Student life is more than classes and deadlines. It is the new term, the homesick week, the late night question you do not want to ask out loud. Most of it is not in any brochure.
This guide walks through the stages most students go through, from the last years of high school to the end of first year, with honest advice for each one. And when you want to hear it from someone who has been there, Cohorts lets you message students at your school and in your program.
Grade 11 and 12: choosing what comes next
This is when the big decisions happen, often before you know anyone who has been through them.
- Look past the rankings. The right program is the one that fits how you learn and what you want to do, not the one with the best brochure.
- Ask about a normal week. How many hours in class? How much group work? What is the workload in first year compared to later?
- Talk to current students. They will tell you what open houses do not: which courses are hard, what residence is really like, and what they would do differently.
- Keep a short list. Three to five programs you would actually be happy in is easier to compare than fifteen.
On Cohorts: explore more than 21,000 programs across more than 350 Canadian colleges and universities, and message students who are already in the ones on your list.
The summer before: getting ready
- Sort out the basics early. Housing, course selection, and money questions are easier in July than in the first week of September.
- Find your people before you arrive. Many students join groups for their school and program over the summer, so day one feels less like walking into a room of strangers.
- Ask the questions you feel silly asking. What do people actually wear to class? Do I need a printer? What is the dining hall like? Someone a year ahead will know.
On Cohorts: join the communities for your school and program, and start conversations before you get there.
The first weeks: settling in
The first few weeks are exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Both are normal.
- Say yes early. Orientation events, floor activities, club fairs. The first weeks are when most people are open to meeting someone new.
- Learn your campus. Find the library, the student centre, health and counselling services, and the quiet places to study before you need them.
- Go to the first class of everything. The first class usually explains how the course works, how you are graded, and what matters.
- Expect the dip. For many students, the excitement fades after a couple of weeks and homesickness shows up. It usually passes, and it helps to talk about it.
Making friends in college or university
This is one of the most searched worries for new students, and one of the most common.
- Everyone is new. Most first year students are looking for friends too, even if they look like they already belong.
- Repeat beats random. Friendships usually form with people you see again and again: your floor, your lab section, a club that meets every week.
- Pick one thing to show up to. One club, team, or study group you attend every week does more than ten events you go to once.
- Start small. "Want to grab food after class?" is enough.
On Cohorts: connect with students in your program and at your school, so the people in your classes are not strangers.
First term: midterms, workload, and the quiet weeks
- The workload jumps in October. Midterms and first assignments often land in the same few weeks. Plan for it in September.
- Use office hours. Professors and teaching assistants expect students to come. It is one of the most underused ways to do better in a course.
- Find a study group. Explaining material to someone else is one of the best ways to learn it.
- Notice the quiet weeks. Late October and November can feel long and grey. Keep a routine, get outside, and stay connected to people.
When it gets hard
Every student has hard weeks. Feeling stressed, lonely, or unsure you picked the right program does not mean you are failing. It means you are in first year.
- Talk to someone. A friend, a student a year ahead, a family member, or your campus counselling service.
- Use your campus supports. Most Canadian colleges and universities offer free counselling, academic advising, and accessibility services for students.
- If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, any time, anywhere in Canada.
How Cohorts helps
Move-in to graduation
From your first week to your final term, Cohorts grows with you instead of churning past you.
Everyday over epic
We care about the small wins: a coffee plan, a study buddy, a calmer Sunday night.
Real people, real answers
Students who know your campus and your program, not just generic help articles.