Undergraduate students

Waterloo Ready

Waterloo Ready is a comprehensive transition program for incoming first-year students from the time of acceptance (June) until Orientation (September).

It is led by the Student Success Office in partnership with all six Faculties and numerous campus partners. 2023 was the fourth year the program was offered to students, and the second iteration offered in a hybrid format.

Program outcomes

  • Increase or develop a sense of belonging​
  • Feel like a part of the Waterloo community
  • Build relationships with other students
  • Feel like a part of their faculty
  • Know what to expect and are prepared for their first year at Waterloo

Program components

  • Digital and tailored communications
  • Online modules (LEARN)
  • Webinars
  • Faculty Ready Days (in-person and virtual)
  • Connection Collective: a brand-new 2023 peer mentorship program for international students and Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+ and other historically underrepresented groups

Areas of focus for 2024

  • Streamlining program components that are working well in terms of student engagement and refining or pulling back on the components that aren’t.
  • Increasing overall student participation and engagement rates, paying particular attention to areas where participation and engagement rates are low.

  • Providing tailored opportunities for historically underrepresented students to feel welcome and connected to the UWaterloo grad community.

  • Applying an EDI-AR lens to all aspects of Waterloo Ready.


Read the 2022 report

View the 2022 Waterloo Ready Report in your browser or to download an accessible copy.

In the report, you'll find details about Waterloo Ready participation numbers, survey results and facts and figures.

Please contact Ashley McKnight to learn more.