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Experience Guide

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

Year-to-Year Experience Guides

The following is a year-to-year outline of the kinds of experiences that work well with your program.

First Yearbrain

  • Take required Biology courses and explore other programs of interest.
  • Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
  • Investigate the learning supports offered through the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Labs.
  • Attend departmental seminars to hear about current research from faculty members and invited speakers.
  • Check out classroom info screens and department notice boards for important information and events in the department.
  • Live in the Faculty of Science Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.
  • Earn the Writing Certificate.

Middle Years

Final Year

Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience

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Middle Years

  • Volunteer in a faculty member’s lab.
  • Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
  • Seek student-representative positions in the Biology Department such as the Faculty of Science Divisional Council.
  • Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
  • Learn to write articles, draw illustrations or take photographs with Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord.
  • Participate in campus sustainability projects (e.g., Zero Waste Week, workshops, Northdale Community Garden).
  • Participate in Sandbox workshops and attend the Entrepreneur Speaker series.

Final Year

  • Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
  • Attend the Ontario Biology Day undergraduate research conference or participate in poster conferences.
  • Look into the StartUp Lab program for the opportunity to launch an innovative new venture.
  • Participate in provincial, national or international scientific conferences as part of a faculty member-led research team.
  • Apply for funding for a sustainable initiative on campus through the Sustainable Hawk Fund.
  • Share your Laurier experience with prospective students at open house events.

Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective

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Middle Years

Final Year

Your graduate degree at Laurier will take you in many different directions and prepare you to be a leader in both your field and community. Your Laurier experience includes many opportunities to engage both in and outside the classroom.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies provides academic leadership, administrative support and program advice to all graduate students. There are also scholarships and financial awards, fellowships and other teaching and research assistantship positions that you can access during your time at Laurier.

Graduate students gain knowledge about professional skill development through Laurier’s ASPIRE program. This program provides a framework for you to design an extracurricular learning plan for navigating your professional journey and entry to the workplace. There are also teaching certificates, career development workshops and other skill development opportunities.

The Graduate Students’ Association provides many services and supports with a focus on wellness. They provide various opportunities to be involved and contribute to the Laurier community.

The Laurier graduate school experience is more than research and scholarship – it’s about becoming an engaged citizen and applying your advanced knowledge to real-world problems.

Checklists

Completing the checklists below will also help ensure your academic, professional, and personal success during your time at Laurier – and beyond.

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When you're ready to start thinking about your life after graduation, you should check out the career and postgraduate options for people with a degree in Biology.

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Share Your Feedback

We'd love to hear from you. Complete the Laurier Experience Guide Feedback Survey to share your thoughts.