SSSC mentors work with students on an individual basis or in small groups to help them define and achieve their academic, career and social goals. The average mentor in the SSSC has a CGPA of 10.5 out of 12.0 (pretty much straight As!) and has lots of involvement both on and off campus. Mentors help guide students who are at all levels of academic standing to first figure out what goals they would like to achieve, and then give them the knowledge they need to reach their goals. They maintain an excellent knowledge of the services available to support students both on and off campus and are able to connect students with the resources that best suit their needs.
Our mentors can:
The SSSC takes a proactive role in helping all first-year students succeed in computer science, math, and science courses. Now in its eighth year, SSSC Early Warning Initiative helps students struggling in first-year Faculty of Science courses at mid-terms and at the end of each term to find guidance and support.
At the mid-point of each term, we contact all first-year students who are currently receiving a 60% or less in a Faculty of Science course and offer them an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a mentor to discuss ways in which to improve their performance in the future. Topics covered in the mentoring sessions include time management, which course components to focus more time on, how to better prepare for tests and exams, and where to go on campus for additional support.
At the end of each term, we contact all first-year Faculty of Science students who have a CGPA of 60% or below. Again, students are encouraged to take advantage of the one-on-one mentoring program offered in the SSSC where they can meet individually with a trained upper-year student, who can offer advice and tips.
SSSC Summer Matchup pairs incoming incoming first-year students in the Faculty of Science with an upper-year mentor in the summer before their first year of study at Carleton. The mentors contact incoming students in the summer and stay in touch with them throughout the school year to help them transition to Carleton more easily. Mentors answer questions about what it is like to be a Science student, the major differences between high school and university, where to get assistance with choosing and registering for classes, and how to get involved in activities after arriving on campus.
Summer Matchup began in the summer of 2014 and over 80 incoming Faculty of Science students were a part of the program. In 2015 the number of participants rose to 160.
First Generation Students are students whose parents have not attended and/or graduated from post-secondary education (college or university) or those who have not attended and/or graduated in Canada.
As a first generation student, you will most likely face difficulties that others in your family are unfamiliar with, but the staff at the Science Student Success Centre will do their best to help you succeed. We offer academic workshops, research sessions, study groups and networking events to help guide you to your academic acheivement. We will also match you with a trained upper-year mentor within the Faculty of Science from the beginning of the term, who can guide you through the university experience and help you learn about academic expectations. Your mentor will meet with you individually at the beginning of the year to develop a customized study schedule for you.