No matter what year you are in everyone has changes and transitions to adapt to. The Centre for Student Development (CSD) here at Mac whats to know what are the biggest changes/transitions you are concerned/worried about dealing with for this upcoming school year? List your top 5...or 10!

1. Not getting a good enough average for MBA admission............ .
2. Not being able to go out as much as last 3 years:(
3. Should I go away Christmas or Spring break, or Both....

I don't know those are the only things I could think of.. I don't worry much I guess

5. having to use communal washrooms every day...
4. having to do a test knowing how much money i just wasted if i fail the course
3. i am now responsible for my own finances and whatnot
2. less time to watch arsenal play :(
1. less time to play footie :(

1 and 2 almost interchangable

Originally Posted by camais

5. having to use communal washrooms every day...
4. having to do a test knowing how much money i just wasted if i fail the course
3. i am now responsible for my own finances and whatnot
2. less time to watch arsenal play :(
1. less time to play footie :(

1 and 2 almost interchangable

As for #5 you'll get used to it and it really won't be so bad. This is something I was really worried about last year when I was going to be living in Whidden. I had previously lived in Hedden in first year and we had private, single occupancy washrooms. I'm very shy and private and didn't like the thought of having to use public style washrooms every day. Especially showers. After a while though it was nothing, I got used to it and it didn't bother me anymore.

#5: I'm concerned that I won't be able to distinguish myself from my peers. I've been working on a problem for 3 years now, and I would have hoped to have made a bit of progress but I haven't really made any.

#4: I have a few Financial stresses...funding, scholarships, bursaries, awards...I don't want to say it's 'more important' than undergraduate scholarships, but it can definitely change your future a lot more at this point.

#3: If I really suffer with the material, there's no way I can go all the way and get a PhD (which I will totally do if I'm capable). I'm worried I'll find out that I'm somehow incapable of learning in the manner expected...it's a pivotal year for me, I'll find out if Academia truly is my cup of tea.

#2: I'm worried I'll find out I have nothing to offer researchers at McMaster, and not be able to find a research supervisor.

#1: I'm afraid of letting my students down...my competence / abilities now not only affect my own progress, but also that of a group of students.

Commuting to St. Joseph's Hospital alone this year - it's apparently a 15 minute walk after getting off at Jackson Square and I'm scared of downtown when I'm alone and keeping up with my grades this year.

haaa! st joes isnt that bad of a walk and its down a big street with lots of people and stores...

in no real order:
- not being able to connect with my profs and classes
- sticking with my old friends and not making new ones
- holing myself in my room/being anti-social
- living on my own for an extended period of time
- not spending money properly
- actually having to work in order to get good grades (unlike high school) but failing miserably

- Balancing the heaviest workload I've ever had so far
- Finding a job in my field when I graduate

-Surviving what looks like an insane workload
-Getting along with all my friends in the house
-Getting enough sleep
-Getting to know my teachers
-Making new friends in my program

Originally Posted by jhan523

-Surviving what looks like an insane workload
-Getting along with all my friends in the house
-Getting enough sleep
-Getting to know my teachers
-Making new friends in my program

I'll take the last 3

Also adding:

- being able to manage my huge workload
- getting grades that satisfy myself and graduate schools (very high for both)
- not getting lost in this whole thing called university
- finding my path in life

Nice thread
1) Grades, definitely a big one.
2) Getting used to University life (i.e. workload, deadlines, etc.)
3) Procrastination – I did this a lot in high school. I just hope it doesn’t follow me into University.
4) Getting used to a new city. I've lived in Toronto all my life.
5) I just might miss a few Toronto Maple Leafs games :p

1- Not adapting fast enough to accomplish something in first year.
2- Procrastinating when there's no one to remind you to do your work once in a while (parents).
3- Living on my own, away from family
4- Communal washrooms, and the lack of privacy I can't live with.
5- Not being able to get along with my roommates and classmates
6- Not being able to get to know professors
7- Being anti-social and not being able to make friends/ not "fitting in"
8- Living in a totally different city, one that's really different from Toronto
9- Being unable to manage the workload, and feeling that everything I've worked for in high school, did NOT pay off;
10- Lastly, and most importantly, not doing well in terms of grades, and ruining my GPA for the next 4 years, as well as killing any chances I have of graduate work/school.
Ps- Awesome thread!

I'm noticing already that a lot of the first years have the same typical worries that apparently every first year has.

I know this won't be much comfort, but try not to worry... most of your concerns as a first year are natural and actually won't come to fruition.

From Toronto to Hamilton = really sucks. The closer to downtown Toronto you live, the more the transition will suck. That's my opinion anyways.

As for not fitting in -> Join clubs, the ones you are interested in. It's a great way to meet people with the same interests as you.