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Academic Prep: How to Be a University Student

“University seems a lot less scary and a lot more manageable now.”

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?

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.

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.

Students1st-year GPA 
(out of 12)
1st-year credits
Non-participants (2022)6.43.6
Aug. 2022 cohort7.34.2
Aug. 2023 cohort8.04.0
Aug. 2024 cohort8.53.9

Topics include

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.

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

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.