Experience Guide

First Year

• Take Game Design and Development courses and explore other programs of interest through electives.
• Complete Foundations courses in your first two years.
• Review your program requirements and plan for a successful degree path.
• Explore game concepts for organizations of interest and develop prototypes of these ideas.
• Join the Game Changers Residence Learning Cluster to enhance your academic and social success. 

Middle Years

• Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
• Explore digital game concepts (second year) and mobile game prototypes (third year) related to your game ideas from first year.
• Register for a project management course.
• Consider taking social innovation or entrepreneurship courses.

Final Year

• Collaborate with a community partner to design a game for your capstone project.
• Thinking of pursuing graduate school?
  • Talk to your professors and visit the Career Centre.
  • Sign up for a scholarship proposal-writing workshop or book a writing consultation for help with your proposals.

First Year

• Join student clubs such as the Game Design and Development Student Association (GDDSA), Game On or a special interest club. Or create your own!
• Participate in workshops and events with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
• Participate in Game Jams – develop a game in a short period of time to meet the goals of an organization.
• Attend the Community Engagement Fair in September.
• Explore your interests by volunteering on campus with Accessible Learning, Laurier International, Wellness Education, the Sustainability Office and more.
• Join intramural sports, sport clubs or participate in recreational activities.
• Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils, House Council and the Leadership Certificate.

Middle Years

• Work with a team of students on a game design experience with BGNlab or a game organization over the summer.
• Develop games/game-based events for student organizations and community partners to run.
• Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
• Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
• Attend the speaker series with professionals in the industry.
• Participate in Sandbox workshops and attend the Entrepreneur Speaker series.
• Contribute to Laurier’s biweekly newspaper, The Sputnik, or submit a creative piece to Blueprint Magazine.

Final Year

• Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to launch your game.
• Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
• Develop a game with a real-world impact in partnership with an organization.
• Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
• Take part in internal and external game design competitions.
• Plan for completing your Project Management certification.
• Share your Laurier experience with prospective students at open house events.

First Year

• Learn about and get involved with diversity, equity and inclusion centres of activity and engagement.
• Visit Laurier International to learn about international options available to you.
• Complete the Intercultural Certificate with Laurier International.
• Engage in training on consent, bystander intervention and disclosure related to sexual violence.

Middle Years

• Gather for Soup Thursday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
• Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
• Study abroad for an academic term.
• Attend workshops, events or discussion groups to learn about diversity, equity and inclusion.

Final Year

• Participate in Indigenous Education Week.
• Earn your Certificate in Accessibility with Accessible Learning.
• Create a piece to participate in the Diversity Art Series.

• Plan for a successful degree path by meeting with your academic advisor and reviewing your progression requirements on MyDegree.
• Discover the Library – librarians can help you find and evaluate scholarly information for your assignments.
• Complete the Academic Integrity module in MyLearningSpace.
• Book a career consulting appointment to explore career options in the context of your academic studies.
• Complete the Student Awards scholarship and bursary applications on LORIS.
• Access the Wellness Centre for emotional, mental and physical health support. Attend Wellness Education events and complete the certificate.
• Visit Writing and Study Skills to get feedback on your work, develop your learning skills, and further enhance your writing.
• Attend the Further Education Fair to learn about postgraduate programs.
• Apply to graduate and attend convocation to celebrate your success.

• Volunteer with the Students’ Union (e.g., EcoHawks, Emergency Response Team, Food Bank, Foot Patrol, Healthy Lifestyles, Peer Connect, Shinerama).
• Apply for part-time jobs on campus (e.g., Athletics and Recreation, Residence, U-Desk, Bookstore, academic and learning peer programs, writing tutor and more).
• Enhance your money management skills and confidence by completing the Money Management Certificate.
• Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed in the Career Centre.
• Earn your Career Development Certificate.
• Create a profile on laurier.tenthousandcoffees.com to connect with Laurier alumni.
• Learn to think like an entrepreneur and be a changemaker through opportunities with the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation.
• Feed your curiosity and ideas through exploration in Laurier’s makerspaces.
• Reflect on your co-curricular experiences for your Laurier Experience Record.
• Network with alumni at career events to gain insight into possible career paths.
• Apply to part-time, summer and full-time jobs for after graduation through Navigator.