What to Pack for Your First Day at Ontario Tech — FSSH Edition

Hey, future Ridgeback! Starting your journey in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH) at Ontario Tech? Whether you're diving into legal lingo, decoding criminal minds, crafting campaigns, or exploring the human psyche, your school bag deserves to be just as prepared as you are.

Here are a few of the basics!

1. Laptop + Charger (your phone charger as well!) 
2. Notebook + Pens: Good old-fashioned note-taking never goes out of style.
3. Reusable Water Bottle: Hydration is a form of self-care.
4. Day Planner or App: Stay on top of assignments, deadlines, and those surprise pop quizzes.
5. Headphones: For focused studying or tuning into that "Study Lo-Fi" playlist between classes or those every other online class that pops up here and there!
6. Grammarly Account: This is something all FFHS students have access to!

For Communication and Digital Media Studies (CDMS) Students

• External hard drive or cloud storage: You'll juggle big media files.
• Canva and Google Account: Let's have them ready to go!
• Stylus or tablet/Pocket Notebook (if you're into design): Consider it your digital sketchbook.

For General Psychology/ Forensic Psychology

• Flashcards or a study app: Great for memorizing terms and theories.
• APA Style cheat sheet: Your new academic best friend.
• Scientific calculator: This is especially helpful for stats and research methods.
• Sticky tabs for textbooks: A quick and easy find!

Criminology and Justice/ Political Science

Power, policy, and people, you're all about impact.

• News alerts setup: Make CBC, The Globe, and maybe even Al Jazeera your new best friends
• Highlighters galore: Legal texts and sociological readings = lots of annotation.
• Citation guide: You'll need it for your papers and briefs

Liberal Studies

You're the jack-of-all-trades of FSSH, go you! So a bit of everything, depending on your preference, is the best way to go!

Some extras to keep in your bag!

• Pack snacks: You'll thank yourself during back-to-back lectures. Trust me, it was a lifesaver sometimes!
• Small self-care kit: Hand sanitizer, lip balm, gum, maybe even a little lavender roller if you're into it!
• Gym Fit ( you have access to the YMCA! )

Ready to rock your first day? You've got this. And remember, it's okay if you forget something. The Ontario Tech community (and the Campus Bookstore) has your back. 💙

Signing off with love,

Alex