All the things I wish I had done, right when I started at Sheridan
By: Mayra
Okay, let’s get straight to the point. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably just started college and are thinking: What do I need to know? Where do I even start? This mini guide is my gift from “graduated me” to “just-enrolled me”, and to anyone else who wants to kick off college life on the right foot.
This is everything I would do if I were to start college at Sheridan soon!
1. Lost on Campus? There’s an App for that 😌
Hopefully, you’ll never find yourself rushing across campus, only to end up late because you got lost in the Sheridan maze (been there 🙋♀️). That’s why my first recommendation is to download the Sheridan CampusWay App. It has detailed maps for every Sheridan campus, so you’ll always know exactly where you’re going.
And here’s my extra tip: set aside an hour with a little curiosity and explore your campus from A to Z. Getting familiar with the space early will save you stress later!
2. Need Help? Ask the SSU!
Genuinely, If I could go back, the first door I’d knock on would be the Sheridan Student Union office. I would get there and ask the CSR at the front desk: What services are available for students?
From housing assistance, free clothes, fun clubs to join, legal advice, events, free assignment printing (‼️), and more – I didn’t discover half of these until much later, and I wish I had done so sooner!
You can find the SSU offices here:
Trafalgar Campus – Student Centre, Atrium
Davis Campus – Student Centre Atrium
3. GET FREE CARE! Sheridan’s Got You Covered
IMO, one of the most underrated things at Sheridan is the on-campus Health Centre. A lot of students don’t realize you can see a doctor for free right on your campus. Don’t wait until you’re sick to figure this out! Go early on, introduce yourself, and ask about the services they offer; learn about things like PAP tests, immunizations, sexual health resources, support with meds and more. Knowing where to go before you need it makes life so much easier (and less stressful).
Find Your Health Centre Here:
Trafalgar:
Room B129
Tel: (905) 845-9430 ext. 2550
HMC
Room A132
Tel: (905) 845-9430 ext. 5709
Davis
Room C210
Tel: (905) 459-7533 ext. 5153
4. Neurospicy? Ask for Support 🧠
This is something I wish I had known from day one. As an international student, I didn’t even realize accommodations existed. Back home, we didn’t have anything similar. When I finally connected with Sheridan’s Accessible Learning Services in my second semester, it made a huge difference for me as a student with ADHD.
If you have a diagnosis or disability that might benefit from accommodations, I really encourage you to look into this right away. You’ll need documentation, but once you’re registered, you can access accommodations that support your learning and help you succeed. Even if you’re not sure whether you qualify, it’s worth reaching out to them!
☎️ Find the contact numbers and emails for the Accessible Learning Services at Sheridan here!
5. 🎨 Find Your People! Check The Clubs Corner 👩🏼🤝👩🏾
This might be one of my biggest regrets: not joining a club at the very beginning of my program 😪. It’s easy to think college will be stressful enough and that adding extracurriculars will only make it harder. While that makes sense in theory, I later realized the opposite was true! That having genuine friends, a fun activity to look forward to, and a community around you actually helps you cope with stress and makes everything feel smoother (ironically!).
The SSU has clubs for everything; cultural communities, athletic activities, creative hobbies, niche interests, you name it! Joining a club is the easiest way to make friends, feel part of a community, and even boost your résumé. Explore the SSU Clubs Corner to see if anything catches your attention, and if it doesn’t, you can always start your own!
6. Want to save money while you travel (and eat fries)? Get your Presto Card!
Getting your Presto set up from the beginning will save you both money and time. Plus, if you’re using any GO Bus routes regularly, you can save up to 95% on commuting 😱✨ follow these steps and cross this task off your list!
Buy a Presto Card at any Costumer Service Outlets. I got mine at a Shoppers Drug Mart near my apartment.
Go to a Shoppers Drug Mart and show your student ID (or letter of enrollment if you don’t have your student ID yet) to have your regular Presto card changed to a student Presto card.
Fill out the GO Transit Student ID Request Form to get your card validated and unlock huge discounts when travelling on GO buses. I highly recommend doing this, even if you don’t ride them every day, you never know when you’ll want to head to Union Station or take a one-day hiking trip around the GTA! Having this discount activated will definitely come in handy.
If you take the same GO trip each time you travel within a calendar month, your GO fare will be:
Once you have your Presto Card, you can enjoy countless perks, my favourite is Kinton Ramen’s FREE fries. 😋 Make sure to check all their perks here: www.prestocard.ca/en/about/presto-perks
Conclusion
In conclusion, if I could go back to my very first year at Sheridan, I’d make it a priority to learn about all the free services available and to ask for accommodations. Those two things alone would have made my first year so much smoother and way less overwhelming.
I hope my mini guide gives you a head start and makes settling into college life a little easier. And remember, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own; both Sheridan College and the SSU have so many resources designed to support you. Here are a few helpful links if you want to dive deeper:
Heard of the FREE Student Price Card?
Sheridan students can get a FREE SPC Card, thanks to SSU! 🙌 With it, you’ll unlock 450+ discounts at spots like H&M, Pizza Pizza, Adidas, Rec Room, and more. Just sign up with your Sheridan email and start saving! 💸
Starting college can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. From free health care to hidden discounts and the best way to actually make friends, here’s everything I wish I had known during my first year at Sheridan. 😌📝