Unexpected Courses to Take Next Year

While the enrolment date for most students has already passed, there’s a chance that some of you out there might still be looking for fabulous and interesting courses to fill next year’s schedule. 

Looking to diversify your schedule with a somewhat random course or two? Want to dip your toes into a new subject pool? Fear not! This list is for you!

PMCOL 305- An Introduction to the Pharmacology of Drug Abuse

When I took this course I was intrigued by how much there was to learn about the complexities of drug abuse and the various drugs abused by the human population. After each class I would come home with interesting real-world examples and insights to share at the dinner table. With practical application, this course builds your understanding of addiction and the psychological and social problems drug abuse can create. 

Prerequisites: One of the following: BIOCH 200, BIOL 201, CELL 201, PHYSL 210, PHSYL 212 and 214, PMCOL 201, PSYCO 275, ZOOL 241 and 242.

ENGL 223- Empire and the Postcolonial 

Image courtesy of avatarmovieproject.weebly.com

Watch this and learn how it relates to empire and the postcolonial.

After taking this course, my bookshelf is now stocked with some of my now-favourite novels written by authors from all over the globe In addition to diversifying my book collection, this class also forced me to delve into literary and cultural texts (novels, graphic novels, films and more) to see how they had been shaped by colonization. I also learned a lot about myself and discovered the perfect subject for my minor.  If you choose to take this course, I can vouch that you will not be disappointed -  or at the very least I can say that you should enjoy some of the awesome texts that you’ll explore in this course.

Prerequisite: *6 of junior English, or *3 of junior English plus WRS 101.

ENT 378- Insect Pathology

Image courtesy of fc02.deviantart.net

Yup, you get to pass around these bad-boys in class!

If you are the type of person who is more likely to befriend rather than flee a ladybug that interrupts your picnic, perhaps you would be interested in the study of entomology. This course will prepare you to study the pathogens that infect insects and related arthropods, and uses live insect demonstrations! (So if you liked playing with bugs as a child, you might like getting the chance to get university credit for playing with them now.) After taking this course, you’ll be able to wow (or gross out) your friends with your newfound insect disease knowledge.

Prerequisite: *3 in Entomology or Microbiology. Not open to first-year students.

CMPUT 250- Computers and Games

This course can make dreams come true for any gamer out there who might be holding out hope to get University credit for playing video games. Open to students of any discipline who want to discover how games function as interactive entertainment, you can work with an interdisciplinary group of students to create your own narrative-based game and in the process, you can learn more about the role that games play in society.

*Students must apply for admission to this course 

Prerequisite: Second-year standing.

CHRTP 381- Introduction to Music Therapy

Thanks to my daily study grind, I definitely appreciate the relaxation and therapeutic applications of music, but I wish that I had known that there was a course that specialized in it. After conducting a little research, I’ve learned that the course delves into the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of music as an engaging tool for therapy. The experiential component puts the lectured info into practice so you can experience how the course concepts really work… meaning you will hopefully get credit for listening to some relaxing music.

HECOL 211- Human Sexuality

In my humble opinion, human sexuality will forever be a hot topic and something interesting to become better versed in. I regret not having time to squeeze this into my schedule, since getting credit for talking about human sexual behaviour sounds like a sweet deal to me. Through unique lectures and class activities, learn all about the sources and implications that affect sexual behaviour- be it personal, familial, cultural, or societal. 

EAS 208- Introduction to Global Change

With all the talk around climate change and why we might fear our precious planet is doomed, I personally think its great that the University offers a course for climate change education. Get the facts on the natural and anthropogenic causes of global scale environmental change in this course. Learn about the process, the factors involved, and the part human activity has played in the current state of climate affairs.

Prerequisite: Any 100-level Science course. 

MUSIC 103- Introduction to Popular Music

Whether you are a music aficionado or someone who just someone who likes to have a study playlist, I bet you like music. And whether you want to admit it or not, you probably like popular music (at the very least, there must be one song that you like that was popular at one point through the ages). That means that his music-filled class could be a good fit for you. From the 1900s onward, you’ll get to take a tour through popular music by listening and watching music and videos of various genres. By the end of the course, you might even be able to use your insight to figure out the next big hit. 

PSYCHO 239- Abnormal Psychology

If you ask me, mental health is really important and University psych classes are a surprisingly convenient way to learn more about it. Take your psych classes to the next level with this enlightening course on psychological disorders. This class should help you to insight on the perspectives that are improving mental health in everyday life, and should also allow you to understand how psych disorders play out. With lectures that bring in real life stories, it’s easy to translate course concepts for the world beyond the classroom.

Prerequisites: PSYCO 104 or SCI 100, and PSYCO 105. 

WGS 201- Introduction to Women’s Studies

@UnFemThat went full #riotgrrrl for their project & their presentation! #yeg #UAlberta #wgs201 #thirdwave #feminism pic.twitter.com/IlIJ5p5OVd
— Dr. Cristina Stasia (@ActionFlickDoc) March 26, 2015

Shameless snapshot of the cool hoodies UnFemThat wore while tackling the unnecessary gendering of ads and products in Edmonton.

Have you ever checked out the hashtag #wgs201 on Twitter? If you do, you’ll be treated to some of the amazingly thoughtful and inventive projects that students have been up to this semester. This uniquely educational intro to women and gender studies course will shed light on the diversity of debates within feminism, and will provide students with the opportunity to engage with feminist analysis within the community. Self-described feminists, individuals trying to get in touch with their feminist side, and even those just seeking a clear definition of feminism should all consider signing up for this class.

*Disclaimer: At no point in this article is it claimed that any of the listed courses are approved GPA-boosters. Take at your own risk! But actually, if any of these courses sound interesting to you, then you’ll probably do alright… it’s easier to do well when you’re interested in the course material than when you’re not.

Keep in mind that there are many other amazing courses that the U of A offers. Speaking from experience, I say take the chance on a course that seems out of the norm and you might be pleasantly surprised with your learning experience! Happy course shopping!

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About the Author

Kiera

My name is Kiera and I’m a fourth year Biological Sciences student with an English minor, trying to keep life interesting. I like to consider myself a glass-half-full type, and am most at peace spending quality time with loved ones (with a little wine and cheese on hand). When I’m not trying to balance my student group with studying, I am testing out different hobbies, slowly working towards becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

I am drawn to creativity and adventure, which there seems to be an abundance of amongst the U of A’s bright students. I hope to shed light on some of the inspirational individual stories that have resulted from unique campus opportunities, and also hope to encourage other students to tap into one of the many meaningful learning opportunities that are available outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the U of A’s stories that make our campus community so rich with experience and opportunity. 

Happy Pride Week!

Happy Pride Week!

For those of you who may not already know, this week marks the University of Alberta’s third official Pride Week. Thanks to organizations like iSMSS, OUTreach, and The Landing, this week our university will be engaging the campus community in dozens of fun and empowering events to celebrate and support the initiatives that work to make our U an inclusive and caring environment for sexual and gender minorities.  

Such events include the awesome Pride Parade that took place earlier on Tuesday (March 3, 2015) where numerous students, staff, and faculty marched in solidarity from one end of campus to the other, despite the frigid weather. 

So, why might it be important that we have a Pride Week on campus?


Rather than bore you too long with my perspective on things, I would like to share some wise words from Marcin Makarewicz, a 4th year Food Business Management student.

On Monday night, in honor of UAlberta’s Pride Week and an acceptance of his own identity, Marcin courageously decided to come out as bisexual to his Facebook community. 

The next morning when he checked his post, he had received the support and encouragement from over 130 friends and acquaintances (many of whom are University students). 

Marcin said that although the numbers were overwhelming, the acceptance and kindness of others was not a shock. In his experience, the University has always been a welcoming place for individuals to freely be themselves.

When asked about the importance of a Pride Week on campus, Marcin explained the significance of attending a university where the entire student body can feel comfortable and accepted. To Marcin, Pride Week goes beyond tolerating difference and diversity. By celebrating it, we ensure UAlberta is a safe space for each unique individual who attends.  He described that the stigma identifying with a minority gender or sexuality is a lot less obvious than one might think. Even if the face of the issue seems to diminish, it is important to have campus-wide awareness and support events that continue to chip away at the many negative mentalities that pervade.

So why participate in Pride Week? 

“It’s fun!” Marcin beamed. “Join Pride Week because the atmosphere is positive and contagious. It’s not just about gay pride, but also university pride. We are part of something bigger than us, and should be proud of it.”

Marcin encourages all students to enjoy the community we are a part of. He inspires us all to celebrate the powerful impact each of us can make, especially when it comes to building our University into an environment that we should all be able to call home. 

As for advice for other students who may feel isolated and identify with a gender or sexuality minority, Marcin says, “I know it’s cheesy, but try your best to be yourself and love who you are. If you don’t feel supported, know that support is out there and you aren’t alone.”

Marcin believes that this Audioslave track can explain the rest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC5FdFlUcl0 

To be yourself is all you can do!

With this in mind, I cannot help but smile with pride seeing the rainbows and supportive atmosphere that currently surrounds our campus. I hope you do too.

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To get involved in more of the events ranging from other unique (and warmer) solidarity activities, to workshops, drag shows, games, presentations, movies, and more check out the Pride Week schedule.

Don’t miss out, and let us know which events you enjoyed the most!

----About the Author

Kiera

My name is Kiera and I’m a fourth year Biological Sciences student with an English minor, trying to keep life interesting. I like to consider myself a glass-half-full type, and am most at peace spending quality time with loved ones (with a little wine and cheese on hand). When I’m not trying to balance my student group with studying, I am testing out different hobbies, slowly working towards becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

I am drawn to creativity and adventure, which there seems to be an abundance of amongst the U of A’s bright students. I hope to shed light on some of the inspirational individual stories that have resulted from unique campus opportunities, and also hope to encourage other students to tap into one of the many meaningful learning opportunities that are available outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the U of A’s stories that make our campus community so rich with experience and opportunity. 

5 Ideas to Help Rekindle Your Campus Romance

Dear campus lovebirds,

It’s that time of year again when Valentine’s Day is being shoved in everyone’s faces from every conceivable angle.  Good old February 14th can be a great excuse for a date night if you are in a relationship, or an excuse to do any number of other things if you are single (see Jobey’s piece for the best and worst places to be single on campus). 

If you have a special someone, it can sometimes be hard to “feel the love tonight” if you are overburdened by the heavy load of Valentine’s expectations. If you’ve recently been neglecting your significant other in order to prioritize your midterms and assignments, perhaps you could benefit from this list of ideas for how to rekindle your romantic relationship for V-day:


1) If your other half has 4 assignments due the last day before Reading Week, while you are just relaxing, tryacknowledging what they need to do and just let them do it. There’s nothing that says, “I love you” more than the selfless act of saying “ignore me and just focus on your homework.” 

2) Maybe in the whirl of midterms you’ve become estranged from your loved one, and have  forgotten what makes them so great in the first place. To help remind yourself, try writing three things you like about each other, and three things you’d like to see more of in your relationship.  List #1 should serve to re-ignite your spark. Use list #2to pick something to add to your Valentine’s plans!  

3) Though V-day plans usually center around food (like fancy dinner dates or romantic desserts), love-filled snacks in advance of the date are a great way to remind your person that you think they are special. As they say, the best way to get into someone’s heart is through their stomach, so surprise your SO with their favorite treat while they are studying. Bonus points if you add a little love note, plus your winning rims from Tim Horton’s. 

4) For some couples, the not-so-fun part of Valentine’s Day is planning the day’s activities, especially when you have a million school and extracurricular things to worry about on top of your romantic life. If you’re struggling to figure out whose job it is to plan the date, come up with ideas as a team. Each of you should write 5 ideas on separate slips of paper, put the slips into a date jar, and let chance decide your plans for you. Picking at random relieves some of the pressure, and lets you both have something to look forward to once the week is over.

5) One of the best perks of Valentine’s this year is that it kicks off Reading Week! Rather than using all of your loving energy on one day, make time during your entire week off to cherish your special person, and all the other special people in your life. School can be very demanding, but it is important to make sure that those who you care about know how much they mean to you. Share in the spirit of Cupid and spread the love through your actions (if that’s even what he does). Acting with love will undoubtedly bring more love into your life, and will keep you warm from the inside out!


Comment below to share your Valentine’s Day stories, or any other tips you keep up your sleeve for this romantic time of year!

----About the Author

Kiera

My name is Kiera and I’m a fourth year Biological Sciences student with an English minor, trying to keep life interesting. I like to consider myself a glass-half-full type, and am most at peace spending quality time with loved ones (with a little wine and cheese on hand). When I’m not trying to balance my student group with studying, I am testing out different hobbies, slowly working towards becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.


I am drawn to creativity and adventure, which there seems to be an abundance of amongst the U of A’s bright students. I hope to shed light on some of the inspirational individual stories that have resulted from unique campus opportunities, and also hope to encourage other students to tap into one of the many meaningful learning opportunities that are available outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the U of A’s stories that make our campus community so rich with experience and opportunity. 

What Food Describes You, and 8 Other Random YA Questions

Fellow UAlbertans!

Have you ever wondered how other students take their coffee, or secretly wished that someone else shared your desire for teleportation? Lucky for you, we at YouAlberta were able to ask our 9 random questions to some of the students studying/eating/relaxing on Cameron second floor. Besides the general consensus that pizza is the best food to be, and that midterms are a student’s greatest stress, the interviews also showcase a strong sense of camaraderie at the U of A. Thanks to the interviewees for sharing your answers and smiling faces with us and our viewers!

Let us know how you liked the video, and feel free to share your answers to the interview questions in the comments!

----About the Author

Kiera and Paige

My name is Kiera and I’m a fourth year Biological Sciences student with an English minor, trying to keep life interesting. I like to consider myself a glass-half-full type, and am most at peace spending quality time with loved ones (with a little wine and cheese on hand). When I’m not trying to balance my student group with studying, I am testing out different hobbies, slowly working towards becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

I am drawn to creativity and adventure, which there seems to be an abundance of amongst the U of A’s bright students. I hope to shed light on some of the inspirational individual stories that have resulted from unique campus opportunities, and also hope to encourage other students to tap into one of the many meaningful learning opportunities that are available outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the U of A’s stories that make our campus community so rich with experience and opportunity. 

 - Kiera

Hi, I’m Paige! I’m a fourth year student aspiring to become a Conference Interpreter after completing a bachelor of arts in French, Spanish and Japanese. I have a passion for everything cultural and am a total linguistic nerd. 

Away from my favorite study spot on campus, you can find me training with the Rowing Team or taking naps wherever possible. I love getting involved on campus and meeting new people so I’m always attending events happening around the University. 

I hope to share stories that highlight student life at the U of A; showcasing the bright and creative minds we have here at the U. I also hope to provide you with helpful tips to improve the time that you spend here on campus.

 - Paige

The Dos and Don't of Finding a Seat: An informative guide to getting a place to sit on campus- in doodle form!

To me, CAB is one of the most infuriating places to try to find a spot to sit on campus. Whether the seat is desired for eating, socializing, or studying (probably not the best place for that), I have seen numerous awkward “oh-snap-I-was-gunna-sit-there” situations occur.

I can’t count the number of times I have personally strolled over to an empty table totally confident that the spot was mine, blinked, and realized that someone else snatched it first. (They must have been scouting patiently from across the Timmies…) 

I have also been in the flip- situation, seated on an empty couch in CAB sipping my coffee and noticing another student frantically searching for a space to sit. In these moments, I sometimes wonder if I am really that un-approachable to come sit next to (as I mentioned, there was plenty of room on the couch), or if people would rather avoid the forced social interaction of asking “is that seat taken?” 

In either of these cases, it seems like there is an implicit challenge in securing a good seat on campus. Here are some do’s and don’ts that might bring awareness and perhaps alleviate some of that unnecessary stress.

1) Don’t be that person hogging up a disproportionate amount of space in a high-traffic area for your bags, outerwear, or garbage. 

A lack of awareness for others hinders the sort of considerate and open environment we aim for at the U of A.  This could also lead to negative conversation when you are kindly asked to “move your stuff” to make space.

2) Do try to be empathetic (and creative) in your approach to asking for a seat. 

It is unnerving to ask to join a table when the person already present appears to be in hard-core study mode. In this case, or any other scenario, be cognizant of what the other person is doing. If they seem to be cramming for a midterm tomorrow, be concise, and courteous when you take your seat. On the other hand, if they are relaxing reading a book you read for a course last semester, bring it up in conversation, and perhaps you could find yourself with a seat plus a new friend.

3) Do use spots on campus for what they are meant for. 

There is nothing worse than trying to finish something for a class last-minute and having your laptop die without access to an outlet in your immediate vicinity. For spots like this one, it is important keep in mind that outlets are hot commodities. Share them if you don’t need to use them. More things would fall into place if we used seating places in a fitting and equitable way. 

4) Don’t make the person change their mind if they agree to let you have the seat next to them. 

Respect the space and the fact that they were there first. Use headphones if you are going to kill time before class watching Netflix. Always think: what if the situation were reversed? Consideration goes a long way, and comes back to you when you need it! 

Next time I am looking for a seat in CAB, I’ll be keeping these tips in the back of my mind. Since the grand-schemed awkwardness of asking “can I sit here?” likely isn’t going to change in the near future, my suggestion is to consider yourself someone who makes a place to sit for anyone who might need it.

----About the Author

Kiera

My name is Kiera and I’m a fourth year Biological Sciences student with an English minor, trying to keep life interesting. I like to consider myself a glass-half-full type, and am most at peace spending quality time with loved ones (with a little wine and cheese on hand). When I’m not trying to balance my student group with studying, I am testing out different hobbies, slowly working towards becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

I am drawn to creativity and adventure, which there seems to be an abundance of amongst the U of A’s bright students. I hope to shed light on some of the inspirational individual stories that have resulted from unique campus opportunities, and also hope to encourage other students to tap into one of the many meaningful learning opportunities that are available outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the U of A’s stories that make our campus community so rich with experience and opportunity. 

Take A Poem; Share A Worry: The Power of Anonymous Expression on Campus

While I was walking through CAB I noticed a bulletin board with a piece of paper that said “Leave a Poem.” Intrigued, I decided to investigate who had put it up, and why. After a little digging, I soon found out that the posters were a part of a bigger effort that was being put on by the students of Professor Christine Stewart's Fall 2014 WRITE 294: Introduction to Writing Poetry class.

Andi Sweet and her group (which included Jinlong Tan, Miya Villarena, and Andrew Swainson) took a stack of posters, some that “Leave a Poem” (with space for students to share something creative,) or “Take a Poem” (designed to let students tear off and keep lines from existing poems). For a week the posters were placed in locations all over campus, all the way from ECHA to Business. At the end of that week Andi and her group collected the mangled skeletons of the “Take a Poem” posters to form new poems with the lines had been left behind.

The group also collected the U of A original poems that had been scribbled on the posters. And, they were thoroughly surprised by what they found. For instance, one student had used a pin to punch out “it doesn’t matter where you’ve been/ no one can withstand the wrath of the mighty pin” on a poster that had been in the Humanities Building. Others had taken equal amounts of time to make sure lines rhymed. In general, the poems left were often ironic and ‘punny’, with food being a very common theme.  Andi suspects that “the students always have their hunger on their minds,” hence, it's the easiest thing to write about when presented with the opportunity to share their thoughts with others.

“Art in general serves as a form of catharsis, and anyone can relate to that. Poetry as an art medium is very accessible. Painting requires paint, and prose requires a formal understanding of grammar and syntax. Poetry exists outside of this… There’s something magical about the way you can express yourself in an abnormal form without restrictions or limits.” 

Overall, Andi says that if her group’s campus-wide physical manifestation of poetry made even one person pause and look at it, it was a successful project. She was pleasantly surprised by the number of sincere responses, and felt like the project’s synergistic energy and open space says something positive about the students on this campus and the willingness of the community to let people create without judgment. 

And when it comes to creating without judgement, Andi's classmates Gavin Doyle and Kristen Felt encouraged campus to just that with their anonymous note project for the same course.

They (along with fellow group members Shannon Coyne, Robert Crandell, and Alexandra Fortis) had decided to leave slips of paper around campus with the message: “What do you worry about?” Respondents were able to write out their answers and then submitted them in drop off boxes places that had been placed around campus. Gavin Doyle and Kristen Felt were truly amazed by the number of responses that were sent in, and were surprised by how honest the comments appeared to be. The responses ranged from frivolous things like “there aren’t enough cats in the world,” to the classic “my GPA,” to more dark subjects like “having to be alive”.  Some of the other unique ones included, “What will happen to my wife when I die” or “I fear that my students talk about me behind my back and think I am a failure as an instructor.”  They've created a Tumblr page here that displays their finds. 

To Gavin and Kristen, the project represented a “microcosm of what people worry about as a community.” “The project made us realize how much [emotional baggage] someone carries around [with] them, and how this is so often juxtaposed with what people actually give off or what you see.” It was interesting for the group members to see the effect of sharing fears anonymously, as participants made their confessions freely and seemingly without fear of judgment. “There is something powerful about just acknowledging these thoughts- an appeal to having your fear paid attention to and heard by someone else, like someone will read it and care, no strings attached.” 

Though the worries expressed are somewhat dreary, Gavin and Kristen look on the bright side to suggest, “It makes you admire people. We are all worried but we keep going and are persevering.”

After interviewing students from the Write 294 class, I left feeling a renewed sense of appreciation for the climate of our campus. Unique projects like these help us realize and acknowledge our greater campus community. It seems indicative of a sort of U of A solidarity – we’re a community that’s willing to work collaboratively to make these types of projects happen, and we’re also share a collective trust and sense of support with one another. These projects provide evidence that we are strong, united, and resilient together, so long as we take the time to notice and listen to one another. It’s proof here that if we do, cool things could result.

Correction: An earlier version of this post indicated that Alexandra Fortis along side Gavin Doyle, however it was Kristen Felt that was interviewed.

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About the Author

Kiera

My name is Kiera and I’m a fourth year Biological Sciences student with an English minor, trying to keep life interesting. I like to consider myself a glass-half-full type, and am most at peace spending quality time with loved ones (with a little wine and cheese on hand). When I’m not trying to balance my student group with studying, I am testing out different hobbies, slowly working towards becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

I am drawn to creativity and adventure, which there seems to be an abundance of amongst the U of A’s bright students. I hope to shed light on some of the inspirational individual stories that have resulted from unique campus opportunities, and also hope to encourage other students to tap into one of the many meaningful learning opportunities that are available outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the U of A’s stories that make our campus community so rich with experience and opportunity. 

An Honest Wish List: What University Students Actually Want for Christmas

Get out your advent calendars folks! Christmas and the whole holiday season of mass consumerism are now under about a week away. Though most students are likely more focused on surviving finals, if you are anything like me, you’ve probably started planning your gift giving and receiving- ‘tis the season after all.

Though spreading love through gifts can be rewarding and fun, the whole culture of “presents” around this time of year also makes for a lot of potentially awkward scenarios.  Gift-givers get stuck figuring out whether their parents will accept another macaroni frame, or what level of gift is appropriate for the relationship they’ve just entered. Gift-receivers often have to feign a smile when opening their crazy aunt’s good-intended-going-directly-to-the-back-of-their-closet gifts.  To avoid that whole mess, I’ve created an honest wish list from your average University student. 

1. A 4.0

Dear family and friends: all we want for Christmas is that 4.0, with a ribbon on it. For all the slaving away we do throughout the term, there would honestly be nothing that could trump the glorious gift of a transcript full of A’s. If only… 

2. Less Homework/ Finals?

Image courtesy of mugglenet.tumblr

While you’re at it, could you perhaps get us on our prof’s “nice list” for a little less homework? Maybe you could even convince him/her to cancel the final indefinitely. Who needs academic assessment anyways? We’ll understand the true meaning of Christmas the morning we get mass emails proclaiming, “all finals have been cancelled, forever.”  

3. Coffee! (Or tea, or other caffeinated forms of sustenance) 

Image courtesy of Amazon

If you can’t directly foster our GPAs, perhaps you could give us the next best thing- the energy to study. All things coffee, as in things to buy it, make it, transport it and keep it warm, would do very nicely. Ahem, Keurig please!

4. Food in General

Image courtesy of dempseyfit.com

On the topic of nourishment, we wouldn’t mind some study snacks either, but, for free. An endless supply of them would be ideal.  Stuff that won’t make us too unhealthy while sitting staring at books all day would be great too. So, yeah, never-ending, healthy, free snacks should cover it.

5. Textbook Funding

Image courtesy of openeducation.net

Speaking of the books we shed tears over during exam season, did you know they cost like hundreds of dollars?! Again, to indirectly contribute to our academic success, we would love to have funds for the 15-pound pages of knowledge we carry around in our backpacks all semester, even if we don’t actually read them until the day before the midterm. 

6. Insta-fitness

Image courtesy of The Coveteur

In addition to keeping our heads above water with our school workloads, society somehow expects us to be healthy and have good self-image too. Hitting the gym two times a week with a full course load? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Help us help ourselves by maybe giving us a workout class, a gym buddy, or a healthy diet (see point 3). A magic spell for insta-fitness works too.

7. A Snow Day

Image courtesy of spacing.ca

We know we are supposed to have adjusted to this frigid climate already, but maybe just once, we could get away with having a real stay-home-from-school Snow Day.  Sometimes we just need a little bit of a break so we can catch up on our sleep, and Netflix (and homework, of course). If you could help us overcome the tiring effort of bundling up to weather the weather and pay attention in class in hibernation-mode, we’ll probably work twice as hard the next day.  Until this happens we’ll just be counting down until the next long weekend, and be bringing heated blankets to school.

Perhaps all the average University student wants for Christmas is some time off school to spend with loved ones. But then again, maybe not. Let us know what your ideal Christmas wish list consists of! We hope you receive all your heart’s desires this holiday season!

----About the Author

Kiera

My name is Kiera and I’m a fourth year Biological Sciences student with an English minor, trying to keep life interesting. I like to consider myself a glass-half-full type, and am most at peace spending quality time with loved ones (with a little wine and cheese on hand). When I’m not trying to balance my student group with studying, I am testing out different hobbies, slowly working towards becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

I am drawn to creativity and adventure, which there seems to be an abundance of amongst the U of A’s bright students. I hope to shed light on some of the inspirational individual stories that have resulted from unique campus opportunities, and also hope to encourage other students to tap into one of the many meaningful learning opportunities that are available outside of the classroom. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the U of A’s stories that make our campus community so rich with experience and opportunity. 

Fall Break Study Tip Ideas (In Cartoon Form!)

The YouAlberta team was asked to provide some pieces of study advice based on how they get through midterms, and this is the result... in cartoon form:

(Note: Coffee appears a lot...)

Step 1: Wake up early

Step 2: Make some coffee

Step 3: Go to class

Step 4: Consider a late afternoon nap (or at least crave one...)

Step 5: Check your "To Do" list

Step 6: Find some caffeine

______________________________________________________

When you need to study....

Start by organizing your notes.

Try working out to relax.

Eat healthy study snacks.

Go to class. (This one usually helps.)

Take 10 minute study breaks every 3... hours? Possibly every 30 minutes? Preferably not every 30 hours...

Go to your prof's office hours if you need help with a concept.

And finally... get some sleep.

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Panel 1: Wake up early

Panel 2: REALLY early (the clock says "6:00am")

Panel 3: That might be going to class...

Panel 4: Understand a concept... or ask a question?

Panel 5: Study 

Panel 6: Realize you need a break

Panel 7: Head to a coffee line

Panel 8: Take a study/coffee break with a friend

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"Take a Fake Break"

Panel 1: Study like you normally would

Panel 2: Think of a creative way to review your material

Panel 3: In this case, find a resource (like a neuro-anatomy colouring book)

Panel 4: There's the resource

Panel 5: Enjoy taking in the info you need to study differently (in this case, by colouring neuro-anatomy instead of just re-reading your notes)

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"How to Survive Midterms (And How Not To)"

Try: Making an Epic Study Plan for yourself

Try: Eating healthy snacks (and yes, there is more coffee in there)

Don't try: Having a Netflix marathon instead of reading

Try: Studying in the library

Don't try: Having a disco wine party the night before your exam

Try: Sleeping the night before your exam

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"Cramming The Night Before An Exam: You Probably Shouldn't"

Panel 1: Realizing that you need to start studying late at night (likely not a good idea)

Panel 2: Studying (a good idea... but probably not late at night)

Panel 3: Time passes

Panel 4: You'll likely start to feel exhausted

Panel 5: More time passes

Panel 6: Move to a different study spot (this could actually be helpful... moving around a little and having a change of scene can be useful)

Panel 7: That could be the sun coming up... or it could be your notes heading out a window... either way, likely not helpful

Panel 8: Realizing that you've been up all night studying can be stressful. 

The bottom line: Avoid being in a situation where you have to cram the night before. Start studying early, break things down into sections to review, and make sure that you take care of yourself.

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This one probably needs a little more explanation....

Step 1: Wake up form a good night's rest

Step 2: Eat a healthy breakfast

Step 3: Attend a review session for your class

Step 4: Study in the library

Step 5: Have a coffee/study break with a friend

Step 6: Study in the library again

Step 7: Work out at the gym.... that's honestly the suggestion here. Honestly. 

Step 8: Get a good night's rest and repeat.

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So to summarize: 

Stay well rested, eat properly (yes you do need to eat properly), take care of yourself, ask for help when you need it (because it's always okay to ask for help), give yourself a break when you need one, and take your time.