silverstreaked: blog Tales from a city named Ottawa

Advice to First-Year B. IT – IMD Students

I was thinking about this program which I'm in the other day (Bachelor of Information Technology with a major in Interactive Multimedia and Design-- B. IT - IMD for short), and I was remembering the first year I was in it. Now, I had already taken a year of university before joining this program, in a similarly-difficult program (Computer Science), and so I was better prepared than most of my peers, but I still had a rather challenging first year. So I was thinking... why not write up a list of things--advice, if you will-- which I wish I had known in my first year of this program, and which could possibly be passed on to the first-years who are coming in? So here is my list (will be ongoing as I get feedback from other people in this program).

Other contributors to this are denoted by different colours in the text:
- Jesse, a 3rd-year IMD student
- Jamie, a former IMD student
- Chris Joslin, a current IMD professor
- Ali, a 3rd-year IMD student
- Lindsay, a 3rd-year IMD student
- Brittany, a 3rd-year IMD student

Update: There is now a list for second-years-- Advice to Second-Year B. IT - IMD Students!
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1. Don't confuse university with high school.

Assignments and exams are suddenly worth A LOT more of your grade than they ever were, and a good deal of classes give you marks for attendance and participation, so show up and take part. Skipping class and slacking are not in your best interest, and will quickly be noticed by both professors and your peers.

2. Show up to all classes!

This includes lectures, labs, discussion groups, and workshops. In B. IT, things move at a very fast pace, and I can think of at least two first year classes for which it is ESSENTIAL you attend, otherwise you will fall behind extremely quickly. I'm thinking specifically of IMD1000 (Intro to IMD) and IMD1004 (Software Tools) (this one had a lot of in-class assignments which needed to be handed in at the end of every class for marks, so if you missed one, it was often really difficult to catch up). Also, BIT1002 (Physics), had mandatory labs-- if you didn't come to the labs, you failed the class! You may be tempted in first year to party hard and enjoy the increased freedom which university affords you. This is fine, but do it after your classes are done for the day! (And after your assignments are done, but that's another story...)

3. Start your assignments/reports/etc. ASAP!

The work from 5 classes at once piles up pretty fast-- put the effort in to reduce that pile by a little bit every day, otherwise you'll drown. This ESPECIALLY applies to assignments which are "only" due in two weeks, or by the end of the month, or whatever... the farther away the due date, the less likely you will want to work on it, but force yourself to do it anyway!

[Jesse] The first three weeks of school will be relatively nice and relaxed, don't let this fool you, after this three week period assignment due dates will come up faster and faster and the madness will not end till after exams. Don't do everything last minute if you want a good mark and like to sleep.

[Jamie] Do work first rather than just before it's due.

[Chris Joslin] Getting assignments done ahead of time is always best, especially the longer term ones - e.g. if 4 weeks is given, it means that the work is expected to probably fill 4 weeks (even if it's not 100%).

[Lindsay] Homework is so important, especially in math and physics.  Keep on top of the homework because practice really does further your understanding and you will be more likely to succeed on tests and exams.

4. Effort really matters!

Classes like IMD1000 (Intro. to IMD) sometimes use competitive marking, in which the professor (or whoever is marking) picks the best assignment and then grades all other assignments relative to that assignment. Professors can usually figure out after the first assignment is submitted which students are the "best" or which show the most potential in the class-- put in your best effort from the very beginning, and do not let the quality of your work slide after the first few weeks. IMD1001 (Graphic Design) is a great creative class to show your potential, for example-- always push the boundaries a little bit past convention, and don't be afraid to try new things! Also, assignments can make great portfolio pieces, especially if you don't have previous design/development work, so making sure the quality of those pieces is immediately noticeable could possibly land you some freelancing work later on.

5. Make friends with the professors...

...Or at least make sure they know your name. You'll have a large percentage of them again sometime in IMD, so giving them a good first impression of you and your work is a very good idea! They're all pretty great for helping you out and answering your questions when you need them to, so be friendly back to them. Also, you'll find as you spend more and more time in the labs at Carleton, they'll be in the building (or on MSN) at all manner of odd hours. Ask them for advice, help, feedback, opinions, or just guidance-- they're more than willing to help you out if you make the effort. Also, meet and greet the BIT secretary (Erenia) and the school administrator (Hana)-- they're both very nice people, and also more than willing to answer any questions you may have.

[Chris Joslin] If you don't understand something from a Prof's class, book an appointment and ask (this combines two ideas, a lot of students don't like to look stupid, and often students think Profs don't care, but it's more about finding the appropriate time - we do have other classes, research, admin etc we need to complete).

[Ali] Given that the profs in our program are great, and that there are so few of us (relative to other programs), build a relationship with them...preferably a good one, and use that towards getting help when you really need it. I have yet to meet one of our profs who aren’t happy to help us understand lectures, assignments, or even general life questions, provided that we do it at the appropriate time and place.

6. Study and plan well for your exams!

At least one course that I can recall has a 50% final! Make flashcards, get a study group together, whatever, just study! Study all semester, revise every night, do whatever you have to do to pass your exams well. Even if you think you know the material, at least half of it will mysteriously disappear from your head during the actual final unless you've revised it multiple times! If you know the format of the exam (multiple choice, long answer, etc.) and/or the number of questions, then also make sure you plan your time well around the constraints of the exam. Especially for IMD1002- Visual Dynamics, also make sure to study applications of the course material in actual design, not just the theories. IMD1000 has a ridiculously difficult midterm AND final, so study, study, study! Also related to this-- make sure you go over your exams after you've got them back, to make sure it was marked correctly. Every little bit counts!

[Chris Joslin] Most of the students who seem to do well overall do their [exam] revision on the same day of the class. [Also] avoid brute-force approaches - it will only wear you down.

[Ali] Read your notes, take notes, and practice on your own (i.e. make your own projects with the Adobe suite). This will help you further your knowledge and to get ahead. It also helps to be prepared for tests and assignments, and knowing how to do them ahead of time is great.

7. Know your prerequisites.

There are a number of first-year courses which are prerequisites for second-year courses-- make sure you pass these! IMD1003 (Computer Programming) and IMD 1005 (Web Development) are prerequisites for IMD2000, and IMD1003 is also a prereq for IMD2004. That being said, 'IMD 2nd-year Student' is also a prerequisite for a number of second-year courses-- in order to become an IMD 2nd-year, you must pass ALL first-year courses! Even if you are a technical second-year student (certain number of completed credits), IMD has special course-based requirements which must be fulfilled for year standing, which is independent of the school's requirements. Therefore...

8. ...Put effort into passing your classes!

Since IMD is such a small program, most of the courses are only offered once per school year in a single section, so making up these courses during the spring/summer is virtually impossible. And making them up during the next school year (a) puts you behind and (b) prevents you from taking classes which require those prereqs, thus (c) putting you further behind. There are certain classes (the non-BIT specific ones) which can be made up at other times, but these are few and far between. For example, though, BIT1100 (Calculus) is equivalent to MATH1007, which you can probably take during the summer. Make sure you check those equivalences, though, as they are subject to change. That being said, though, the easiest thing is just to pass all your classes to begin with!

[Chris Joslin] It is generally expected than the 4th year will be much more work compared to the 1st year, however there is a lot of basis being created in the 1st year and shouldn't be lost or ignored (i.e. just passing a course will not only affect your CGPA, but also your ability to understand future courses - and those courses will rely on your understanding later). [Also] first year is generally used to bring everyone to the same level; some might have had a good Math education others in Arts, so don't be too relaxed if certain courses are easy.

9. Make friends with your peers!

You'll be with the majority of them for the rest of the program! Because the program is so small (usually around 50 people, except in my year), you'll get to know everyone pretty fast. Be open to everyone, don't make assumptions about people, and be willing to offer help to others; these things will make you a lot of friends. Once you've got a "group", there's nothing wrong with spending a lot of class time with these people, but don't be afraid or unwilling to work with others either. You'll actually find some of the best bonding comes from working on large assignments for long periods of time with people you don't know . Peers are great for help as well-- if you need programming help, especially, there's always at least a few people who have programmed before and have the necessary experience to help you out with something.

[Lindsay] You will quickly figure out what everyone is good at: drawing, designing, math, programming...Make friends with people who are have different strengths than you as a project requires skills in all areas.  Also, be wary of free-riders. Once you have been pegged as a hard worker who is really focused on doing well, some people may want to join your group for an easy A.  Don't be afraid to say no (which I still am) and choose your group members carefully so that everyone puts in the same amount of work.

[Note by Tamara-- I've found that free-riders are only really a problem in the first year. There are enough individual assignments that people will figure out pretty quickly that they can't just coast off someone else's hard work and still do well. These people either leave the program or shape up by the end of the year, and are pretty rare in the following years].

10. Make good use of the computer labs at Carleton.

The two dedicated BIT labs are well-equipped with all of the software you will need for the semester; even if you've got your own laptop with all of the software, you can still use them in the labs (as long as you use the wireless network and not the wired one-- you face the wrath of the lab equipment/maintenance dude if you unplug the lab cables ). Like I've said before, some of the best bonding and memorable moments have come from the late-night assignment sessions in the lab... things can get a little crazy after midnight, haha. I've never spent a whole night in a lab (yet), mind you, but you will do this at least once by  the time you graduate, so you might as well familiarize yourself with them (and their regular inhabitants) early!

[Lindsay] Best part about doing work in the labs is the amount of people who are always there.  They are just as exhausted and stressed as you but they are always willing to pause and help you out on whatever you are working on, or they are willing to stop and chat about anything.  Some of the best and funnest moments happen in the lab.  The balance of work and play is really important, and the lab helps bring in the play that can be lost if you work at home.

11. Choose your electives carefully.

Make sure they run on your days at Carleton (going back and forth between Carleton and Algonquin on the same day is neither fun nor efficient), and try not to take anything really heavy or intensive (languages, for example, or courses which require lots of papers). Also, take something different which isn't computer-related! It's nice to get out from behind the screen once in awhile (for myself, in three years of university, I've taken elective courses in Philosophy, Linguistics, Political Science, and Religion, and would love to take something in Psychology, Sign Language, Spanish, or Criminology-- we'll see ).

[Jesse] Introduction to Film Studies is a good and fun elective to take.

[Ali] Pick an elective that will actually help you in the long run. Although taking the easy route where you can get a good grade seems like a beneficial idea, it probably won't take you too far. I personally took Art History, and as Jesse said Film Studies was also a good choice. We chose these because they were interesting to us and we've definitely found use in the material learned. They may not have been the easiest picks, but school is meant to challenge you.

[Lindsay] I suggest Film Studies for IMD students.  This is an uber fun easy course (only two essays in the year) and it is SO helpful for the 2nd year Audio and Video course.  You learn all about filming techniques such as lighting, mise-en-scene, the 180 degree rule and tons of other stuff.  It is basically and hour and a half lecture and then you watch a movie every week!  Best class ever!

12. Stay awake during class!

I can think of at least one IMD prof whose voice has a soporific effect, but staying awake is definitely to your benefit! Develop a caffeine addiction if you have to. You'll have a lot of late nights and early mornings, so get used to it right from the beginning, and do whatever you can to stay awake. I've found that over the three years I've been in university, drinking liquids doesn't help (you just spill it all over yourself when you fall asleep), and eating only postpones your sleepyness temporarily. Taking notes sometimes helps, but sometimes not (the sleepier you get, the more incoherent your notes will become). Having people smack you with binders or notebooks does help occasionally. Find out what works for you.

[Jesse] Copy down the slides in class and make notes even if the Profs put them [online] after. It'll help keep you awake and you'll remember more than just reading the slides before a test.

13.  If you really care about what the prof is saying, don't bring your laptop to class!

Your intentions to take notes on it (or to annotate the prof's online notes) might be good at first, but you'll find yourself bouncing back and forth between the notes and Facebook/MSN/etc. before long. Plus, if you're in a lecture hall, your laptop screen is a HUGE distraction to the people sitting behind (and above) you. If you absolutely must bring a device to class to take notes on, disable the internet, and don't work on your other assignments!

14. When you've got a class in a computer lab, at least pretend you're paying attention.

Don't stare at your computer screen when the prof. is lecturing, and don't talk to the people around you when the prof. is walking you through an example. Make eye contact with the prof once in a while, and try to stay focussed. Having a computer in front of you is great, but you WILL be tempted to do other things while the class is going on. Don't. The prof will appreciate it if it looks like people are actually interested in what they're saying (and certain profs will "pick on" you more for answers if it looks like you're not paying attention, so if you don't want to look like a fool and have to ask the prof to repeat the question, pay attention!)

15. Take full advantage of your breaks!

The IMD1005 class lasts 5 hours, in which you will have multiple half-hour breaks. Don't spend these breaks in front of your computer! Get up, walk around, get a drink, get food, talk to people outside, etc. You'll be much less likely to burn out before the end of the class if you stop staring at your screen once in a while. This also applies to classes which take place in a lecture hall-- if you are given a break, get out of that uncomfortable plastic seat and go get a coffee or something. You'll be less likely to fall asleep later if you get up for a little bit.

16. Prepare adequately for the workload.

There are a LOT of assignments/projects/reports/etc. which will be assigned over the course of the year, and it is essential that you stay on top of it! Make a schedule for working on your assignments, make a to-do list, whatever you need to stay organized. One thing that I found that really helped me was to make a written list of all assigned things and their due dates and then stick it up on my wall. Whenever I finished one and handed it in, I'd take great pleasure in marking it off the list in thick black Sharpie . The psychological benefits of this were pretty amazing. Also, DO NOT freak out about the amount of work which will pile up. This will just make you nervous and anxious. Tackle the pile a bit at a time, and it will be done before you know it.

17. Don't expect too much of yourself.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't consistently put in your best, but realize that you're not always going to get 100% on assignments and exams, and that the best way to get ahead is to get up and try, try again. Practice makes perfect, as they say. Don't be hard on yourself if you don't do as well as you would have liked. And I'm saying this as someone who graduated high school with the best marks in her class-- but like I said, university is different from high school, and especially in this program, there will inevitably always be someone "better" than you. Don't compare yourself, and don't get down on yourself for not doing as well as that person. Just do your best, be unique, be yourself, and you'll do well. Programming can be frustrating, especially if you've never done it before, but keep working at it, and you'll slowly get better (also with programming-- don't expect your code to work correctly the first time around. Even great programmers rarely get their code working the first time!).

[Lindsay] I was terrible at programming.  I would run my work and get 500 errors.  While this is heartbreaking, the best thing to do is start with the first [error] and work your way through it.  You will also find yourself getting better and better.  Set little goals for yourself and do the extra questions the profs give you.  While you think they will take too much time to be worth it, they really are [worth it].

18. DO NOT bring your cell phones/other devices to exams!!

Leave them in a locker, or in your bag at the front of the exam room. I had my cell phone go off in my pocket loudly once during an exam, and if the supervisor had been able to figure out that it was mine, I would have failed the exam automatically. And I'd made sure the phone was on 'vibrate' before the exam, too! Don't take the risk of failing (and/or being accused of cheating), and leave the devices elsewhere.

19. Talk to the upper-year students!

They know what you're going through, and they're always willing you help you out or give you advice (or warnings about classes to come)! Plus it's great to hear about some of the challenges of the upcoming classes/profs because then you can prepare better or have more "insider" knowledge on the best practices for those classes. We're always around (especially in the labs), so don't be afraid of talking to us .

[Ali] Make friends with upper year students. I find a lot of first years don't do this, but they can provide great insight and can be extremely helpful when they're not running around like chickens with their heads cut off. They've all been in the same place as you have.

20. 'Acquire' the complete Adobe Suite.

[Jesse] If you don't know how to do [this],  just go in one of the labs once school starts and ask an upper year. [Note by Tamara-- if you don't feel like 'acquiring' a copy, the Algonquin College technology store sells heavily discounted student versions of the Adobe Suite, but be prepared to still shell out at least $350].

21. Get a portable hard drive.

[Jesse] It will come in handy especially if you plan to work on the school computers. [Note by Tamara-- get one with a high capacity, over 500gb, and one which does not run on AC power. Even if you don't use it too much in the first year, you will in the following years, for sure!]

22. Don't buy your textbooks in advance.

[Jesse] If you don't really want to buy textbooks, some of them are not really needed. I still have one or two textbooks that the prof said was required but I have yet to open them. [Note by Tamara-- Go to the first week of classes, and see if the prof uses or refers to it extensively, or if you will have readings to do. You might be able to get by just borrowing from a friend, but if you have to buy, try to buy from Haven Books, it'll be cheaper than buying new. Or try Amazon. I definitely did not use my Physics textbook, for example, and ended up selling it at Haven with the wrapping still on it.]

23. [Do your homework] between classes.

[Jamie] [Note by Tamara-- Sometimes you'll have some pretty long breaks between classes. Since everyone will have the same break as you (usually), take the time to work on a group project, or catch up on an individual project. Or do the readings for a class, or read the readings for the next class that you forgot to do last night, or... This time can really come in handy! That being said, don't burn out. If you need a break for a little bit, relax, grab a coffee, and chill at the tables on the 2nd floor Azrieli Pavilion.]

24. Make sure you always have your lab pass!

This is very important-- you pay for the pass at the beginning of the first year, and you are expected to not lose the pass for as long as you are in the BIT program! Also, you need the pass to go in and out of the labs, which are secured areas. Checks are done randomly on the people in the lab to make sure they have a pass on them at the time, and people without passes at this time may have some unpleasant consequences fall upon their head(s).

25. Get involved in school.

[Ali] This is more personal than anything, but I've found that I spend a lot of time worrying about projects and grades, that at the end of the day, when I know I have something fun to get to, it makes me a lot happier. Most of our schedules are stressful, and between jobs and class a lot of people are skeptical about the time taken, but as a student who is involved in the Carleton community, I can't say I regret taking those few extra hours out of my week to do something fun. It's not for everyone, but it's just a suggestion.

26. Make your online portfolio ASAP.

[Ali] You should have somewhat of a portfolio started as you needed one to get into the program, so use that to your advantage. It REALLY helps when you're trying to get program-related jobs.

27. Stay physically active during the school year.

[Brittany] It's really easy to fall into a routine of constantly sitting behind a computer, especially with the heavy workload. This can lead to all sorts of bad things like weight gain, depression, back problems, or even turning into a zombie. Even if you can only fit exercise in once a week, it can really help to clear your head, make you feel better and boost your creativity. Last year there was a BIT intramural soccer team and we played against teams from other faculties every week. It was an awesome way to get exercise and socialize all at once!

28. Eat regularly and healthily.

 On the topic of health, it's pretty important that you remember to eat at regular intervals. It's very common to get into working on a project and completely forget to eat! Also, when you're going from class to class, sometimes without a break in between, it's essential that you find some way of keeping your energy up, otherwise you'll be more prone to sleeping, zoning-out, crankiness, tiredness, and sickness (and believe me, getting sick is NOT fun when you've got projects and exams to complete). If you've got a class in a lecture hall, feel free to eat during the class (just try not to be noisy about it).

Eating is not permitted in the labs, but you'll often find a group of students hastily eating/drinking outside the doorway to the labs right before class starts, so that they can concentrate properly. If you can, eat healthily-- Carleton and Algonquin don't only offer pizza and stir-fry, they also offer salads, healthy wraps and pitas, fruit, and other good stuff-- but the most important thing is to eat, period. 

Also, you'll be spending long hours in the labs and on campus (especially in the years to come), and you'll pretty much always be under a constant level of stress. Stress and tiredness can lead to a loss of appetite and weight loss (which will lead to more stress and tiredness, etc.). For your own health, don't get started on this downward spiral! EAT REGULARLY. 

Want to contribute to this list? If you're in the B. IT program described here, you can contact me at tamara [at] silverstreaked.net.