The transition from high school to university can be quite overwhelming. You’ve probably heard this a gazillion times, but it’s definitely not something to ignore. It’s also perfectly normal to feel this way. When I was in first year, I definitely felt overwhelmed with the amount of change that occurred in my daily life compared to being in high school. However, don’t let this scare you! Ryerson University has super helpful support services for you, whether it’s personal, professional, or academic support you need.
During my first year, the first school support service I used was Ryerson University’s Centre for Student Development and Counselling. This is an amazing service that has helped me to realize the importance of getting support when in need – it has made a huge positive impact to university career. The Development and Counselling Centre offers individual and group counselling, and they can also refer you to off-campus resources and so much more. The Centre is located in JOR 07-C, which is in the lower ground floor of Jorgenson Hall (check out the campus map link below for the location of Jorgenson Hall).
Another student support service that is present at Ryerson is Student Learning Support (SLS). Earlier this year, Ryerson University was proud to launch the opening of the new eight-floor Student Learning Centre on Yonge Street. Inside this awesome building, the entire fourth floor, all decked out in green, is dedicated for academic support. From study skills and transition support to Math support, there are eight astonishing support areas that SLS offers! Check out SLS’s services here, and read some past blogs about SLS here and here.
A third support service at Ryerson is the Career Centre. Anything and everything career-related is located there. They can help you with your resume, cover letter, interviews, etc. You can even get free headshots taken for your LinkedIn profile, something my fellow team-member Cathy wrote about earlier! I have yet to personally check out this support service, but I hope to visit their office soon enough!
Ryerson University also has services directed to certain students. For example, there is International Student Support (ISS). They help students from abroad with enrolment, study and work permits and pretty much everything from personal to academic success. The office is located in POD 50-A, which is in the lower ground of the Podium building. Aboriginal Student Services is a service for aboriginal students. They provide assistance in areas such as scholarships/bursaries, tutoring and personal success and development. Their office is on the third floor of Kerr Hall West, room 389.
The Tri-Mentoring Program (TMP) is a mentorship program that Ryerson offers to students. They have an amazing peer mentoring program where a senior student is paired up with a first year student for the year. The senior student then contributes to the success of his or her student. There is also career mentoring and the First-Generation Project, which are both initiated by TMP. Their office is beside the ISS office at POD 54. For more information check out their website.
Lastly, you can always ask for support from your friends, family, classmates and professors. The people that are closest to you are the best type of support that you can get for almost anything. Reach out to those around you as they will be there to listen and help.
Remember, don’t be afraid to get support and keep a positive attitude! I know that I didn’t think the services I reached out to were necessary at first, but it will change your university experience after getting the help that you need. Don’t wait until the situation gets worse. Make an effort to take a step into making your time at Ryerson more meaningful and positive.
Get to know campus with the Ryerson University Campus Map, located here.
