Moving forward at the University of Guelph

I entered my first year at the University of Guelph studying psychology. I took all of my required classes, and planned all of my electives, in the suggested order. Of my classes, physics attracted most of my interests. I decided in the second semester of my first year that I’d declare physics as my minor. It was a genius plan: I’d learn about the human brain in psych, and I’d conquer the cosmos with physics.
First, I made sure it was possible to declare the minor by consulting both course calendars. I had no idea what a physics minor entailed, and I went to the first place that I thought would be able to shed some light on the subject: The Internet. I was in luck, because the University of Guelph course websites indicated that psychology and physics fit together. However, it would be a tight fit. I’d need to take a precise combination of classes every semester so I wouldn’t be left stranded after my fourth year. At the time, my worst fear was graduating late—it was an even greater fear than not graduating at all.
To make sure that I wasn’t throwing money at a pipedream—or worse, wasting time—I consulted a Bachelor of Arts (BA) program counsellor. She said that she’d never seen a student request a combination like mine in her entire time at the University of Guelph. Finally someone had backed up my claims: I really was special.
I digress. She told me that the major-minor combination I’d divined would work, but that I’d need to take two specific math courses to be able to declare the physics minor. Not a problem, I thought. I’d take the courses in my second-year, and then adjust my calendars in my third and fourth years to accommodate. I spoke to a BA counsellor, and I even spoke to a counsellor from the Bachelor of Science (BSc) office who said that it was possible to graduate on time, as long as I stuck to a very specific schedule.
Everything went well, until I bombed the first of the two math courses that I needed for my minor. Luckily, I’d barely passed the course, but I felt a crippling sense of dread at spending a second semester working on even more complicated math, with nothing more than hope that I’d pass, even though I barely made it out alive the first time. I needed to do something to fix my mistake; I switched my minor to English.
I spoke to a program counsellor at the BA office. This time, there were no incredibly strict timetables to conform to. It was entirely possible to declare an English minor alongside a psychology major. My new major-minor combination worked almost perfectly together, precisely because I wasn’t mixing and matching from two different program structures.
I enjoyed my English classes, and I did well academically. So well, in fact, that I decided to switch English to my major, dropping psychology entirely. Again, because I was switching a minor that was trouble-free to a major in a degree program that didn’t impose harsh restrictions, the switch to an English major worked out rather well. I can never claim to have done any of my switching on my own, and I truly believe that it’s only because I consulted program counsellors along every step of the way that I’m now able to graduate at all.
Heather Pollock and Rob Guthrie, program counsellors for biological science majors, explained that not every student has an experience like mine. Some students suffer precisely because they fail to track their progress and they fail to seek out help when in need.
“There should be enough information [online] so that students never need to talk to us,” said Guthrie. “Sometimes it takes some effort to review the student’s progress. That’s where we can help clarify.” Pollock and Guthrie said that there are a number of avenues available to students looking to make switches or simply looking for more information. However, consulting a program counsellor, especially during hectic periods like course selection, can make all the difference.
“Coming in can help us help [students] meet the requirements for their program and future,” said Pollock. “Our office is probably the busiest during course selection.”
When it comes to switching majors, Pollock explained that it’s all a matter of making sure that the necessary program requirements are met.
“Part of it is finding out how previous work will [contribute] to the switch,” said Pollock. “Also, it allows students to do some shadowing. [We can also have] a frank discussion about the switch—is it viable?”
For students from other programs looking to enter the biological sciences, or any program for that matter, there are a number of requirements that must be met first. Guthrie explained that information on a lot of the requirements are available online, but that a program counsellor can help decipher some of the jargon.
“It’s a lot easier to come see us,” said Guthrie.
The university experience is interesting, to say the least, but it is greatly aided by consulting program counsellors, as well as professors.
“Try not to rush [university],” concluded Pollock. “Try to be engaged and make some connections. Try to take advantage of the opportunities [available in university].”
“Sometimes, making contact with us is something I wish would happen more often,” concluded Guthrie. “We’re not a scary bunch. We’re a good place to start.”
Pollock and Guthrie joke that program counsellors “don’t do therapy.” Their services, their presence, and their aid, however, is therapeutic.