A new school year has started and this post (plus a few extras) will be dedicated to our tertiary kids trying to cope with adulting and studies.
After interviewing different past and present Pelicans of the University of the West Indies (UWI Mona Campus), I was able to collect a variant of responses that will certainly help someone.
Let’s get started…..
(Graduate) Chelule Miller, BSc & MSc in Accounting
Uwi has many libraries and study areas/computer labs but the documentation centre on MSBM North is perfect for late studying.
You can access free one on one tutoring through the academic support unit.
The Student Welfare building sells the best food on campus.
Uwi offers free swimming lessons at the university pool.
Students can be a part of exchange programs and get to study in different countries for at least a semester.
There are opportunities to get jobs on campus that can really help out with covering expenses. One such place is the library but you have to act fast.
Get the on-campus bus schedule.
The Student Welfare building probably offers the most affordable lodging but you have to act fast and early.
You can receive assistance from the financial support department in the form of meal tickets to subsidize meal costs.
Setting up a printing account and printing from the computer labs in the library will save you time and money
R.D., Major in Applied Chemistry and Minor in Management Studies (Graduate)
It is an experience like no ever!
There are so many things to do!! Don’t Get Distracted!! UWI Mona has a knack for distractions, not just talking about parties either
Remember your goal and always strive towards it, be consistent.
Attend your tutorials
Time management is key, especially when the work starts tumbling down
You gonna feel demotivated, don’t worry you are not alone, just push through
SciTech is the only faculty that matters
Aundreen Leslie, Major in History and Journalism (2nd Year)
1 in English A or a 1 or 2 in Comm Studies so you can be exempted from the ELPT and do the semester CRIT
THAT UNIVERSITY AND HIGH SCHOOL ISN’T THE SAME
That some courses don’t do final exams so it’s important to ace everything in that course so you can pass
Be careful who you call your friend
That if you didn’t do a language at CSEC you have to do one at Humanities
That Chancellor man a wicked
Join a lot of clubs or do something on faculty or your hall to get noticed, academics will not take you all the way.
YOUR CXC GRADES AND CAPE GRADES NUH COUNT, be proud of passes but they don’t matter now because everybody passed to be here.
What is cooking? We live at KFC and dine out
T.F., Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) (3rd Year)
Pay your fees outside of SSASS – After you have gone to SAS for your first character-building session of time management, you will definitely want to avoid the stale air and the congestion. You can pay your fees on campus at different locations such as JN, Educom, Scotia
Use up your miscellaneous fees – The UWI Mona experience is what you make it so please make it meaningful. Participate in Guild activities, their revenue comes from some of your fees. You must ensure you go to the pool, the gym, use up your health card, and go to the Health centre. If you are a commuting student, go on your attached hall and get involved, you are paying for that too.
Bring your own lunch – You will hear this from a lot of seniors but I am gonna repeat it. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY KFC EVERY DAY. Besides the convincing health reasons,[ Freshman 15 is real] you may want to save the money to help you cover more expenses.
Do CRIT early – The earlier it is out of the way. The better. Your first semester tends to be your lightest so try to squeeze it and pray for a good group. The smartest system is for all of your friends to go in the same tutorials and be a group together
Don’t buy lunch on a Thursday
Always walk with an umbrella, a cap, a pair of closed-toe shoes and a sweater. UWI is known for its unpredictable weather systems. We have had rain and wind at Medical Sciences and sandstorms and heatwaves at Student Union. Thus always be prepared.
Wait until homecoming to buy apparel – This was a secret I learnt too late. Wait until we celebrate homecoming to start buying hall and faculty apparel.
Do FYE – As a pelican, FYE is a wonderful experience where you can access a whole lot of things for free. [Yup that miscellaneous fee does some jack load of things]
I love it 😍
Useful very informative