The summer has flown by for thousands of incoming students across the country, and that means life as a university student is just around the corner.
As new students arrive on campus next month, they will become part of a more diverse community than ever before – having the opportunity to significantly broaden their horizons on both academic and personal levels.
With all of this excitement, however, the transition to university life can be a huge change. Students are bound to have questions about what attending Western will be like, how they are going to fit in and what it is going to take for them to succeed academically.
This is where Off to Western steps in.
An event series hosted by Alumni Western, Off to Western provides current students and young alumni with the opportunity to share their university insights and experiences with incoming students and welcome them to Western.
And the best part about it? It’s right in the students’ own communities beginning next week. Events this summer will be hosted in Hong Kong, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Oakville, Toronto, Waterloo, and Port Stanley.
“Off to Western is where first year students and their parents can come together with upper year students and alumni to share their concerns, thoughts, and get questions answered all about their upcoming year at Western,” says Julie Montes, Off to Western Coordinator.
At Off to Western, students will meet Hometown Volunteers – current students and alumni who live in their communities. These volunteers want incoming students to have the best student experience possible during their time at Western and are willing to share everything that made their time at Western so unique and enjoyable, adds Montes.
“This is the first time that the majority of these students have moved away from home, it’s a big deal,” she says. “These events are a great opportunity for them to alleviate the fears of transitioning to university while meeting new friends along the way.”
Montes adds knowing in advance what to expect the first day of class, what Orientation Week really is, and just about everything to do with life at Western, will put any concerns to rest and allow Western’s class of 2014 – and their parents – be better prepared to settle into campus quickly.