Experience Memorial

Does Memorial offer an ocean science program?

Memorial is excited to now offer a major in ocean sciences! What better place to study ocean sciences than an island in the Atlantic Ocean? Our top-notch facilities and impressive research on cold oceans make studying ocean sciences here a unique opportunity. 

The program is a perfect fit for those interested in studying the marine environment and the interaction between ocean life and processes. Students will take courses in various disciplines to gain an understanding of the biological, geological, chemical, and physical makeup of our oceans. Students will learn from expert faculty members, both inside and outside of the classroom, including in hands-on laboratories and field courses. Some lab components will actually take place at Memorial’s Ocean Sciences Centre (OSC), located just 15 minutes from campus in Logy Bay. The OSC is a first-class cold ocean research facility equipped with the technology to study ecology, oceanography, aquaculture, fisheries, and more. 

There are lots of super cool opportunities for students to gain relevant experience in their program too. Students can work to educate the public with the OSC’s touch tank that’s filled with fascinating sea creatures. There’s also a group of harp seals on-site that students can study and work with as part of their undergraduate research or part-time employment. Interesting fact: the OSC is actually home to the first harp seal to give birth in captivity, Babette. 

Is ocean sciences something you’d be interested in studying? For more program information, visit http://www.mun.ca/undergrad/programs/science/.

Until next time, Ashley H

Saint Yves may be based out of Toronto, but they’re all locals here to us. In fact, the vocalist, Yvette Coleman is the only one new to the blog. Jeremy Kelly has been profiled with Rocket Rocket Ship and Jon Pike with Everglow.

Yvette has traditional been known for singing classical music, but has recently dipped into the pop music scene. She teamed up with Jeremy and Jon and together they became Saint Yves.

They popped out of nowhere with a video for their debut song called “Next To Me” last month. I heard about the song this past weekend and I’ve been singing it ever since.

They are planning on releasing more music, and maybe even picking up some shows in Newfoundland later this year. I have to admit, this is one album I’m looking forward to.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

Does Memorial have a Humanities program that will give me international knowledge and experience?

How does spending a semester abroad as part of your time at Memorial sound? If you caught my last post, you’ll know there are many opportunities to study abroad with Memorial. How about a program that allows you to study liberal arts and gain valuable global perspective? If this sounds like something that’s up your alley, our new international bachelor of arts (iBA) may be the right program for you!

Our iBA students choose a major from a selection provided by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and will spend a semester of their program either studying or working outside of Canada. Undergraduates in the program will develop an excellent knowledge basis in their major of choice and will heighten their skills in critical thinking and analysis, communication, adaptability and more by living in another part of the world. Those enrolled in the iBA have a choice of many go abroad opportunities at our Harlow Campus, programs organized by the Faculty, and exchange opportunities at partner institutions (see my last post for details). Students can also work with advisors to determine a suitable work placement, if they choose to work instead of studying.

Students complete additional courses in other languages to prepare them for experiencing new cultures and speaking, listening and writing during their stay in another country. The iBA program also has an international studies component that includes coursework in disciplines like anthropology, geography, history and others to expose students to worldwide topics.

If you were an iBA student what major would you study and which country would you like to live in for a semester? Let us know! If you’d like to learn more about the iBA program, visit our Future Students website. Until next time, Ashley H.

While studying in St. John’s is a unique adventure in and of itself, students at Memorial University can have the exciting chance to study abroad. There are many Memorial programs where studying in another part of the world is an option. With all sorts of different opportunities and supports readily available, we make it as simple as possible for students to have an unforgettable experience in a new country.

Harlow Campus

It’s pretty neat that Memorial has a part-time campus located in Harlow, England. We’re actually one of only two Canadian universities to have a campus in the United Kingdom. Students can spend a semester at the Harlow Campus attending classes and learning firsthand from the various landmarks and attractions in England. Faculty members regularly take groups of their students to the campus as part of programs like biology, business, education, English and fine arts, to name a few. 

Exchange Opportunities

If you don’t have the chance to attend the Harlow Campus, going abroad is absolutely still a possibility. Memorial has over 100 partnerships with universities from about 45 different countries around the world. Opportunities exist in countries like Australia, France, China and many others. Exchange coordinators can help you find the right study abroad experience that best fits you and your interests.

Go Abroad with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

If you’re a bachelor of arts student, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences also has study abroad programs that will have you experiencing new cultures, languages and landscapes. Our French students have spent time studying in Nice, France, Archaeology students have attended field school in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, and students studying German have headed to Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany during the summer. 

Our students studying abroad are able to transfer their courses back to Memorial, gaining credit towards their programs. Their costs are also kept relatively low as they pay Memorial University tuition fees while studying at a partner institution. Where do you think it would be interesting to study abroad? 

Until next time, Ashley H

The start of summer means the start of festival season! There are countless festivals in Newfoundland, and there are plenty that take place right here in St. John’s. I chose a few to highlight here, but you can check out a full list of everything happening at http://www.stjohns.ca/living-st-johns/events-and-festivals/celebrate-st-johns.

1. Shakespeare by the Sea Festival

All summer long you can catch different Shakespeare plays throughout the city. Sometimes you’ll even catch one in a park. This is an amazing way to see some of St. John’s finest actors and catch up on your olde English!

2. Opera on the Avalon

Opera on the Avalon has a couple sessions throughout the year. This year, on July 1 & 2, they did a show called Ours. This new show looks at the aftermath of the battle of Beaumont  Hamel. This show has significant meaning to the legacy of Memorial University. Look to their Facebook page to learn more about additional shows that may pop up this summer.

3. The Victoria Park Lantern Festival

On July 29, the Lantern festival takes over Victoria Park. This one day festival starts early in the day with workshops on how to make lanterns. This is followed by the installation and lighting of lanterns. This is fun for all ages.

4. NL Folk Festival 

By now, you’re probably very well aware of our history in folk music here in Newfoundland. It’s no surprise then that one of the biggest festivals of the year is the Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival. This festival will showcase some amazing local talent, rising stars and will even feature a big headliner. This year, Sarah Harmer graces the stage with some of the locals. The festival runs from August 4-6 in Bannerman Park.

5. Hold Fast

This four day festival celebrates contemporary art in St. John’s. The events are free, and take place over four days.  Knowing some of the artists in the city, this is going to be a festival to check out for sure. Check it out August 10-13.

Until next time, -Ashley B

How do you know summer is upon us? It’s time for the Harbourside Park concert series. 

Every Friday from July 7- September 22 a local musician and a rising young star are showcased during a one hour lunch concert. It’s a great way to get outside and listen to some amazing local talent. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my lunch break.

While the musicians haven’t been announced for the summer yet, but you can check out the schedule at http://www.stjohns.ca/living-st-johns/arts-and-culture/%27music-%40%27-concert-series.

Check out this throwback performance by Duane Andrew Quartet during the summer of 2008.

Keep dancing,  -Ashley B

I’m super excited that it’s June! That means that here in St. John’s, the trees are now in bloom and summer is on its way. With everything turning green, I’m reminded of some of the chances you’ll have here at Memorial to truly appreciate the environment that we have on and around campus. 

1. Green Mindfulness

Student Wellness offers a weekly drop-in group for students to relax and destress by planting potted plants. Gardening allows you to use your five senses and feel a little more Zen, which we can all use once in a while.

2. Community Garden

One of the great features of the St. John’s campus is the green space right around us. Students can get their hands dirty at our on-campus community garden next to Long Pond. Renting a plot and planting some seeds = awesome, home-grown food.

3. MUN Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Garden, Memorial’s botanical research centre, is a fantastic place to check out some gorgeous scenery and to get some peace of mind right here in the city. Spend an afternoon grabbing lunch at the Garden Café, walking the on-site nature trails, and taking in the beautiful gardens filled all sorts of plants and flowers.

4. BikeShare

If you won’t be bringing your bike to campus when you begin studies here, it’s super affordable to rent one from student group, MUN BikeShare. Riding your bike around the city have you feeling good knowing that there’s one less car on the roads. 

If you want to get more involved with environmental initiatives on campus, be sure to check out Memorial’s Sustainability Office and our green-minded clubs and societies!

I know, you’re probably saying Convo-what? Convocation is a large formal assembly of people. Or, the fancy word we use for graduation week around Memorial University. Getting to Convocation takes years of hard work and dedication. Be proud of making it to that stage and getting that piece of paper. You deserve it!

Here are a few things to know about Memorial’s Convocation ceremonies:

1. The happiness is contagious

This is one of the best times on campus. I volunteer throughout the week, and it’s honestly one of my favourite events. Everyone is so happy. I often find myself smiling after I leave for the day.

A post shared by Memorial University (@musicatmemorial) on Jun 1, 2017 at 10:50am PDT

2. It’s about the shoes

Many people will dress up better than they have during their entire time in university. However, you’re wearing a cap and gown, so no one can see your hair or outfit. So then it becomes all about the shoes. I however, wore flip flops.

via GIPHY

3. You will say convocated – but you shouldn’t

While you are attending Convocation, convocated, convocating and convocate are not actually words. I fell victim to this for a long time myself. You should stick with graduated, graduating and graduate when talking about what it is you are doing. 

4. There will be speeches – and a lot of them

This may sound boring, but they are usually from interesting people, sometimes honorary graduates. If you listen, they will often inspire you in ways you can’t even imagine. They’re there for a reason, so it will certainly be worth your time to listen.

5. You may not cross with your friends

With nine sessions on the St. John’s campus and over 2,100 people crossing the stage, it is sometimes necessary to split up the degrees. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science sessions are often spread over two days and done alphabetically. That means unfortunately, as a Buckle, I wouldn’t graduate with my friend who’s last name is Walsh even though we did the same degree.

After all is said and done, we are very proud to welcome you to the Memorial Alumni family. Congrats graduates, you did it!

-Ashley B

These two recently came together for a collaborative EP released just last month. Their first single “No Way” has recently made the airwaves here in town, and their video was just released this past week. Not only does it feature the unbelievable talents of JYAY and OG Simpson, they also teamed up with the super talented Vicki Doyle.

I’ll admit, this song took me by surprise. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, but as soon as I finished watching it, I went straight to ITunes and downloaded it. I’m happy to have this in my playlist now.

The video was shot in downtown St. John’s, so not only are you getting an amazing song, you’re also experiencing a little of life in the city.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Watch the video here.

-Keep Dancing, Ashley B

We’ve put together a list of our best blogs from the past eight months covering topics from piece of mind to housing. Pick the ones that interest you and have a read. Comment if you have ideas for topics we can cover in the future.

7 Places to Find Peace of Mind

University life can sometimes be overwhelming. Books. Papers. Projects. Deadlines. Tests. And so on. Here are seven places on campus to find peace of mind during those stressful times. ▶️  READ MORE

What Enjoyed Most About My Work Term

For my second commerce work term I was lucky enough to work with the Office of Student Recruitment (OSR) as their co-op student. Here are a few things that I enjoyed the most over the past four months! ▶️  READ MORE

You’ve applied. Now, here’s what next.

Congratulations, you’ve applied. Let us keep you posted on what to expect next. ▶️  READ MORE

5 Quick Tips to Keep Your 2017 University Application On-Track

The beginning of any new year presents you with an opportunity to do some planning for the year ahead. We want to make sure you are as prepared as can be. Here are some tips to help you with. ▶️  READ MORE

Yeah, we have that! Wellness Programs

While you’re a student here at Memorial, we want to make sure you’re feeling in tip-top shape so you can be successful throughout your university experience. There are lots of services that you can avail of to make your wellness a top priority. ▶️  READ MORE

Yeah, we have that! Festival Choir

If you’re someone who enjoys playing music or singing, continuing that throughout your time at university is totally possible at Memorial University.     ▶️  READ MORE

Yeah, we have that! Airport bus service.

If you’ll be flying into St. John’s in the coming months for a campus tour or to begin your studies here, you’ll likely want to consider how you’ll get to campus. Luckily, there’s only about six kilometres that separate St. John’s International Airport and Memorial’s St. John’s Campus. ▶️  READ MORE

Until next time, Jeremy

Ouroboros is not your typical band. You won’t find a piano or guitar within reach of these guys. After meeting at Memorial’s School of Music, these four sax players, along with one drummer got together to form Ouroboros.

They released an album last May, and are hoping to release their second album this summer. With the success of their tours and festival shows, Ouroboros are heading to the UK in July for their first international gig.

Check out this video from a show they did at Taz Records in Halifax last September. Their eclectic sound will have you grooving all day long. I know I have been dancing in my seat all morning💃 .

-Keep dancing, Ashley B

Welcome to our new monthly blog feature! Every month, I will feature a list of things, anything from cool courses to great places to grab a coffee. Let us know if you have any ideas for the list, and I’ll check them out. You might be on to something.

SURVEY SAYS...

100% of respondents from those who have completed the campus tour survey said they would recommend it to a friend. This list will hopefully provide you with some reasons why you to should consider a tour of our campus.

1)      Meet a current student

Our tours are often provided by a current student attending Memorial. While you will have the opportunity to chat with staff, it’s always nice to get a student’s perspective.

2)      Get campus vibes

You really don’t know how a campus will feel until you are on it. We often say “once you get here, you get it” - I wholeheartedly believe it’s true.

3)      Figure out courses

Sometimes we can set you up with an academic advisor, or even someone within your department of interest. Getting help figuring out if you’re doing the right courses in high school, or picking the courses you will take in your first year can help ease your mind.

4)      Ask questions

Meeting current students and our recruitment team allows you to get answers to all your questions.  It’s an opportunity to hear about firsthand experiences. Also, if you ask, you’ll often be given a basket of ideas for places to visit and dine at in St. John’s.

5)      See the city

Now that you’ve seen campus, why not check out the city. St. John’s is the oldest city in North America, and one of the only places you can see an iceberg. 

6)      Find your way

This isn’t just our hashtag (seriously, search #findyourway on Twitter and Insta), it’s a huge benefit of coming for the tour. We have a lot of buildings (over 50), so getting familiar with them is important. Getting through the tunnels (more commonly known as MUNnels) can help you figure out quick ways to walk across campus.

7)      Peek at residence

Let us know if you’re interested in living on campus. We can arrange a presentation about our residences, just so you are more familiar with all things student residence related. Mention that you want to stay in residence while you’re here for your tour, and we can give you all the information you need on how to do so. We may even be able to give you a code for a discount!

There are many more reasons to come for a tour - these are just some of the more common reasons we hear about. Book your campus tour online today.  Book early, we get busy in the summer.

See you soon, -Ashley B

Does Memorial have an english program?

This month’s celebration of William Shakespeare’s 453rd birthday takes me back to my undergraduate studies as an English Language and Literature major here at Memorial. I’m often asked if we offer a program where students can explore English further, and we absolutely do! I love talking with students about the program since I’m a graduate myself. 

I always had an interest in Shakespeare and my degree program allowed me to pursue those interests further, studying his comedies, tragedies as well as Greek and Roman plays. My experience in the classroom was an excellent one because my class sizes were small and my professor made the material super engaging. Aside from my Shakespeare courses, the English major allowed me to study a bit of everything: Canadian or American literature, science fiction and fantasy, gothic literature, film, graphic novel, and more. There really is a great variety of choice to suit what you’re interested in.

My program allowed me to examine both classic and new texts, and improve my understanding of language structure. English majors are not only equipped with knowledge of texts across different time periods and genres, but also develop a strong skill-set to prepare them for work in today’s world. Transferrable skills in critical thinking and analysis, research and writing, close reading, and communication make English graduates successful and sought after in a variety of different settings. 

Interested in learning about Memorial’s English program? See what faculty member, Dr. Lokash, and student, Esther, have to say about studying English here at Memorial. 

Until next time,  Ashley H

Choosing to live in residence can be a great choice for you. You’ll meet people and live in spaces that are designed for socializing and helping you dream up and then achieve your ambitions. Here are 6 benefits that will help you get started with university life.

1. Having your meals prepared for you

Starting university can be tough. Having your meals prepared for you can make it easier to adjust to university life. Think about all the time you can save by not having to grocery shop, Google recipes, cook dishes and then having to complete the dreaded clean up. That extra time can be used to make sure you score good grades and dive into your favourite hobbies. Don’t get me wrong, cooking can be a lot of fun especially when you are doing it for friends. You will still have access to kitchen facilities in your residence, so whenever you feel like making an awesome nacho dip with your crew you can do that too.

2. Collaborating in your own private cafe space

One of my favourite places to get work done and meet up with friends is at a coffee shop. Last year, a new student space opened right in the heart of Paton College that has those coffee shop vibes. Hatcher Commons is on the first floor of Hatcher House and is part coffee shop, part computer lab. It is the best of both worlds. Listed below are some of my favourite features: 🔵  The place is full of electric outlets. You can charge all your devices at once. 🔵  It is open 2 p.m. - 2 a.m. - that makes it great for grinding out assignments and projects. 🔵  Networked computers and tech support on-site.  🔵  Full service Jumping Bean coffee set up. Latte ✔️ Cappuccino ✔️ Food ✔️ . 🔵  Only a two minute walk (max) from your dorm room.

3. Catching school spirit

When you come to Memorial you become part of our university community. If you live in Paton College you also become part of a residence community. Each house has its own personality and spirit animal (see: mascot). You’ll compete against other houses and celebrate what makes your house unique. Dining hall will feel like Hogwarts and your housemates will always have your back when you’re standing up to those pesky Slytherin types. This type of school spirit you just won’t experience if you live off-campus.

4. Using the tunnels during those wet/wintry days

Almost every residence is directly connected to our underground tunnel system. The few houses that aren’t connected are only a few short steps away from access anyway. Torrential rain could be falling outside and you can still casually walk to class without being struck by a single rain drop. I’d argue it is the most convenient living set-up in the city.

5. Joining RAP like a boss

If you like to take the lead then while you live in residence you have the option of joining the RAP Committee. RAP stands for Residence Activities and Programming. Get involved with RAP and you will plan, organize and manage the social and academic projects in your house. This is great exposure for anyone looking to take on a leadership role in your house.

6. Making lifelong friends (and business partners too)

The people you meet in residence will be with you for the rest of your life. Many stories have been told of couples who meet while they live in residence. You may even go on to do great things with some of your residence friends. Facebook got started in a dorm room. Consider these companies that were started by university students as you are dreaming up your future plans. 🔵  Facebook 🔵  Snapchat 🔵  Reddit 🔵  Google 🔵  Wordpress

What to do next...

If you think living in residence is right for you, check out student residences to learn more. We have room layouts, fee estimates and you can start the application right from that page. Spaces are still available in Paton College and Burton’s Pond (if you qualify) for Fall 2017. Please note that Macpherson College is fully booked for Fall 2017 at this time.

Until next time, Jeremy

Brianna Gosse is a singer-songwriter from Newfoundland and Labrador. She has quite an array of experience from touring Newfoundland to opening for other artists right across Canada.  Her voice is breathtaking, and it makes you smile from the moment she opens her mouth. Her debut album AERA has even been recognized with award nominations and wins from MusicNL and the East Coast Music Awards.

While looking her up, I came across this video from Destination St. John’s with her song Feeling, Up, Up, Up! It’s a fun song that shows some familiar faces and places from St. John’s.

It’s a catchy tune, and the video will make you want to visit Newfoundland ASAP.

-Keep Dancing, Ashley B