This blog is an archived post written by Eva during her 4th year in the Urban and Regional Environments stream.
April 1st, 2014, I received my offer from York University. I was very excited and wanted to make sure that I was prepared before starting my first year. I started applying for a study permit as soon as I accepted the offer, as it can take a few months to receive the study permit. I received my study permit in June. The following are tips that I have for other international students that are moving to Toronto:
1. Enrolling in courses online before you arrive
Ann Tsirgielis, who is the Student Success Coordinator, helps all students in choosing courses and making sure that they complete the program requirements. As I was unable to come to Canada before the start of the semester, I communicated regularly with Ann through email, which made the enrolling in courses much easier.
2. Joining social media groups
Before coming to York University, I wanted to chat with incoming students as well as with upper year students. I joined Facebook groups for students that got accepted to York University. There were many discussions in the groups that I found useful, such as food on-campus, events, and resources. You can find these groups through YU Start, the online system all incoming students must complete.
3. Reviewing York International resources
York International has helpful resources online for international students to help them get prepared for York University. I joined the Pre-Arrival Online Workshops to learn more about housing options, campus life, and public transportation. On the York International website, I carefully reviewed how to get a health insurance. I also learned more about working in Canada as an international student. I found their safety tips to be very useful. Every year, York International offers International Student Orientation, which is not only a great way to get familiar with the campus but also meet other international students.
4. Deciding which clubs to join
In order to get the most out of my student experience, I checked out the list of student organizations on campus. I made a list of all the student organizations that I wanted to potentially join. I also checked social media of different organizations to get an idea of what kind of events and activities they organize.
5. Researching the City of Toronto
Before moving to Toronto, I wanted to explore the City of Toronto. There were many housing options available, such as residences, townhouses, and apartments close to the campus. I noticed that York University is not far from downtown Toronto. In fact, it takes less than an hour with public transportation (even faster now that the new subway line just opened!). The City of Toronto has a variety of entertainment, recreation, and cultural districts.
The transition to York University seemed a bit overwhelming but at the same time very exciting. There were lots of resources available that made my transition easier. I did not have to struggle by myself to make sure that I was prepared for the transition. Instead, I had the support from York University with more complicated tasks, such as choosing courses. By the end of my research, I felt comfortable with starting my first year at York University.
