this post is based on my experiences as an international student who started during the pandemic
first of all, remember that if you already know what you want from life, beyond a normal college experience, there’s definitely faster ways to get it. if you’re still exploring, The Elephant in the Brain has a comprehensive list of all exploration dimensions.
figure out how to maximize your luck surface area
- if you want a cool co-op, look beyond waterlooworks, five minutes at a networking event or a cold email can be worth more than any resume and transcript
- if you want to make new friends, actively host and go to social events, you can just cold message people
- if you want to work with a prof, make conversation with them
- if you want to find a long term romantic partner, date people
- if you want to visit new places, find co-ops there or go on exchange whatever you want can be explored deeply in well-tracked paths. but you have to seek it. waterloo is at its worst when you are autopilot looping school and work under duress, muddling about and just going through the motions of speedrunning life.