Welcome!

1. Welcome! A Trail Map Academic Session, 2013 Riley Metzger Director of First Year Studies - Math Online: math.uwaterloo.ca/ Click: Current Undergrad/First Year Students

2. Welcome to Waterloo! • Thank you for choosing UW! • Over 1700 new students this fall, from all over the world‏ • Orientation is a time for you to make friends and settle in, but there are important academic events this week

3. Your Journey! • The Hazards! • The Rules • The Tools to Succeed • Help! • Upcoming Events

4. The HAZARDS of your Journey

5. First Off… Give yourself a pat on the back. You are SMART, all of you came in with high grades… You are GREAT at math relative to your high school peers… Otherwise you wouldn’t be here.

6. Now let’s be realistic… You likely have expectations of being the best at UW, since you were in High School. But…In the next few slides I am going to give you some simple scary stats. Someone has to make them scary, so if you are worried it will be you, see an advisor; mathadvisors@uwaterloo.ca

7. High School University Class time 30 hours/week 20 hours/week Class size 30 190 Learning environment More controlled, can learn mostly in class Requires more work outside of class from various sources Class average 85% 70% High School vs University

8. Course Average Mark Percent Failed Math 135 69% 8.5% (16%) Math 137 72% 6.9% (11%) CS 115 CS 135 78% 72% 9.4% (19%) 8.5% (23%) Fall 2012 Data

9. The Rules of your Journey

10. Know the Rules • The rules are found in the Undergrad Calendar, ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca.

11. Simple Rules of Thumb • The maximum number of failures you can have is 6 BUT you must pass at least 2 courses in your first term. • A minimum of 60 is required for most core math courses.

12. Simple Rules of Thumb • It is better to WD from a course than to fail. • The earlier you drop a course, the smaller the penalty and the more money you will get back. • You don’t need to take more than 3 courses a term.

13. Calculator Regulation The Faculty, Orientation Leaders and Math Sochave put a voucher for a free calculator in your orientation package. Acceptable calculators in math are stickered with a pink tie: A list can be found online, and some calculators can be bought and stickered at: Math Soc, & CampusTech.

14. December 5 to 20and sometimes the 21st due to weather Final Exams are from the 5th until the 20th of December DO NOT book anythinguntil after the 21st.

15. …And if you aren’t certain what the rules are… • Ask an advisor! That’s why we’re here: mathadvisors@uwaterloo.ca

16. How to Succeed on your Journey

17. Treat it like a JOB! (hours per week) 17

18. How do you spend your 50 hours?? • Goto– class, tutorials, tutorial centre, help sessions, office hours….. • Early – start your homework as soon as you get it! • Assignments – Do your assignments, pick up your assignments and learn from your assignments! • Study, study, study, ….. (study)∞

19. As soon as you are in trouble…GET HELP How? Ask your advisor,…that’s what we’re here for: mathadvisors@uwaterloo.ca

20. What Tools can Help on my Journey?

21. Simplest ToolsWhat do you need for your first class?? • Paper, pens, pencils • Computer? Or not? • Labs: MC 3006, 3008, 3009 and 3010 • Email! • More information can be found on the handout!

22. Textbooks • In math classes it is often worth purchasing your 1A textbooks. • In electives it is wise to wait until the instructor has told you whether or not you need the books. • In either case you can purchase the books from: • Used Bookstore – SLC • New Bookstore – SCH

23. Mentors • In most math programs you have been assigned a mentor. You can use this group for various things like: • A study group! They were selected from members who are mostly in the same section of 137 with you. • Friends! Hang out and have fun. • Help! Mentors can direct you to campus resources that can help you succeed at UW.

24. Advisorsmathadvisors@uwaterloo.ca Where are we?MC 4023 What do we do? 1. We help you acclimatize to the university. 2. We help you pick courses. 3. We help explain faculty rules. 4. Give you suggestions to help you finish your degree.

25. Life Happens Many of you will run into trouble while you’re here. In and of itself, that’s not the end of your being a student. The real question is not, “will there be trouble?” It’s “how will you respond to it?”

26. The Math Undergrad Officemathuo@uwaterloo.ca Where? MC4022 What do we do? • Course/class changes • General Inquiries • Look for:

27. Picking a CS course CS 135:A first course in computer science. All CS students should take this or CS 145. Other interested students are also encouraged to take this course. CS 115: An introduction to CS and programming; fewer topics than CS 135 and taught at a slower pace

28. Other Sources of help • Instructors • We’re paid to help! It’s our job! • After class, office hours, by email, by appointment • TAs, tutors • Math Tutorial Centre (free! MC 4066) • CS Tutorial Centre (free! MC 4065) • Tutors in Mackenzie King Residence

29. Other Sources of help • Counseling Services: • Counseling in MC (sign up in NH)‏ • They have: Time management courses, 1-on-1 counseling, study skills workshops, etc. FREE!! • Access Ability Services (NH 1132)‏ • Residence Dons

30. Upcoming Events!

31. The ELPE: Details Where: PAC (Physical Activities Complex) When: Wednesday September 4 2 pm (students with last names A-K)‏ 4 pm (students with last names L-Z)‏ What you do: Write a 5-paragraph essay in 50 minutes, on a topic (revealed at beginning of test)‏ Sample topic: To what extent should scientists and engineers be responsible for the uses to which their discoveries are put? If you fail the ELPE…speak to an advisor!

32. ELPE Why? • Because English is IMPORTANTto math. • To enroll in your 3rd term (2A), must pass the English Writing Skills Requirement. • A good grade in the ELPE will move you faster through the actuarial science plan. All students must take it. (ELAS and CFM students, take it in Dec.) Bring your Watcard and a pen or pencil!

33. Math Readiness Test Who: ONLY students in Math 137 and 147are asked to write the test. When: Sept 9th, startfrom 10am until 7. Where: Any computer on campus with an internet connection or a UW lab (MC 3006, 3008, 3009, 3010). What you do: 1. Write the “Are you Ready?” maple TA pre-test to ensure your computer is up-to-date. 2. Write a 15 question math test.

34. Preparation • An online Practice Test is posted online: • You can write it as often as you'd like • Your login is your user id: i.e. rametzge • Your password is your id: i.e. 20202020 • Goto (no www): mapleta.uwaterloo.ca

35. Other Academic Sessions On Wednesday • Transfer Credits • MC 1085, 9:30-10:30 • Advanced Courses • MC 2065, 10:30-11:30 • Physics Calculus • MC 1085, 11:30-12:30 • Class Selection • MC 1085, 12:30-1:30

36. Finally… • Don’t forget: • The advising card has important dates on it as well as important websites. • The handout has homework for you! • If you need help, the advising team is here to help: mathadvisors@uwaterloo.ca

37. Questions This presentation online: http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca Click: current undergraduates first year

38. Questions for Panelists: What electives did you take in your first term? What about ENGL 119? Have you ever found yourself completely lost in a course? What should you do? What learning techniques have you found successful? What aspects of university life did you find hardest to adjust to? What about non-academic activities? Is there time? Any questions from the audience?