Preparing for your first term in Economics
The 2A term for new Economics majors can be tough, but you can prepare for the term in a lot of different ways!
Preparing for Math
When was the last time you took a Math course? Did you take Math 104 in 1A or 1B? Did you take 4U Calculus and Vectors in grade 12? For some of you, that could mean you haven’t taken a Math course in 2–3 years! Good news! There is an online, free resource that covers these concepts so you can feel super prepared for your Economics courses in the Fall. The CEMC courseware can take you through entire courses, or you may choose to concentrate on topics you wish to brush up on. Getting this refresher before Fall will help you prepare, but you can also use it during the term if you need more practice when the instructor says, “You should already know this."
*Please note if you haven’t taken 4U Calculus and Vectors, MATH 104 or an equivalent, you should take MATH 104 before attempting ECON 211.
Course Load Considerations
How did you find your first year course load? Was it difficult to keep up? Was it okay to manage? Yes or no — here are some tips on how to prepare yourself for 2A.
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Consider how you did in your first year. Math courses typically take students more time as they require repetition and practice. Do you think that you can make time for this in your schedule? The student success office has a blog about time management that may help you succeed with new priorities. Take some time to go over the blog to prepare yourself for Fall!
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If you’re finding the university course load of 5 courses per term not manageable, there are many ways to complete your degree with a lighter course load. Talk to an advisor if you think a lighter course load would be better for you.
Coop recruitment
Are you in a coop plan? That means that Fall is your first recruitment term! This adds a lot more to your course load from 1A or 1B. You will be taking PD1 on top of your academic course load during the term and also going through the recruitment process for the first time. Here are some ways to prepare early so you know what to expect!
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Understand your responsibilities as a co-op student! Take a look at a co-op’s roles and responsibilities so you’re aware of what the expectations of a co-op student are and what your support is during both the recruitment and employment process.
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Check out some of the other tabs on the co-op webpage to familiarize yourself with your options. You can work abroad, find your own job or use Waterloo Works. Understanding this early will help reduce the information overload in the Fall!
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Make sure you have a resume and cover letter ready. PD1 and workshops are available to help hone these two documents, but having a starting point ready for the Fall is a helpful step! Check out the Centre for Career Development's Job search tips and their listing of Workshops and Events for resources to start this early!
Remember these are only suggestions on how to get a jump-start on the Fall term. None of this is required. It can just help you feel fully ready for your 2A term!
How to succeed in Economics
The economics plan can seem intimidating at first, especially given the level of maths skills required. However, everyone can succeed by following a few simple rules and creating good habits from the start! Ignoring any of them puts you at risk of falling behind—or even failing.
If you need support with any of these skills, the next section has resources to support you with this skill development!
Attend Every Lecture
Go to every class, take notes, and actively participate in discussions. Asking questions during lectures is highly encouraged. If you must miss a lecture, reach out to a classmate for notes. It's also a good habit to review your notes at least once a week. If you have questions, meet with your instructor during office hours.
Read the Instructor’s Notes Carefully
Don't just glance at the notes while watching YouTube videos. Give them your full attention, and highlight anything you don’t understand to follow-up with the instructor later. Passive reading won’t help—you need to engage with the material.
Understand Before You Practice
After reading and understanding the notes, then—and only then—begin working on the practice problems provided (if any). Do not start with the problems. Example problems are meant to assess your understanding, not to teach you the material. Finding the solution isn’t the only learning skill, you also need to understand how you get to the solution. They also typically cover only part of the content, so relying solely on them may miss big chunks of learning. If you only study through problems, you won't be able to tackle new ones effectively.
Ask for Help When Needed
If you're struggling with materials from lectures or notes, meet with your instructor during office hours. Don’t wait—act quickly before confusion compounds. Office hours aren’t just for before the midterm.
Minimize Distractions While Studying
Studying is your job. Just like a full-time employee is expected to stay off their phone at work, you should stay focused while studying. Put your phone away and avoid distractions like social media or random web browsing. There are lots of tools available to help with focused study practices! They are in our resource section below!
Stay on Track
Do not fall behind. Make yourself a weekly schedule that allows for time to spend reviewing that week's notes (per above). By the end of each week, you should have a solid understanding of that week’s material. If you’re confused, don’t let it pile up. Talk to your instructor right away—they’re there to help. Falling behind can make it nearly impossible to catch up and will make future content even harder to understand.
Don’t Miss Assessments Without a Valid Reason
Illness and extenuating circumstances happen and sometimes happen when you least expect it. This is why Waterloo has systems in place to inform your instructor of valid absences. It can be tempting to use these systems when there is no valid reason. Some instructors may shift the weight of assignments and others may make you write a make-up test. Relying heavily on the final exam creates unnecessary stress, which can hurt performance. Worse, some students use missed assessments as an excuse not to study. If you choose to skip a midterm (e.g., by using a short absence), prepare for it as if you were writing it. Midterms exist to keep you on track.
Final Thoughts
Think of yourself as a full-time worker, employed by yourself to build your future career. Expect to spend at least 10 hours per week per course. By working a little each day on notes, assignments, or practice problems, you’ll stay current and reduce deadline stress. If you follow these guidelines, you will not fail. Success in economics isn’t about your math background—it’s about your commitment.
What to do if you're struggling
The Economics advisors are here for you if you are struggling! Please book a meeting or drop into our offices, and we will listen and help with solution planning with you! Here are some of the services that we might recommend to you!