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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.
While your Laurier experience will look different in a remote environment, many of the experiences below are being offered virtually. The links below will be updated as virtual offerings are confirmed.
Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities
First Year
- Take required Science and Math courses.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Investigate the learning supports offered through the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Labs.
- Live in the Faculty of Science Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.
- Attend departmental seminars to hear about current research from faculty members and invited speakers.
- Opt to declare a major if you are interested in focusing your study to one program in the Faculty of Sc
- Earn the Writing Certificate.
Middle Years
- Take required Science and Statistics courses and explore courses in related areas of study and consider a minor or an option outside the Faculty of Science to complement your degree.
- Look for summer research opportunities and apply for a FOSSA Research Scholarship and/or NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award to get funding.
- Consider taking Science Entrepreneurship courses and explore the Science Maker Lab.
- Consider applying to complete a thesis in fourth year.
- Look for research opportunities in faculty members’ labs.
Final Year
- Learn about Research and Instructional Assistantship opportunities in the Faculty of Science.
- Apply for a FOSSA grant to attend a conference or purchase lab supplies for your research.
- Thinking of pursuing graduate or professional 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 funding proposals.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Attend O-Week events.
- Join student clubs such as the Laurier Chemistry Association, Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FOSSA), Society for Undergraduate Research and Outreach (SURO) or a special interest club. Or create your own!
- Participate events and skills-based workshops with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
- Explore your interests by volunteering on campus with Accessible Learning's Note-taking Program, Laurier International, Wellness Education, the Sustainability Office and more.
- Join intramural sports or sport clubs, participate in recreational activities and attend varsity games.
- Engage in the First-Year Leadership Program including Campus Councils, House Council and the Leadership Certificate.
Middle Years
- 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).
- Attend the Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference.
- Apply for funding for a sustainable initiative on campus through the Sustainable Hawk Fund.
- Participate in Sandbox workshops and attend the Entrepreneur Speaker series.
Final Year
- Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
- Look into the LaunchPad 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.
- Share your Laurier experience with prospective students at open house events.
Be Engaged: Broaden Your Perspective
First Year
- Get involved with the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
- 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 provided through Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention Support.
Middle Years
- Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
- Become a Global Engagement Student Ambassador.
- Study abroad for an academic term.
- Complete the Diversity Certificate.
Final Year
- Participate in Indigenous Education Week.
- Earn your Certificate in Accessibility with Accessible Learning.
- Consider the Alternative Reading Week trip with Habitat for Humanity.
Checklists
Completing the checklists below will also help ensure your academic, professional, and personal success during your time at Laurier – and beyond.
Academic Success Checklist
- Plan for a successful degree path by meeting with your academic advisor and reviewing your progression requirements on MyDegree.
- Visit your professors during their office hours.
- Discover the Library – librarians can help you find and evaluate scholarly information for your assignments.
- Complete the Academic Integrity module in MyLearningSpace and learn about Research Data Management from the Library.
- Utilize the Online Assignment Planner.
- Book a career consulting appointment to explore career options.
- Complete the Student Awards scholarship and bursary applications on LORIS.
- Access the Wellness Centre for emotional, mental and physical health services.
- Visit the Writing & Learning Lab to further enhance your writing, develop learning skills to become a better student and learn how to be successful with difficult courses.
- Attend the Further Education Fair to learn about postgraduate programs.
- Apply to graduate and attend convocation to celebrate your success.
Experience Checklist
- Volunteer with the Students’ Union (e.g., Foot Patrol, EcoHawks, Food Bank, Emergency Response Team, Shinerama).
- Have your resumé and LinkedIn profile reviewed in the Career Centre.
- Apply for on-campus jobs (e.g., Athletics and Recreation, Wilf’s, Residence, Bookstore, Library, Accessible Learning tutor, and more).
- Enhance your money management skills and confidence by completing the Money Management Certificate.
- Attend the Career and Job Fairs to network with employers.
- Earn your Career Development Certificate.
- Create a profile on laurier.tenthousandcoffees.com to connect with Laurier alumni.
- Earn the Wellness Education Certificate.
- 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 experience for your Laurier Experience Record.
- Network with alumni at career events to gain insight into possible career paths.
- Apply to jobs through Navigator for summer, part-time or full-time work after graduation.
Career Opportunities
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 Honours Science.