As a business student in his third and final year at Bishop’s, I can easily point out every aspect that I love about this University and that make me enjoyed my last two years so much. But now knowing Bishop’s inside out, there are also few things that would have help me enjoy it even more. So, here’s five tips to help you maximize YOUR University Journey!
Get involved in campus activities
Your Bishop’s student journey inevitably needs to start by participating to the fall orientation week. Commonly called O-Week, it’s a week-long series of events that introduce new students to Bishop’s culture and values. Opposed to other university, the orientation week here at Bishop’s integrate every first years from every program. From my experience, at a university of 2,600 students, meeting people is key to maximizing your time here. I couldn’t attend because of football, and as a third-year student, I still wish I had experienced that week. Follow their Instagram page to stay up to date about next year O-Week!
Other must-attend events include Homecoming, Halloween, Winterfest, St. Patrick’s, plus the Fashion Show, Gait Gatsby, and Residence Got Talent. If you love meeting new people and making the most of every moment, these events should be at the top of your list. The Bishop’s community is tight-knit, so jump in, meet great people, and enjoy every moment!
Network with professors and peers
It is not a secret: Networking is one of the most important things (with your grades J) you can do in university! And Guess what? We are only 2,600 students at Bishop’s! What does that mean? Small classes, a lot of involved professors, and easy connections! Those connections are not only good for a potential future job, but also for internships, or even for having references to pursue in Grad school. Business students love Cleghorn happy hours and Lion’s Pub nights for meeting people. And adding to this, our amazing BUCS council are making sure you can grab a good Bishop’s Arches beer and good food for free!
Use university resources to your advantage
Starting University is a very big step. It often means living alone for the first time, sometimes very far from home, and immerge completely yourself in an environment you absolutely do not know. It can get stressful, and Bishop’s academic expectations may surprise you, so it’s common for grades to drop by 10–20%. Also, hard moments in your university journey may happen, and despite those being very normal, it can be hard to overpass them. Bishop’s is very good at offering very effective resources for those situations. From counselling and mental and physical health services to sexual violence support and academic coaching, Bishop’s provides resources to help students in any situation. Follow this link for more information’s!
Seek out for internships and work experiences
We were talking about getting involved into the campus activities, well at Bishop’s, you can get involved while getting paid and gain some very valuable experiences! The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) offers plenty of job opportunities with roles suited to almost every program. As a business student, I can’t forget the amazing opportunities offered each year by the Bishop’s University Commerce Society (BUCS). From people I have met that got involved, it’s really an amazing opportunity to gain some knowledge and experience.
Talking about internships, and being myself in the COOP program, it’s also really something you should look for quickly in your first years at Bishop’s. You get the theory in class, and the practical side through COOP, including one-on-one help securing internships. Adding to this, every internship gives you 3 credits, which is pretty much a win-win situation: More practice, less theory! Learn more about it by following this link!
Prioritize self-care and time management
One important thing I have learned in the past two years at Bishop’s is that it’s very easy to get caught in the “LennoxVegas”. Don’t get me wrong, partying and drinking in university can be, for my opinion, very beneficial and fun. I am personally someone who has FOMO (fear of missing out), and it’s pretty hard to resist when a plan is building up, but there needs to be a balance somewhere. Self-care matters: exercise, healthy eating, and proper rest all support your wellness and academic success. With strong time management, you can balance studying, classes, and exam prep, but also give yourself time to relax and enjoy university life
