Back to school season is approaching quicker than imagined. In around a month’s time, you may find yourself sitting in front of your desk, or your laptop, attending a class and jotting down notes. Sure, it may be the perfect time to purchase your supplies, set up a new workstation, and attend a program orientation. However, there may be other tips and tricks which you may not have been aware of before. 

Whether you are a returning or a new student to any of George Brown College’s (GBC) campuses, here are some tips that you will need to know: 

1.) Check the important dates, more than once. 

There are important deadlines for registration, fee payment, and tax forms that you may need to consider when enrolling in a post-secondary institution. If you want to withdraw from a course or change your timetable, you may also need to consult the deadlines to ensure that you are eligible. The dates are always changing, and in terms of GBC’s updates, you should always visit this page.

2.) Book your English and Math Placement Tests
If you are new to the post-secondary education system, you may have to complete English and math placement tests depending on your program. It is recommended that you take the assessments as soon as possible, and they can be booked on STU-VIEW.  

3.) Familiarize yourself with Student Services
When you need assistance, you can access services provided by the college. These include services like withdrawing from courses and questions about admissions, OSAP, awards, and registration. Furthermore, you can also access peer support services from Peerconnect, which is a program run by students and the college for different purposes such as learning basic American Sign Language (ASL) and career counselling. 

4.) Familiarize yourself with services from the Student Association.
Although the Student Association of George Brown College (SAGBC) is a separate entity from the college, they continue to offer important services for the students. Some of these include community care services, financial services, clubs, recreational activities, and SafeWalk. If you have trouble filing your taxes, the SA can also help with that too. To learn more about their services, you can visit the website here. 

The SAGBC also funds The Dialog. 

5.) Decide if you want to Opt-out or opt-in for the health benefits program
The SAGBC offers health insurance plans for international and full-time domestic students alike. However, if you are a full-time domestic student and your health insurance is already covered by another provider, you can opt-out of the program before a certain deadline. Meanwhile, international students are required to purchase health insurance unless they are covered under a Federal or Provincial plan. In order to make your decision, you should consult which services are provided under the plan on the website. And you should also opt-out or opt-in as soon as possible.

6.) Book counselling sessions when needed, but seek outside resources if required
School can definitely be exhausting with multiple assignments and projects piling up. However, if you do feel overwhelmed and need to speak to a counsellor, the college does provide services for no extra cost. In order to sign up, you will need to fill out a form that is available on the GBC website. As of right now, current sessions are via Zoom, and follow-up sessions can be booked by emailing the office. Please note that the email varies depending on the campus. 

7.) Participate in extracurriculars to find and develop your interests.
Other than studying, it is also important to participate in extracurriculars and meet different students. The SAGBC has a list of clubs and networks available on its website. These clubs include academic and school-related clubs, as well as hobbies and interest-based clubs. If you do not see a club that you enjoy, you can even start your own. All you would have to do is to email the Clubs Coordinator in the SAGBC, and fill out the paperwork required. 

8.) If you have trouble with schoolwork, be sure to attend a tutoring session or email your professor. 

You may feel overwhelmed after the first week of school. And if you have trouble with your homework, you can communicate with your instructors about your situation. Some of them can be very accommodating and allow you to submit your work past the due date without penalty. However, if you still do not understand the course material, you can always opt for a peer tutoring session, which is provided to you by the college without cost. After all, it’s great to learn new subjects and develop new skills.