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This page of the website is here to provide you with resources that may be helpful as you make the transition from first year to second year. These resources are divided into the following sections for your convenience. If you have any questions or concerns that are not addressed on this website please email us so that we can address your concern and continue to expand this website. Sections:There are many issues commonly faced by students during the transition between first and second year. These range from questioning who your friends are to why you are at university in the first place. This section will provide you with some resources to help when faced with these difficult questions. Your first year has likely gone by faster than you expected and you are now faced with the task of choosing a major. Whether you find yourself questioning the major you planned on selecting all along or still have no idea which major is for you this section will provide you with resources to assist with this "major" consideration. A second year means a whole new set of courses. If you are feeling under-prepared to decide which courses are for you, or you are unsure how the registration process takes place, this section should help. If you are worried about how you will pay for everything as you move on to your second year you will find information to help in this section. Many students decide during their first year that they would like to study abroad for a year. Even if you plan to do this in your third year it is never to early to start planning. Find more information on this here. Now that you are becoming used to being in university you may feel like it is time to get more involved in the community around you. You can find information on how to do this here.
The Second Year Experience MenuThe transition from first year to second year brings a lot of change, and many issues arise as a result. The following changes will be addressed below;
As you move to second year you will find that you require different contacts on campus and may have difficulty finding out who you should be talking to. Many second years experience this and there is no need to feel that you have been here for a year and "should know this by now." Don't be afraid to ask questions if you are not sure who you should be talking to about something, there are lots of people available to assist you with this. Some important contacts you should know are your academic advisor and Senior Tutor. The academic advisor assigned to you in first year from your college is no longer your academic advisor in second year. To get an academic advisor contact your program office and request an advisor. You also have a Senior Tutor who is there to help you with academic decisions and provide assistance when you need advice about Trent’s rules and regulations. Your Senior Tutor provides support when you are having academic difficulties and gives advice about how to solve these situations before they become problems, and, if you are already in an academic problem situation, their job is to help you to understand and start the appeals process. You can find the contact information of your Senior Tutor by going to the Academic Advising website at www.trentu.ca/advising back to the "Second Year Experience" menu
One change that second year students often have difficulty adapting to is a difference in the difficulty of their academics. Students become accustomed to the level of difficulty of their first year classes and the amount of work that they must put into them and as a result often struggle to adjust in second year. If you were successful in first year but are finding second year more challenging you should know that you are not alone and there are resources available to help you. The Academic Skills centre is open to students of all levels and can assist you with many of your academic struggles. Learn more about the Academic Skills Centre or book and appointment today by visiting their website here. For any and all academic concerns, you should always start with your Senior Tutor. Don't know who your Senior Tutor is? Go to the Academic Advising website. back to the "Second Year Experience" menu
As first year ends and second year begins you may find your schedule changing for a variety of reasons, from a new job, to more time spent travelling to and from campus. These changes make your time management skills even more important. The Academic Skills Centre can provide a lot of help with this, visit them online here. back to the "Second Year Experience" menu
The first challenge you may be thinking about as your first year comes to a close is, "Where am I going to live in second year?" This is clearly an important concern and you will want to be sure to consider all of you options. The Housing and Off-Campus Housing websites will be very helpful when making this decision. back to the "Second Year Experience" menu
Relationships, Identity and Interests Changes experienced in the transition from first to second year do not end in the classroom. Often second year students feel like everything is changing too fast and they have trouble keeping up. Relationships change as a result of transitions, and the transition to second year is no exception. What can be helpful is understanding these transitions. A useful exercise is mapping your relationships in three concentric circles, with closest friends and family in the smallest center circle, these are presumably the people who you expect to be a part of your life forever. The next circle is made up of family and friends who are important in your life, but maybe not as constant. The final circle is more institutional supports, the people you work or study with who are helpful and important but will likely drop away once you leave the institution. Mapping these relationships is the first step to understanding how these relationships can change. Make a map for high school, one for first year, and one for second year. Simply understanding how your relationships are changing can help you to deal with these changes as they happen. Many of these relationship changes result from a changing identity and changing interests. University is a great time to explore who you are and there are many supports available to help you with this. From counselling to other students or student groups with similar interests reaching out to others is always useful even when attempting to define yourself. back to the "Second Year Experience" menu
"Major" ConsiderationsOnce you have completed five credits at Trent you must select a major before registering for any more courses. For many people, this happens after their first year of full-time studies. This decision is a difficult one for many, but it is important to remember that there are people available to help. Also, since you are able to change your major, this is not a permanent decision and you are always able to change your mind. There are is a lot of advice to be given about choosing a major, unfortunately, not all of it is true. Here are some important myths to keep in mind as you begin deciding on a major;
Now forget these myths and instead consider these facts;
To make the best decision it is best that you first know yourself and your options. Help with this process can be found at the Career Centre. Three common problems when choosing a major
You are required to pick a major before registering for your second year, however you may not feel ready to do so
Some degrees may not point to a specific occupation which may be frightening if you plan on getting a job upon graduation
Your parents or other important people in your life may have expectations of you that you do not feel comfortable with To help overcome these problems there are a few key things to remember.
How do I declare my major? Once you have decided you may declare your major by logging on to MyTrent and selecting the menu forms and then selecting "Request to Declare or Change Major"
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