Academic Prep: How to Be a University Student

Starting university is exciting, but it’s a big adjustment. Students know their high school habits will need to change, but they’re not sure how. Academic Prep is an on-campus course that helps you get ready before day one.

Learn proven study strategies before the semester starts.

Get the tools, confidence, and skills to succeed.

Get ahead instead of falling behind.

Academic Prep Fall 2025

Monday, August 18 – Friday, August 22

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Is this course for you?

• This non-credit course combines lectures, workshops, and practice tests to support your transition into university.
• Lectures introduce evidence-based strategies for university success.
• Then, hands-on workshops let you discuss and apply what you’ve learned.
• Finally, mock tests and assignments give you a safe space to practice before the real thing.

What do past students say about Academic Prep?

Here are some anonymous responses from our annual student surveys about the impact of taking Academic Prep.

• “It seems a lot less scary and more manageable now.
• I didn’t think I was afraid of university before, but after taking this course, I realize how many misconceptions I had.”
• “I learned just how inefficient my learning had been throughout all of high school.”
• “I learned to be compassionate towards myself”
• “Even if I knew some of the strategies, I learned how to adapt and apply them to different situations.”
• “The learning myths were fascinating to learn about.”
• “It helped me grow as a person.”
• “It was clear that profs and TAs care about our success.”
• “I loved this course and I’m glad that I registered for it. It was helpful and made me know more things about myself.”

Student Success

In the first year of Academic Prep, we compared academic outcomes for students who took Academic Prep and a group of students who didn’t take Academic Prep.

Because the groups were comparable in age, gender, program of study, and high school grades, we can make a fair comparison. The data showed that Academic Prep students earned more credits and a higher grade point average than students who didn’t take Academic Prep, and the results have been consistent every year since.

Topics include

• Top 6 learning strategies: CIDERS for success
• How to bust the procrastinate-and-cram cycle
• Student mental health: Managing stress & building resiliency
• Learning styles and other learning myths
• Learning from lectures: How to listen and take notes
• Metacognition: The ultimate study skill
• Academic reading: Motivation, focus, understanding
• Advanced goal setting: What’s a WOOP?
• How to use AI ethically to help you study and learn
• (Arts students) Reading & writing for university: Say goodbye to the 5-paragraph essay
• (Science students) Conceptual problem-solving: Beyond plug & chug

After the Course

Academic Prep is more than just a week-long course, it’s a launch pad for your first year. Since building new skills and habits takes time, we provide continued support throughout your first year in the form of newsletters, structured check-ins, and academic coaching.

These optional supports are included in the registration fee.

• Academic Prep newsletters include timely reminders about learning strategies and practical tips from the science of learning.
• Group check-ins let you reconnect with your peers, reflect on your progress, and get support with adapting your new skills and habits to your current classes. Plus, there’s pizza!
• Academic coaching for individualized support with implementing learning strategies in a way that works for you.

Location

Academic Prep is held in person on the Carleton University campus. The exact location will be sent to registered students a few days before the course.

There is currently no online version of Academic Prep.

Housing

• Students are responsible for arranging their own lodgings during Academic Prep.
• Unfortunately, Carleton University residence is not available for Academic Prep students.
• For off-campus accommodations, please visit the Housing and Residence Life Services web site

Course Fee

Academic Prep. The fee for this 5-day course is $250 including HST and is added to your Fall term fees. Payment is due when your Fall term fees are due. See this page for fee-payment information.

Registration

Students register in Academic Prep through Carleton Central. Under Fall courses, search for course code CIED 0999. Registration details.

Our Team

Course Designer and Instructor

Dr. Rachelle Thibodeau specializes in university student retention and success, peer-supported learning, and the psychology of teaching and learning. She is the Coordinator of Academic Support, Program Evaluation, and Research for the Centre for Initiatives in Education, and a founding member of both the Centre for Initiatives in Education and the Enriched Support Program. Outside of her academic life, Rachelle enjoys reading, vegetarian cooking, and weekends in Montreal.

Student Facilitators

Academic Prep facilitators are all excellent students and experienced facilitators.

Sarah Bennell was a student in the first Academic Prep course in 2022. She began her studies as a mature student and is now entering the 4th year of her Psychology degree with a minor in Neuroscience.

Danielle Carter is a recent graduate from Communication and Media Studies.

Jada O’Brien is starting her Masters degree in Building Engineering. She is from Dominica, a small, tropical island in the Caribbean.

Aurora Tracy (she/her) recently graduated from the B.Sc. Combined Honours Neuroscience & Biology program at Carleton and is starting her Masters degree in Neuroscience this fall. Her research focuses on investigating the link between inflammation, stress, and depression in an effort to inform more personalized mental health treatments in the future. When she’s not in the lab, Aurora enjoys reading, skiing, and volunteering with science organizations on campus. 

Nicholas (Nico) Waworontu is entering the 3rd year of his degree in Cognitive Science with a Concentration in Cognition and Computation. He loves learning languages (currently Dutch and Mauritian Creole). His favourite pastime is browsing second-hand bookstores for old books; the oldest one he owns is from 1181.

Questions?

Please email us at AcademicPrep@carleton.ca.

This non-credit course is offered by Carleton University’s Centre for Initiatives in Education, with support from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Public Affairs, and the Faculty of Science.