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Webinar Recap: University 101

Tips & Tricks before Starting University



On February 21st, 2026, IntegraYouth hosted a webinar with a panel of university students from different programs and universities in Ontario and Quebec. This provided the chance for high school students to ask questions and clear any doubts they have about entering university or accepting/rejecting offers. The panel was able to provide insights on balancing workload with personal commitments, differences from high school, and hosted a Q&A session for webinar guests, helping lessen the overwhelming feelings about university. 


Our panelists included:

  • Dhwani Zala: 3rd Year for Medical Science at Western University

  • Shrish Patel: 2nd Year for Engineering at Western University

  • Susannah Goldsmith: 1st Year for Psychology at Carleton University

  • Marko Vasijev: 1st Year for International Business at Concordia University


Tips on Balancing Workload and Personal Commitments


The panelists believe that university workload is a lot harder than high school, mainly due to the increase in personal commitments. In high school, the only commitments students have are school work, having a social life, and for some students, jobs. However, in university, this changes to school work, networking opportunities, jobs, internship opportunities for the future, and having a social life. Alongside the increase in personal commitments, there is also an increase in the amount of school work. This combination makes it harder for students to understand how to balance it all, sometimes leading to exhaustion and poor mental health. 


To avoid this burnout, a tip from Marko was to change your mindset. Yes, you have more work, but thinking you don’t have enough time for this increase in work is not the way to go. The more you think about the little time you have, the more you overwhelm yourself, leading to greater stress and exhaustion. Slowly, try to change your mindset. Instead of thinking: “How am I supposed to complete all this work in this short amount of time?,” think: “The next few days are going to be challenging, but a week from now all of this will be done and I’ll be good.” This mentality helps with understanding time management and prioritization. Despite having lots of work, you understand which assignments are not worth it, or which personal commitments can be done at a later date if you decide to focus your energy on a particular assignment. 


Overall, 

  • Don’t think you don’t have the time - try to stop overwhelming feelings

  • Change your mindset

    • Try hard on every task in the time your have, and sometimes letting things go might help in the long run


Tips to Study Smarter


Studying smarter does not mean getting the highest grade in the class; it means understanding the concept actively in a short period of time, rather than spending long hours passively reviewing content. For example, rereading notes, or copying slideshows into your notebook might not be the best way to study for students; instead, trying out different methods such as active recall or spaced repetition might help your brain remember concepts so that the exam period becomes a breeze for you. There are lots of study techniques available online to research, learn, and implement. However, doing this takes time, so starting early on (in high school, for example) helps prepare you for university; you become used to these techniques, resulting in a studying schedule and habits being created. 


Study techniques help with studying smarter, rather than harder. However, it is important to understand that not all techniques help with each and every course. According to Dhawni, her studying schedule and methods depend on the type of course. For instance, for courses where application of concepts is the main focus (such as math or physics), her studying consists of practice problems. In comparison, for more memorization-based courses (such as psychology or biology), flashcards and spaced repetition become the best study methods. Note: Anki is a great app for creating flashcards and implementing active recall into your studying habits. 


Overall, 

  • Studying schedule and methods depend on type of course

    • Practice, practice, practice for application courses

    • Active Recall/Spaced Repetition for memorization courses


Tips on Lowering Procrastination Levels


According to our panelists, the best way to decrease procrastination is by limiting your phone usage, which can be implemented through a variety of methods. For instance, Susannah chooses to leave her phone in her dorm room when she studies from silent study rooms across campus. In her opinion, if there is no phone nearby, how will she be tempted to go on it? Also, the silent study room or floor (many university libraries have silent study floors) can help eliminate distractions created by others. For Shrish and Marko, locking down social media apps helps to focus on decreasing procrastination. They use apps such as BePresent, or YPT to ensure that their phone will not allow them to enter social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram, etc…Despite how strict and harsh these methods sound, it generally helps the panelists realize how attached they are to their phones, and how detrimental social media can be when they are trying to achieve a goal. 


Another tip from the panelists was to leave your dorm room. If you stay stuck in your room (whether it’s to study, or you are an introvert and are scared to leave your room and talk to people), it can interfere with your mental health. Instead, the panelists suggest finding a study spot on campus where you feel comfortable, such as the library, or any cafes. Before going to these places to study, Shrish usually sets targets for goals that he is prioritizing to complete for the day. If those tasks were completed: great. If they weren’t, he tries to reflect on what can be adjusted for the next day, and then prioritize tasks in order of importance. 


Overall, 

  • Leaving your dorm to get a change of scenery 

  • Limiting screen time - lock down social media apps


Scholarships


Many questions were posed about scholarships in light of OSAP changes; how to get them, and some of the best places to find them. According to the panelists, most universities, if not all, have entrance scholarships depending on high school grades. Keeping up these grades can earn you a scholarship that can be applied throughout your entire university career. Grades are not the only thing that can earn you scholarships. Whichever university you plan on attending should have a financial aid website that lists out any merit-based scholarships available related to community involvement, sports, and/or grades. Normally, these kinds of websites cover the application steps and any application requirements. These websites often list grants as well, so keep an eye out for those!


Alongside researching your university choices, it is also beneficial to research country or province-wide scholarships/grants. Many websites such as Scholarships Canada, or ScholarTree compile lists of scholarships or competitions going on, making it easier for students to view all opportunities in one place. 


Tip: apply to everything you can and want to, even if the awarded scholarship amount is lower than you’d like. Those kinds of scholarships tend to go unclaimed, and if you receive several of them, they can stack up to a large sum of money when you apply to many at the same time. 


Overall, 

  • Look out for entrance scholarships

  • Some websites are provided below

  • Try for every scholarship (even if the amount is on the lower side - they ADD UP!)

  • Research your future school - see what they offer

    • Some websites are provided below


Biggest Shocks in University


Opportunities for Extra Credit: 


While talking to upper-year students and reading course syllabi, the panelists were surprised at the amount of extra credit that was offered at some universities. If you think that an assignment is too hard, and have many other commitments, looking through outlines and talking to other people can help you determine if you can potentially skip an assignment and make up the marks through extra credit assignments. This can help you better understand prioritization and time management, while also allowing you to learn new topics that may not be covered in class. 


Amount of Extra Help:


Upon entering university, the panelists were pleasantly surprised by the amount of extra help some courses offer. Many courses have free extra help sessions led by professors and/or teaching assistants before a big exam. Another helpful resource for students is office hours. Professors might not have enough time after class to answer questions, which is why they run office hours--a time for students to ask questions and build connections with their professor or TA. Also, oftentimes universities have courses for first-year students where they help them review important high school concepts required in their field. For example, Western has a course called PREP101, which gives students tips and tricks in preparation for university. Furthermore, universities have student centers, where they run different programs for students in different majors. These are places for students to ask for help about anything and everything. Most universities provide mental health, physical health, and/or academic support. They may be able to lead you to the right direction for specific topics and/or concerns.


Moving:


Depending on where students decide to go to university, they might have to move to a different city or country. This is another one of the biggest shocks for the panelists. Moving to a different city means adjusting to a new community, which is often difficult for people. However, as time passes, this becomes a chance for greater freedom. For example, panelists are able to take full control of their schedules, ensuring they are getting the most of their days. It provides a time for people to self-reflect, which helps people with developing their personalities. The entire opportunity of living alone provides a method for taking on greater responsibility resulting in higher confidence. 


Q&A from Audience


Q: What are some good/reputable universities for health science in Ontario? 


  • McMaster Health Science

  • Western University

  • Waterloo has a relatively newer 5-6 year program: Medical Sciences (Waterloo) and Doctor of Medicine (St. George 's University)

    • Trying to cut down on the amount of years spent in school to become a doctor


Q: Where can I find information about scholarships and OSAP?


Examples of Some Universities’ Financial Aid Websites



Finding Scholarships



OSAP



Written By: Krisha L

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