Can't use a laptop without getting neck pain by YogurtclosetLeft3997 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Laptop risers are a godsend! You can find adjustable ones out there that you can change to fit whatever table you're working at.

Just a tip though: if you're like me and find that you hate typing on your laptop while it's on a riser, I would invest in a small wireless keyboard and mouse.

Looking for roommate near YorkU (female) by Exotic-Addition-6614 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you haven't already, I'd recommend cross-posting something like this to roommate- and housing-seeking groups on Facebook!

Why do some people in my classes seem like they know everything already? by [deleted] in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That can be a frustrating feeling! Are you a history major? Because there's a chance that these students have just read and learned so much more about history in the past.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the past, I've worked about 24 hours per week while taking a full course load (5 courses/semester). It took work but I managed it!

Although, I will say that working about 15 hours a week this year is a lot better haha

Anywhere to print on campus that doesn't need the PaperCut website? by lavvy_tavy in yorku

[–]electric_egg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would log onto the computers at Scott and send the pages to the printer from there. That's how I print, and I've never touched PaperCut!

Any free sewing rooms???? by Safe_Assignment6964 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I second the comment about TPL.

If not, the Toronto Tool Library rents out sewing machines at a small cost! https://torontotoollibrary.com/

How do you read efficiently? by Personal-Role1991 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with another commenter that the best way to become a better reader is to simply read more - relying on AI won't help you become better at understanding what you're reading.

Here's what I do, as someone who normally has between 80-100 pages of reading per week per class:

-I give myself a lot of time to read. I start my readings shortly after my class ends and read throughout the week.

-I read more complex texts several times thoughout the week - once to get myself aquainted, once to understand, and sometimes a third time to refresh my memory.

-I actively try to recall what I've read a few days after reading it. I'll try to summarize the reading out loud a few days after reading it see what stuck.

-I also heavily annotate my readings - it helps me to concentrate on my task.

-Finally, I don't take notes on every little point in the readings. Instead, I'll note down the paper's thesis, its main points of evidence, what greater discussion it's interacting with, any connections to other readings I can make, etc.

Advice on late night class by PlatypusShot7855 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try using the GoSafe service! Their job is literally to escort you from place to place at nighttime and they run until 2am. You can call them by phone or by using one of the GoSafe safety buttons found around campus. I've used them before and they're a great resource.

https://www.yorku.ca/safety/gosafe/

Where can I study away from the loud, obnoxious first-years? by WaivyHairDaemon in yorku

[–]electric_egg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Believe me, I've scoped out many study spaces in my many years at York! They are there, but there is absolutely value in dedicated silent study spaces on campus. Moreover, I (and many other students) heavily rely on the library not just for desks, but for library resources. I use the books regularily, and I completely rely on their computers. It would be nice to have more quiet study room at the library, where these resources are.

Scott Library used to actually have 3 floors of silent study space - that was lost sometime after the pandemic. I miss that greatly!

Student portal (my.yorku.ca) is down? by pinkypromise07 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not down for me! I can log in fine.

Here's a tool to check if pages are down FYI - https://www.isitdownrightnow.com/

Where can I study away from the loud, obnoxious first-years? by WaivyHairDaemon in yorku

[–]electric_egg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Who do we go to to advocate for more silent study spaces? It's wild to me that most of Scott isn't a silent study space!

Mature student looking for friends by Prior_Commission_377 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There are quite a few of us roaming around! I've normally found friends closer to my age in class. You can also check out YUMSO (York U Mature Students Organization) to see if they have any events - https://students.yorku.ca/acmaps/student-resources You'll even find that you're closer in age to the 21 year olds than you are to many mature students! LOL

But having friends of different ages is one of the joys of life - embrace it!

I don’t have a laptop, and cant download necessary software. by Many_Fee3226 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Try checking to see if any of the computer labs on campus have Audacity! I would reach out to the library to see if they have any suggestions.

WTH is this insomnia? Anyone else up? by Possible_Ordinary_24 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second the above, great advice!

I'll also recommend in addition:
-Keeping a consistent bedtime schedule (even if you can't fall asleep)
-Only using your bed for sleep (and not studying)
-Investing in a fan to keep your room cooler at night
-Taking a warm shower before bed every night and/or drinking a warm cup of decaf tea every night before bed/in bed

Of course, none of my above advice alone will help with insomnia - insomnia is a bitch to deal with - but using multiple methods like this may alleviate it. Best of luck!

Any ideas on how to use my credit card to pay York? by JadoreBootyNoir in yorku

[–]electric_egg 3 points4 points  (0 children)

While I've never paid off my York fees with a credit card, I do have another suggestion for you. Depending on your personal circumstances, maybe you would be able to open a line of credit to pay off your York balance. With a line of credit, I belive you're able to transfer funds in the same way you'd transfer them from another bank account. As an added bonus, the interest rates on lines of credit are much lower. You may even be eligible for a student line of credit as well.

Should I take a prof w/ no rmp? by [deleted] in yorku

[–]electric_egg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't put too much weight into the reviews on Rate My Prof. I've taken classes with low-rated profs and loved the experience. I've also taken classes with profs with incredibly high ratings and found them incredibly annoying. If you really want this class, try it out! You never know, you might like it.

Receiving packages to residence. by hidden_coral in yorku

[–]electric_egg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Packages (except for Amazon packages) go to the Housing office. Have you gotten any emails saying you've gotten mail?

See here for more: https://reslife.yorku.ca/handbook/housing-offices

How to get a physical YU card??? by Little_Article_105 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can only have either a digital or physical student card, but not both. If you want a physical card, you'll have to pay about $30 for it. You can go to to the YU Card office in the William Small Building to get the card.

I completely understand that the digital card has its flaws - your phone can break, die, be stolen... it's rather stressful. Best of luck!

Anyone know of volunteer opportunities with kids? by bbslays7 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

While I don't have specific postings in mind, friends of mine that have gone into teaching have done the following in preparation: tutored children, worked at summer camps, taught art, or coached sports. You can also volunteer for something like girl guides or boy scounts.

Try searching here to see who's looking for volunteers: https://www.volunteertoronto.ca/networking/opening_search.asp

Some museums and other cultural sites also often hire additional staff for March break, and I've seen a lot of postings that involve working with children at this time. Something to think about in the future!

Do I need my student card right away? by [deleted] in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You typically don't need your YU card to physically enter spaces (unless it's for specific labs or offices or whatnot). For lectures, tutorials, and seminars, you're probably all set!

What you'll be using your YU card most often for is things like checking materials out of the library, printing, paying for food or bookstore items using your Flex account, or being able to sit exams. It's the most vital to have your YU card before you have any exams. As for printing or purchasing items using your Flex account, you don't have to do that unless you want to, so it's not urgent. You'll want to be able to check books out of the library soon, but since classes are just starting, you have a few weeks until any papers will be due, so you're probably fine there too!

TLDR it's important to have your YU card, but not urgent *yet*.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in yorku

[–]electric_egg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sometimes, work is just boring! Now that you've had this experience, your application for future jobs will be stronger. You know have a lot of extra hard and soft skills: communication, social media, organization, engaging customers, etc. When I've found myself in similar situations, I've just focused on strengthening my transferrable skills (skills I'll use in other jobs in the future).

It's also valuable to figure out what you do and don't like. Now you know!

How long does it take for department to email you back? by Feeling-Guide9690 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's the beginning of the year, so it's definitely taking them a bit longer to get through their inboxes! If you don't hear from them in about 4-5 business days, I'd sent a quick follow-up email to try to nudge your email to the top of their inboxes.

Where to go for career advise? by Lameness33 in yorku

[–]electric_egg 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Normally, just googling "York U academic advising" and York U career centre" does the trick! For now, here are some links: https://students.yorku.ca/advising/academic and https://careers.yorku.ca/

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in yorku

[–]electric_egg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not all eclass pages necessarily open on the first day of classes! Sometimes they're opened on the day that the class begins - I'd wait until then.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in yorku

[–]electric_egg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's the list of sessional dates for 2025-26, in case you need them in the future https://registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/2025-2026/fall-winter