What’s the difference between lectures, seminars, and labs?
Some courses only have lectures and seminars while others will have labs, so what’s the difference? Lectures are typically when the professor leads the class using slides or other materials to convey the course material. Seminars are more student involved where it gives students a chance to discuss with their peers. Typically classes will have both lectures and seminars but sometimes the professor will structure them differently depending on the course content. Labs are hand-on learning opportunities to learn more about the course material with physical application. Labs are mostly part of science programs but Geography, Psychology, and language classes will also have labs.
How do I manage my course schedule?
Creating a timetable that works for you is important for success and in university there is more flexibility for this. While it may not be entirely possible to avoid those 8:30 am classes, sometimes a class is offered multiple times throughout the week so you can choose what works for you. Using a planning tool like a physical planner or a calendar app can help you stay on top of all your commitments if you’re also working or want to add your assignments to it.
What is the syllabus and how do I use it?
The syllabus is a useful tool created by the professor and distributed to the student with lots of valuable information on it. This is a go-to place for most questions a student may have as most of the information regarding the class can be found here. A professor’s contact information such as their email, office hours, and office number will be on here. It is also a place to see what percentage each assignment or test is worth, as well as any weekly readings or required textbooks. Some professors tend to include commonly asked questions on the syllabus to mitigate any confusion.
How do I cite sources properly in my papers?
The TRU Library has many resources to help students with proper citations and different programs have different citation tools. Finding out who your program librarian is can be very useful if you need to go to them for help. The Writing Centre is another place where you can go to for help with citations depending on their ambassadors of the semester.
How do I manage group projects and collaborate with others?
Creating a group chat with all of the members and filling out an availability website to figure out a meeting time that works for everyone is the best place to start. Defining group roles at the start of the project so everyone is clear on the work each member is in charge of is important so there aren’t any gaps in the work. Group work can be tricky with everyone’s busy schedules but the best thing to do is communicate with your group and create a plan before you get too deep into the work.
Written by Future Student Ambassador, Kira Schmidt (2025).