NAIT Student Counselling

Starting your education at NAIT is a major life change. It may be your first educational experience away from familiar faces and academic environment, the first time you have attended school in years, or your first experience living away from home for an extended period of time. Although it is exciting to be pursuing higher education you may need time to adjust to your new surroundings. 

Here are some tips for coping with those first few weeks of life at NAIT:

Personally:

• At NAIT you may find you have more, or less, freedom than you are used to. The change in life style can feel both exhilarating and unsettling. These feelings are normal and to be expected, and  will pass in time.
• Take time during these first weeks to take care of yourself. Get involved in fun activities. Schedule time to relax and spend time with family and friends. If you are new to Edmonton, keep in touch with friends and family from home.
• Keep a positive focus and use new experiences as opportunities.

Socially:

• Meeting people and developing new friendships is another plus to student life.
• There are many ways to connect with others. Consider getting involved and being where other students are. Here are some common ways that NAIT students meet each other:
• At Welcome Week
• Extracurricular activities such as clubs or classes (read The Nugget student newsletter and the bulletin board for announcements)
• Volunteer at NAIT's events or fundraisers; check at the NAITSA office for volunteer opportunities, peer tutoring or put your writing skills to work for The Nugget student newspaper.
• Intramural sports programs or at the gym
• At the "Nest"
• At program special events
• New acquaintances develop over time. Do not put too much pressure on yourself to become over-involved or over-friendly from the start of your course; it's okay to take your time in developing new friendships.

Academically:

• You may find NAIT courses require more time and effort than you are used to. Be proactive in time management and planning. Following the course outlines, keeping up with readings and assignments, borrowing lecture notes for missed classes, and asking for help from your instructor or tutor are some ways to support your success.
• Study Skills Seminars are presented at the beginning of each semester. Plan to attend study skills sessions and to practice using the suggestions early in the semester.
• If you are feeling overwhelmed, you may benefit from working one-to-one with a tutor or peer tutor.

Student Counselling provides individual counselling to students experiencing difficulty adjusting to NAIT life or dealing with any personal concerns. To book an appointment please contact us in Room W111-PB, by phone on 780-378-6133, or by email on ssd@nait.ca. There is no fee and all visits are confidential.