Setting up for a Successful Summer

Happy summer UVic students! We’ve officially reached the point in the year when the UVic schedule transitions into summer. Congratulations on finishing another great school year!

Whether you’re working, taking classes, or just plain relaxing this summer, I have some tips for making your summer as successful as possible. Even though school may take a back seat in these four months, it’s important to keep a few things in mind as you enjoy time away from the full semester grind. Take a look, and then let me know what your tips are!

Note when to register for next year’s courses

Registering for the following year’s courses always sneaks up on me—that’s why I make sure to mark in my calendar the important dates for 2023-2024 course registration.

The course calendar for what courses will be offered during the 2023-2024 school year open in mid-May. Get more information on course timetables.

Around this time, you also find out your registration time for courses in the upcoming school year—these registration times start at the beginning of June, depending on what year you’re in. That means that you need to be thinking ahead! Start thinking about what courses you want to take and putting together a timetable in mid-May so that you’re not stressed into June when your registration opens.

Make sure you’re aware of important dates in your summer courses

If you’re taking courses this summer, it’s important to note when your course is actually happening, because there are many different options.

Technically, there are seven different “terms” that happen during the summer course schedule. This is great if you want to get a class done faster, and opt for an intensive summer course, but all these different terms have different deadlines for course drop dates, payment dates, and exams. Check out a guide for these deadlines.

Update your resume

Whether or not you’re working or looking for a job this summer, I recommend taking an hour or two this summer to review your resume while you have the extra time.

Chances are you did something cool this school year that would be worth adding, and it gives you an opportunity to look for outdated information or typos. That way, by the next time you’re looking for a job — maybe during the school year when you’re busy with a full-time course load — you’ll already have your resume ready to go. Your future self will thank you!

Make a summer bucket list

Salt Spring Island

I always have a million ideas of fun things I want to do in the summertime when the weather is nice, but it can be hard to keep track. That’s why I’ve decided to make a summer bucket list of all these excursions and fun ideas, and it might be something you can do too.

This is especially important if you’re working a full-time job, and maybe only have the weekends off. When you have everything you want to do in the summer already laid out for you, planning those precious weekend days will be a breeze.

This year, I’m putting a day-trip to Salt Spring Island on my summer bucket list. I went for the first time in November 2020, but I think it will be even more fun with sunny weather!

Most importantly—relax!

UVic Cherry Blossoms

You worked hard this school year and you deserve a break. There can be a lot of pressure about using your summer wisely—about working as much as you can to save up money, about getting a Co-Op so that you can further your career prospects, about taking extra courses to get ahead in your graduation schedule. All of these are fantastic, worthwhile ways to use your summer free time, but if you’re doing none of those things, that’s okay too.

No matter how you spend it, it’s important to carve out time this summer for yourself. Do something you love! Do absolutely nothing for a few days! Make sure you take the time to relax.