If you’re beginning your undergraduate degree, you can help prepare for what lies ahead next fall by participating in one of U of T’s many intake programs. Many colleges have designed programs specifically for their incoming students. Check with your college registrar to see what might be available. Here’s a listing of some of the college offerings:

• New College offers a full day of academic workshops and events called Ignite on Saturday, September 9. Students are also invited to make appointments for individual consultations in the Writing Centre during the summer.  Bring a high school paper to talk about ways of developing your writing for university courses.  Book appointments online.
• In mid- to late-August, University College students can attend one of six skills sessions as part of its Getting Started Early program. UC also invites its incoming students to bring a sample of high school work for a one-on-one appointment during June, July, or August. Book all group or one-on-one sessions online.
• Victoria College offers a Writing at the University seminar for newly admitted students.
• Woodsworth College offers its new students the Jump Start program, a full-day introduction to getting the most out of the U of T experience (lunch is provided). Register online.
• UTM’s Head Start program in late August provides a free series of interactive sessions specially designed to help first-year students achieve success. Incoming UTM students can come to as many sessions as they like.
• In the first half of September, Student Life will offer a number of workshops for new students as part of its Kickstart program. Registration begins on the Kickstart site in July.

Most writing centres will be offering extended hours for the remainder of spring term, and appointments will be available at most centres during Study Break. Check your writing centre for availability.

Toronto poet Sachiko Murakami is this year’s Jack McClelland Writer-in-Residence. Murakami has been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. Her poetry collections include Rebuild (2011) and The Invisibility Exhibit (2008).

Murakami holds office hours between 2:00- and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays at House V, Room 6, Massey College, from Jan. 16th.

For more information, visit the English department website.

To find out more about opportunities to develop as a creative writer, visit our page on creative writing support.

Most writing centres will be open during Reading Week, some for reduced hours. Check your writing centre for availability.  After Reading Week, many centres will offer increased hours.

Would you like to energize your reading and writing?  There are still a few spaces in Reading eWriting for session #2.

Reading eWriting is a series of 6 short emails that will energize you for writing longer pieces.  You’ll get very helpful feedback from an ELL writing centre instructor.  For more information, visit the ELL site.

To register, just email Leora Freedman with your name, college, and year of studies.