What is it Really Like Being an Engineering Student at Schulich?

ENGINEERING IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER FACULTIES
Many of you have probably heard that engineering students are highly competitive but this couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, an engineering education is challenging and demanding but it's also very collaborative and fun! Students share ideas and work in teams to manage their time, complete assignments and relieve some of the stress.

If you want to enjoy and successfully complete your engineering education follow this advice: learn about and take advantage of all the resources that are available to assist you; develop good study habits and time management skills; get involved in campus life; and make friends. Anyone can get through engineering if they attend class, stay focused, ask for help, put in the time to study and make time for fun.

Need Help With...	Get Help From...
Courses	Professor or TA
Tutoring	Devon Academic Resource Centre
Exam Prep	Engineering Students' Society
Program and Personal Circumstances	Undergraduate Studies Office
Personal Care	Health and Wellness
Academic and Career Workshops	Counselling Centre
Fitness and nutrition	Heath and Recreation Centre
Appeals and Student Rights	Students' Union Disability Resource Centre

How Will it Compare to High School?
Students do have quite a transition to make from high school into university. The most significant change is not the difficulty of the work a student must master, but the amount of work they have to complete.

The workload is quite intense and midterm exams can start as early as the first week of October, so keeping up with work is a must. First-year engineering students take 11 half courses and must quickly learn to successfully manage their workload. In the first week of school the pace of courses is relatively similar to high school but this quickly changes to a highly accelerated rate.

Class sizes range from a small tutorial or lab of 20 students to 250 students in a lecture. Courses are arranged so that the same students attend classes together, facilitating opportunities to build a strong peer group.

Perhaps the biggest transition for students, however, is realizing that they are studying with the best of the best. For the first time in their lives, they may not be an A+, A or even a B+ student.

The University of Calgary, the Schulich School of Engineering and various student clubs on campus have programs to facilitate your transition from high school or another post-secondary institution to the University of Calgary.

The engineering Undergraduate Studies Office offers academic advising, admissions and registration assistance, and student support.

New student orientation sessions are offered in the summer and in the fall. Orientation is recommended for all frosh (first-year) and transfer students. Led by current engineering students, students are introduced to the university and all the resources and services that will assist them throughout their academic career.

The Devon Academic Resource Centre provides one-on-one academic assistance to engineering students. The centre is staffed by faculty and graduate students who tutor or respond to undergraduate engineering student questions. The centre also runs tutorials for some of the larger and more challenging first-year courses. The centre also puts old exams and quizzes online to help students.

Will I Have Time for Fun?
Absolutely! In order to maintain focus throughout your academics you need some time away from studying. The Engineering Students' Society organizes over 200 events including Frosh Week, the Pi Throw, the Loonie Walk, Engineering Week, foosball tournaments and industry activities to help students relieve stress, make friends, raise money for charity and get connected.