Before the first day of classes
Tour the campus
Before starting university, one of my biggest fears was getting lost on campus. It reminded me of when I graduated Grade 8, and I begged my sister to walk me around our high school on the first day because it was bigger and scarier. Now, instead of changing schools, I was moving to a big city and I was afraid I would get lost in its grandeur. The only way I could soothe my anxiety was to explore campus on my own.
I took all the paths that weaved between buildings, I made note of all the seating areas in the quad, and where all the coffee shops were. I pulled up my class schedule (Dalhousie University > Login > Dal Online > Web for Students > Registration > Student Schedule by Day and Time) and found all the buildings where all my classes would be. In just an hour, I was less of a stranger.
Textbooks
Textbooks sneak up on you. When September rolls around, tuition, residence, and meal plan fees are circling your mind, and then you are suddenly hit with 10 textbooks that cost at least $30 each. But unless you receive an email from your professor that clearly states a textbook is needed for the first day of classes, don’t buy any until you go to the class at least once. There are a few things that may happen:
- The professor says the textbook is optional
- You discover you don’t like the class and want to drop it
- The professor provides an alternative method of reading the textbook
Once you know what you and your prof want, you can move on to the next step: finding an affordable version of the text.
In the past, I’ve bought used older editions, purchased ebooks, bought the audiobook, or borrowed from the library. Just be sure you check with your professor if you decide to buy an older edition, just in case the content and pagination are different.
A few important notes:
- If you buy a textbook in shrinkwrap from the Dal Bookstore, DO NOT open it until you are 100% sure you're staying in that class. These books can't be returned.
- If you buy a book (not wrapped) and you decide you want to drop the class and return the book, make sure it's within the return policy. If so, you can bring it back to the bookstore and get a full refund.
- Pay with your DalCard! You can put money on your card through the DalCard Website and when you pay you’ll get 5% percent back on books, clothes, and other merch.
Explore your new home
In my first year, the world was just coming out of the pandemic and life was very closed off. For safety reasons, many classes were still held online, clubs and societies were not active, and many campus activities were postponed. This, in combination with my anxieties about moving out, made my first year feel very isolated. I didn’t explore the city. I went to class, then back to my dorm, and that was it. Only now do I see all that I missed and I wish I could go back in time and force myself to leave my room and explore my surroundings.
If you’re in Halifax, the city buses are a fantastic way to navigate all the hot spots. All you need is Google Maps or Apple Maps and the Halifax Bus system is in the palm of your hands. Here, you can find the routes, arrival times, and bus stop locations. Just beware: the buses can be early and late, so leave yourself a big window of time in case of any delays.
FYI: If you’re a full-time student in Halifax, a transit pass is a part of your semester fees (you can see the fee breakdown on your student account). When you pick up your DalCard, they’ll also give you the Halifax Transit sticker for your card. Then, when it's time to get on the bus or ferry, simply show the driver your card (make sure the sticker is visible) and you’re good to go.
Do the orientation activities!
Every year the Halifax and Truro campuses host a variety of fun activities to welcome new coming students. In Truro, activities include fun icebreakers, bowling nights, socials, and meet & greets. In addition to these great events, support will be available on campus to help prepare you for the upcoming semester. Check out the detailed schedule here!
In Halifax, O-Week includes a series of paid and free events like karaoke, movie night, lawn games, dance parties, and more. Check out the schedule and buy your tickets here!
These activities are a great way to meet new people, learn about resources at Dal, and start your year off with a bang!
After classes begin
Review your syllabus
Syllabi are important. They provide due dates, late and extension policies, textbook lists, and more. Due dates can easily sneak up on you if you don’t keep track of them. Put them in your phone, highlight them, do whatever works for you. Just don’t forget them.
Late extensions do usually exist. Professors understand that juggling five classes is hard and if you’re a respectful student who attends class and regularly hands in assignments then they’re often very reasonable. Sometimes, your prof will have a built-in late extension for each student (i.e. a week to use throughout the semester, 24 hours post-due date, etc). Or it’s a case-by-case situation, in which you email them or attend their office hours to discuss a solution. Either way, be aware of your teacher's policy on late assignments. It can be the difference between 24 extra hours and a 5% grade deduction.
Classes
Sometimes a class isn’t what you expected, and that's fine! Unless you’re in a professional-track program with limited course options, first year is for you to explore all the subjects that Dal has to offer and determine the path you’d like to adventure down. To add and drop classes, visit the registration site on Dal Online.
Have fun, be safe, and explore. Welcome to Dal!