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Oct 4, 2021

Navigating a New Environment

This month's Stronger Together topic is all about navigating a new environment as we start a new academic year!


navigating a new environment,Stronger together wants to helps you prepare for your new environment as we enter a new school year four cartoon people with the bullet points: moving costs, international student transition, find your community & build relationships, advice for new graduate students.

Starting a new year can be stressful enough between classes, tests, and research, but let's also factor in other transitions like moving, or finding a new community...


Yikes!


Check out these graphics for information to help you with moving costs, starting school as an international student, and finding your new community and build relationships!


associated costs, a list of finance related questions like how to move, what to take, living situation, and visa costs. All text in post.

Associated Costs


Don't forget: Cost of living and moving will vary depending on where you're going!


Questions to ask:

  • How am I moving?

  • What to take, what to buy there?

  • Will I need to change my car registration or insurance?

  • Solo or shared living?

  • Going international - flight cost? Visa? How much can you take when flying?


Are you an international student? a list of various concerns to think about such as planning for practicalities, various university resources for international students, and preparing for culture shock.

Are you an international student?


Plan out all practicalities!

(e.g.) finances, grants, housing and living costs, visa and permits, taxes, banking systems, currency, insurances, driving license, vaccines, education costs, etc...


Consider moving into a shred apartment

especially with someone who is in the same situation as you!


Reach out to university resources for aids, mentorship and social networks/events!

  • Graduate Office

  • Student Council(s)

  • Department advisor(s)

  • Clubs

  • International student societies

Be prepared for culture shock

Get to know the culture and the environment - research the area, learn the basic lingo and consider enrolling in a language class if the language is foreign to you. Additionally, reaching out to people with similar backgrounds or from the same country can be helpful!


building new friendships and relationships: tip# 1 to seek out people similar to you in interests and identities, tip #2 to look for people in a variety of places. all other text in caption.

Building new friendships and relationships


Whether you're moving across the world or attending the same institutions as you did for your undergraduate degree, it's important to start building a community as early as you can!


Tip 1 - Seek out people who have similar interests or identities, both personally and professionally!

  • Gender, race, ethnicity, religion, etc...

  • Hobbies: sports, trivia, cooking, karaoke, volunteering, etc...

  • Area of study/research

  • Career/professional goals

  • Family

Tip 2 - Look for these people in a variety of places

  • Social Media

  • In your program, student clubs or societies

  • Conferences

  • In the community (yoga studio or gym, bar or cafe or the dog park!)

 

Sign up to our Stronger Together section here to take part in this month's modules on Navigating a New Environment!


Join our Discord server to take part in our module discussions on Thursday!

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