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.
- Undergraduate UG Click this tab to view content pertaining to Under Graduates
- Graduate GRAD Click this tab to view content pertaining to Graduates
Be Inspired: Maximize Your Academic Opportunities
First Year
- Take the two required Psychology courses (and any other required course for your program) and explore other programs of interest.
- Take the Foundations for Community Engagement and Service course and plan for any requirements needed (e.g., police checks) if it is required for your program or if you plan to take a Community Service-Learning course.
- Learn about co-op – apply at the end of your first year.
- Attend the annual thesis poster presentations in the spring and look at student projects.
- Live in the Faculty of Science Residence Learning Community to enhance your academic and social success.
- Earn the Writing Certificate.
Middle Years
- Choose the Research Specialist stream or Community Psychology specialization if you are in the BA program and wish to explore psychology in more depth.
- Investigate the learning supports offered through the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Labs.
- Explore courses in related areas of study and begin thinking about a minor or an option to complement your degree.
- Consider taking social entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship courses.
- Register for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Subject or General Test after researching if it is required for graduate programs you are considering.
- Approach a faculty member to supervise your thesis project if you plan to do an honours thesis.
- Consider taking a capstone course in Applied Community Research.
Final Year
- Learn about Research Assistantship opportunities in Psychology.
- Enrol in directed studies courses to gain research experience or to complete an undergraduate thesis.
- Attend the Ontario Psychology Undergraduate Thesis Conference.
- 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 funding proposals.
- Submit your academic work to the student journal, Mind Pad, for a chance to be published.
Be Involved: Explore Work, Volunteer and Leadership Experience
First Year
- Attend O-Week events.
- Join student clubs such as the Laurier Psych Society, Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FOSSA), Society for Undergraduate Research and Outreach (SURO) or a special interest club. Or create your own!
- Participate in events and skills-based workshops with your residence or off-campus LOCUS community.
- Volunteer in a research lab.
- 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
- Volunteer to be an O-Week Icebreaker and welcome incoming first years.
- Connect with local organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities.
- Register for courses with a Community Service-Learning (CSL) component.
- Look for student representative positions on departmental committees.
- Learn to write articles, draw illustrations or take photographs with Laurier’s weekly newspaper, The Cord.
- Participate in Sandbox workshops and attend the Entrepreneur Speaker series.
- Explore the Science Maker Lab.
Final Year
- Apply for an executive/coordinator position with a student club or committee.
- Join the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) and/or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) as a student member.
- Volunteer to be part of ongoing research in a professor's research program.
- Create a profile on ResearchGate.
- Look into the LaunchPad program for the opportunity to launch an innovative new venture.
- 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
- Study abroad for an academic term.
- Consider enrolling in a language course.
- Gather for Soup Tuesday at the Indigenous Student Centre.
- Become a Global Engagement Student Ambassador.
- 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.
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.
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 and 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, Laurier Work-Study Program, 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 Ten Thousand Coffees 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 experiences 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 Psychology.