New students understand that there are differences between high school and university, but they don’t always know what the actual differences will be. Some students will overrate their abilities and under-estimate the experience. Waterloo students are used to performing well and receiving strong grades in high school, so they might attend their first few lectures, recognize material they’ve seen before, and decide that they don’t really need to adjust. At the very beginning of their term, these students may not appreciate the magnitude of everything that’s different. As the term progresses, this approach can create a lot of obstacles to a student’s success.
We also know that students can be reluctant to access resources on-campus, because they’re worried about being viewed as “weak” or unintelligent. New Waterloo students may be accustomed to having their peers come to them for academic help, and so asking others for help is a new experience for them.
Asking for help is a strategy for success; it’s not a sign of failure.
If parents support this message, students will be more likely to make help-seeking part of their behavior. They will develop the confidence to go to their professors’ office hours and say, “I don’t understand this,” or “I want to clarify something you said in class.”
Your student is likely highly intelligent and strongly motivated – Waterloo students are among the top of their high school classes. They all possess the ability to succeed. Parents, and university staff and faculty, just need to work together to help them adjust old strategies and learn new ones that will continue their success.
Student resources for:
Additional parent and supporter resources:
Refer your student to the resources listed below as needed.
| If your student… | Refer them to... |
|---|---|
| Has questions about their academic program, including: pursuing a minor, changing majors, dropping classes | Academic advisor |
| Has questions about course registration or transfer credits | The Centre |
| Needs academic accommodations to support a known, or suspected, temporary or permanent/chronic disability | AccessAbility Services |
| Will miss an exam or assignment deadline due to illness | Campus Wellness |
| Is having difficulties keeping up with course readings, preparing for tests, or balancing their time | Student Success Office – Peer Success Coaching |
| Needs help with a writing assignment or presentation |
Writing and Communication Centre Instructor’s office hours |
| Needs support in a specific course | |
|
Needs help researching a topic for assignments or papers |
The Library |
|
Needs accessibility technologies or equipment to facilitate their studies |
The Library |
| If your student… | Refer them to... |
|---|---|
| Feels ill | Campus Wellness – Student Medical Clinic |
| Has questions about their student health and dental insurance | Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association |
| Has dietary restrictions or allergies | Food Services |
| Wants to join a gym, attend fitness classes, or join a recreational sports league | Athletics and Recreation |
| Needs to talk about a mental health issue in a confidential environment |
Campus Wellness – Counselling Services MATES |
| Needs urgent mental health support off-campus | After-hours contacts |
| Needs to learn or develop coping skills | Campus Wellness – Seminars and Workshops |
| Needs support to address an act of racism or discrimination |
Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity (RAISE) |
| Wants to connect with the Waterloo 2SLBTQ+ community | Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity |
| Wants to connect with equity-based student services |
Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity Racial Advocacy for Inclusion, Solidarity and Equity (RAISE) |
| If your student… | Refer them to… |
|---|---|
| Is looking for a summer job | Centre for Career Action |
| Has questions or needs support in the co-op interview process | Co-operative Education |
| Is on a co-op work term, and has questions or concerns about their job | Co-op Connection |
| Is looking for volunteer opportunities | Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association |
|
Is looking for a skill building/experiential learning opportunity |
The Library Ambassador program |
| If your student… | Refer them to… |
|---|---|
| Has questions about OSAP, other provincial funding, awards and bursaries, scholarships, work-study, emergency loans, tuition fees, promissory notes, tax receipts, RESP or UHIP | The Centre |
| Is looking for scholarship opportunities | Undergraduate Awards Database |
| If your student... | Refer them to... |
|---|---|
| Needs more information about living on the main UWaterloo campus | Campus Housing |
| Needs more information about living in a University College residence |
University College residences |
| Needs support finding off-campus housing | Off-Campus Housing |
| If your student… | Refer them to… |
|---|---|
| Has questions about their visa or immigration status | Student Success Office – Immigration Consulting |
| Wants to learn more about Canadian culture and connect to an intercultural community |
International and Canadian Student Network International Student Guide |
| Wants to make social connections | Waterloo Undergraduate Student Union - Clubs |
| Is looking for spiritual connection and support | Waterloo Chaplains |
| Wants to connect with the Waterloo Indigenous Student community | Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre |
| Is interested in study abroad or exchange opportunities |
| If your student… | Refer them to… |
|---|---|
| Has experienced a crime on-campus | Special Constable Service |
| Has been impacted by sexual violence | Sexual Violence Response Coordinator |
| Needs urgent help off-campus | After-hours contacts |
| In some high schools... | At the University of Waterloo... |
|---|---|
| No preparation was necessary for class | Students are expected to have prepared before each lecture |
|
Teachers taught all of the course material in class |
Instructors focus on teaching only the main course concepts in class |
| Homework was sometimes assigned for outside of the classroom | Regular studying, assigned readings, and reviewing outside of the classroom is necessary |
| Courses have numerous low stakes assessments | Many courses have smaller numbers of high stakes assessments (e.g. midterms and final exams) |
| School days followed a structured timetable | Days are less structured |
| 80 per cent of learning was done in class* | 20 per cent of learning is done in class* |
| 20 per cent of learning was done independently outside of class* | 80 per cent of learning is done independently outside of class* |
*Please note: The percentage of learning completed in class vs. independently outside of class may vary depending on your student’s program, classes and course load.
| When your student was in high school, you might have… | In university… |
|---|---|
| Helped manage your student’s time so they could get to work, school, or extracurricular activities | Your student will be responsible for managing their own time |
| Reminded your student to do their homework | Communication with your student may be less frequent |
| Covered all of your student’s expenses | You don’t have access to your student’s records, including financial information – even if you contribute to their tuition or housing fees |
| Communicated with your student’s teachers about their performance | You won’t be notified about your student’s academic performance and you cannot call in to ask anyone about it |
