Just getting started at HEC Montréal?

Adapting to your new university environment and a new culture can be very challenging.

When to ask for help

Some advice

Talk to someone and get help right away if you:

  • Tend to be isolated or only talk to friends and loved ones back home
  • Spend too much time on work or school and avoid your usual hobbies and social activities, or feel unmotivated to work on school projects
  • Feel irritated, frustrated or unaccepting of your new surroundings
  • Feel like you don’t understand social rules, like you are constantly doing something wrong, or like you are being judged
  • Have bouts of unexplained crying, anxiety, sadness, or loss of interest
  • Experience a loss of appetite or are overeating
  • Have trouble sleeping, or feel tired
  • Engage in heavy use of substances such as alcohol, drugs or tobacco
  • Have repeat physical ailments

Some advice

Be kind to yourself and those around you

Consider struggles and awkward moments as part of a normal learning process.

Get ready to explore

Have fun discovering new ways of life and learning more about your host community, while staying true to your own values.

Recognize and celebrate your progress and what you’ve learned

Get involved in school activities 

This will help you meet people, even though it might be scary at first.

Adopt healthy lifestyle habits

Do physical activities and hobbies you enjoy.

Share your experiences with other colleagues from out of town

Find out what strategies they find helpful in adjusting.

Ressources

Volatus: Supporting academic persistence:
I'm coming to Montreal (in French) 

Your new reality
 Social support
 Cultural shock
Work-life balance: an attainable goal Time management Stress management
Workspaces Writing references HEC Montréal resources

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