.

Who actually is able to be productive after class? Who wants to use brain power after just sitting and listening to an hour and a half lecture on why economics is important to business? I know that I don’t always want to, but then the idea comes in my head that by being productive during the day I can relax at night, go out for dinner, watch the bachelor with no shame of having to feel as if I should be doing something more productive (~the work hard play hard balance~). Let’s get up and get a move on with three key things you could be doing in between classes to ultimately boost productivity! To begin with my personal favourite, going to the gym. Whether you go to the Dalplex, YMCA, or Goodlife, going to the gym is a great way to keep energy high during the day and close those exercise rings on that apple watch. Next, if you need a mid-day pick me up, another great option is grabbing a coffee at a close by coffee shop with friends or just alone and get some studying in. Personally, I find when I am already in the headspace of school, you might as well study during your off time instead of doing it right before bed. Lastly, the easiest option is to go on a nice walk. Maybe you only have 20 minutes to spare between class, or maybe you have an hour, but by going on a walk even if it is just around campus, can not only wake you up, but help you feel as though you are being productive in a short amount of time!

Best places to study on campus

Studying on campus can be a great way to not only save yourself from making the trek all the way back to your dorm room or student house, but to stay in the focused mindset of tackling those last-minute projects we all procrastinate. Thankfully, I have discovered three great places that I genuinely ENJOY going to on campus. To begin, if you are looking for somewhere quiet that is often not too busy, I would suggest the Wallace McCain Learning Commonswhich is located right behind the Henry Hicks Building. Now that we are gearing back up to return to normal life an appointment is no longer necessary, and it is the perfect place to study in peace without running into someone you know. Secondly, if you do enjoy studying in the Killam Library but also enjoy being able to socialize and work with others, I would recommend the second-floor group study room. This is the perfect place to maintain a decent volume level and work on those dreadful group projects without feeling guilty for using a voice level greater than a whisper. Lastly, I did not forget about our Engineering readers, lucky for you downtown is bound to have great coffee shops wherever you turn but my personal favourite is The Garden which is located almost directly across from Gerard Hall. The Garden is an aesthetically pleasing café with not only a great atmosphere but amazing drinks and food as well, I seriously spend too much time there... Overall Studying on Campus can be enjoyable if you find the right places, let me know if you check these places out!

About the Authors

Sarah Houston

​Sarah is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Commerce Program intending to major in Finance. Sarah has been influenced by her time abroad in Denmark and is passionate about sustainability, equality, and their impact in the business world. Sarah was previously a Second Year Rep at WIBA and is now looking forward to being able to further contribute as VP of Engagement. She is eager to take on her new role and engage WIBA members, non-members, and the Halifax community on behalf of WIBA.

Hannah

Hannah is heading into her third year as a student in the Bachelor of Commerce program intending to major in Accounting. She has recently completed her first Co-Op experience at Fidelity Investments with plans to return in September in Advisor Sales. Hannah is extremely excited to use her network to gain meaningful connections in the Halifax community and create some amazing events for all the members!