Information for Attendees

So, you've registered for Orientation. Now what? 

• Check out a campus map so you know where you're going.
• Parking is very limited on campus on this day because of undergraduate Orientation events. If you have your OneCard already, full-time students can take the bus and save yourself a lot of hassle. Parking is also relatively limited at the train station, but you can also easily walk from Waterloo Town Square.
• Check out some of the services and groups ahead of time so you know what you want more information about and what questions to ask.
• Coffee, tea, water, and juice will be available at different points in the day. Bring a reusable bottle and/or mug and avoid using a disposable cup. 
• If you’re doing the Photo Scavenger Hunt, you may need your OneCard to get on the bus. We’ll have some bus tickets on hand for part-time students. And don't forget your camera!

Orientation Keynote: Embracing Your Inner Imposter

Wondering how you got in to grad school? Doubting the fact that you’re actually smart enough to be here? Worried that everyone else is doing more advanced or interesting work than you? Well, you’re not alone – these are symptoms of “Imposter Syndrome”, which is ubiquitous among graduate students.

Dr. Penelope Ironstone-Catterall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies. She teaches in the MA in Communication Studies and the MA in Cultural Analysis and Social Theory and has supervised a number of students in both programs.  An endlessly engaging student favourite, Dr. Ironstone-Catterall was a semi-finalist in the 2008 TVO Best Lecturer Competition. Her primary research program, "From Seasonal Flu to Pandemic Influenza: The Cultural Life of a Virus," is funded by a SSHRC Standard Research Grant. An interdisciplinary scholar, she holds degrees from Carleton University (BA Hons, MA) and York University (PhD). She graduated from Grade 28 in 2001, and knows her own inner-impostor quite well.

Orientation Panel Discussions

Hear from current and former students and professors about what you can do during your time in graduate school to prepare for what comes later: real life.  You can choose which panel you want to attend based on your intended career path. Don’t have an intended career path figured out yet? That's okay – you can always change your mind later when we post the list of participants.

Check back here for more information on panel participants throughout the summer.

Making the Most of Your Graduate Experience: An Approach for Students Interested in…

Academia

A diverse panel of current graduate students, post-docs and professors will discuss the critical decisions, opportunities, and challenges involved the pursuit of a career in academia. Panelists will talk about their own experiences, emphasizing things they wish they had known in hindsight.

The Corporate Sector

Transitioning from the academic environment to the corporate world can be a tough challenge. Alumni panelists will discuss how they were able to use the diverse skill set they gained in grad school to sell themselves in interviews with employers and go on to excel in the corporate work environment.

The Government & Not-for-Profit Sectors

Alumni and other representatives from government and the not-for-profit sector will discuss critical skills and approaches to getting your career started in these fields. Emphasis will be placed on how to find opportunities, understanding the differences between these positions and traditional corporate sector jobs, and how to go from being a ‘good’ candidate to a ‘great’ one.

International Students Session

This information session will provide information on study permits, renewals, and work permits for students, and provide an overview of the resources that are available for international students in the International Office.

Due to time constraints, this session will take place simultaneously with campus tours at 3:15.