Current Students

It’s that time of year again. Another group of Vancouver Island University graduates are getting ready to cross the stage and head off into the real world – or into graduate programs.

What’s the secret to success in your university studies and beyond? How do you avoid burnout? Why should you try a different type of class? How do you figure out what’s next? Here’s some advice from recent graduates and alumni.

We’re at the end of another semester. For some, this means escaping into the summer months before returning in the fall, for others it means sun-filled days spent indoors … still on campus. But for close to 500 students, that the day is soon approaching when they will file down the aisle, with tassels bouncing, towards the convocation stage. Brimming with smiles, tears and memories of long days and longer nights.

Sheldon Scow has a love/hate relationship with school.

“High school wasn’t a great experience for me – I didn’t believe in myself and I was pushed along so the teachers didn’t have to deal with me the following year,” says the 26-year-old, of Dene and Kwakwaka’wakw descent. “As a young man, that hurts your pride.”

After high school, Sheldon spent eight years working as a chef and battling depression and alcoholism, until one day he experienced a rude awakening.

“My best friend cut me out of his life,” he remembers. “He was tired of watching me struggle.”

Tuition and textbooks, rent and parking passes – oh my!

It can feel a little daunting being a post-secondary student when considering the bills. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources and approaches that can help you get through school without breaking the bank. Of course, it can be easy to miss out on opportunities if you don’t know where to look. Check out these tips to help you get the best bang out of your student bucks.

At Vancouver Island University, education is a much richer experience than simply sitting in a lecture hall, taking notes and hitting the books in the library.

School is almost finished and you’re ready to go out and find the perfect summer job. Want to ensure you get the most out of the experience? VIU’s former Lead Student Ambassador, Caitlin Mangiacasale, shares some tips to take your summer job from mediocre to marvellous.

With final exams and assignments due imminently, this can be a stressful time of year for students. Student success is a core value at VIU, which is why the University has a wide range of supports and services available to students from the start of the semester through to the end of the term. Follow these tips and watch your exam anxieties melt away.

It’s that time of year again – back to school. You’ve got your textbooks, your school supplies and a place to live – what now? Here are four tips to help you get settled in at VIU.