George!
It’s February. We are reviewing applications for admission as rapidly as possible. Some offers have been made. However, there are still a lot of offers yet to come.
If you haven’t yet received an offer of admission, there realistically isn’t much you can do. However, there are a few things you can do to get the lay of the land, know where things are, and, frankly, prepare yourself to hit the “go” button the moment you get that call.
- Familiarize yourself with campus
Some students move to Victoria to start at UVic Law without even knowing where Fraser Hall is. Other students spend three or four years in Fraser Hall without venturing inside of Ring Road. The rest of campus really does have a lot to offer. You could, of course, visit UVic if you don’t have too far to travel. However, a virtual campus tour might be the next best thing. You can figure out places to eat, where to park, where to get coffee on campus, and what’s accessible by bus.
- Look into housing
It’s no secret that Victoria has a competitive housing market. Finding housing is often one of the more difficult processes for incoming students, particularly those who move with families. It’s premature, of course, to sign a lease before you have accepted a position in the incoming class, but doing some homework to understand what options are out there is always a good idea. Here are some links to on campus housing and off-campus housing options.
- Plan your banking and finances
One of the questions we hear from students a lot is how to best plan their finances for law school. While we have funding sources at the Faculty of Law, like scholarships and bursaries, these are not an effective planning tool. Because these funds are given out near or after the beginning of the school year, we request that students plan to finance their tuition and living expenses from other sources.
There are a variety of vehicles one can use to fund their education, some of which can be secured earlier than others. Of course, savings and family contributions, when available, can and should be part of the early discussions on funding. Other options are provincial student loans, which are not available until June or later or a professional student line of credit, which generally requires proof of acceptance or enrollment to school.
- Hobbies
Do you see yourself at UVic? Do you see yourself in Victoria? Victoria, while not the largest city in Canada, has a little something for everyone. While looking for your community, it may be a good idea to reach out to organizations and find activities that make Victoria feel like home. Whether you’re a hiker, a cyclist, a moviegoer, a fitness buff, or a bibliophile, you can find ways to entertain yourself – and perhaps find some community. There’s even a UVic Peacock Club, aimed at appreciating the campus peacock George. He’s very cute and worth every ounce of devotion; I promise.