Andie P.
About Andie P.
Hey everyone, I’m Andie! I am a first-year Ph.D. student in Data Science, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence and this is my second year as a peer mentor with the SSSC. I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees here at Carleton, so if you have any questions (even about the best study spots), I got you!
To incoming first years: congratulations and welcome to Carleton! Whether you’re straight from high school, returning after a break, or coming from the workforce, university is a massive transition and we’re here to help you at any stage. One thing I learned while completing my undergrad (and also as I’ve gone through grad school) is that keeping a realistic schedule is key to success. One way to do this is to keep an eye on what time of day you work best and plan your most important task at that time. Also, remember to schedule off time for self care and social events. Without time off, you’re likely to burn out, and also this is an exciting time and its worth taking the time to have fun and enjoy it.
Speaking of ways to enjoy your time at Carleton, there’s a ton of ways to get involved on campus. Throughout my time here, I’ve participated wide range of activities, from volunteering at national conferences to playing intramural hockey. My Friday afternoon hockey games were a highlight of my undergrad; I made friends with people who were in their first year and those near graduation in programs I have never heard of, and I never would have met any of them without signing up to play. As well, the SSSC has been another highlight – between the mentors, mentees, and those who come just to hang out, there’s a great community here that I am proud to be apart of. It’s easy to get lost in the countdown to deadlines during the semester but having something in the week to look forward to really helps when academics get hectic.
Don’t hesitate to drop the SSSC for mentoring, fun events, and/or just to hang out. I and the rest of the SSSC team are here to help you, no matter how big or small your questions or concerns are :)