This blog is an archived post written by Aliya during her 2nd year in the Environmental Management stream.

 

 

 

1) Get involved with your affiliated College

For Environmental Studies students, our affiliated College is Founders College. Founder’s College brings a sense of belonging and community which was something I have the pleasure of being part of. They participate in Social Orientation week, host social events such as games night, yoga and even offer writing assistance to students.

2) Plan your routes to class in advance

With around 50,000 students, York’s Keele campus tends to get very busy at certain points throughout the day. By planning your routes to class, your study areas, to the subway stop or where you’re going to meet up with your friends for lunch, it will save you a lot of time and be a lot easier. Avoiding the rush hour traffic (3-5 pm, in my experience!) in the Curtis Lecture Hall (CLH) Area and Vari Hall is something I would suggest doing if you are late for class or an appointment. I would also suggest coming to campus prior to when your classes start to get familiar with where everything is located. You can also check out the campus map here!

3) Apply for undergraduate scholarships and bursaries

There are a lot of general York undergraduate scholarships available for students entering their first year and awards specific to Environmental Studies. Be sure to keep up with e-mails sent by the FES official postings which including information about FES undergraduate scholarships. For more information on how to apply, contact Environmental Studies' very own Student Resource Assistant Joseph Cesario(jcesario@yorku.ca)!

4) Visit the Writing Centre

The Writing Centre is a great place to go to when you need help with starting essays, assignments, proposals etc. Instructors sit down with you one one for around an hour and discuss with you how to shape your assignment, write a thesis, make your arguments strong and can address any other issues you my be having with writing. The Writing Centre is located in the Ross building, in 311 South Ross.

5) Get involved with BESSA

The Bachelor of Environmental Studies Students Association (BESSA) is a student group run by Environmental Studies students.  They represent our Environmental Studies' student voice recognized by the York Federation of Students (YFS) . They partake in the selection of undergraduate representation on the FES Council and its committees. They also include participation in environmental actions, planning student tours and exchanges, and liaising with other student groups. To get involved, keep and eye out for posted meeting times at the beginning of each term.