It may be the beginning of summer, but some students are already getting hyped for back-to-school.

To help students prepare for entry into the world of post-secondary education as well as navigate the wide range of emotions and stresses involved with the transition period, McMaster is again hosting HYPE!

Developed by the Centre for Student Development, HYPE! is a free, four-day program designed to help students with disabilities prepare for their time at university. Workshops will cover topics such as effective reading and writing strategies, financial aid, time management, lecture skills and stress management. Students will also learn about the various disability services offered on campus.

“We recognize that there are some gaps in students' academic strategies and personal development skills which become evident during their transition period,” said Tyler Wright, program coordinator. “This is why we designed HYPE, to try and give students with disabilities a head start toward a successful university career.”

HYPE! allows students to learn about McMaster, meet new people and successfully transition to university life. Students have the opportunity to stay in a residence building and eat in the McMaster cafeteria as well as take part in interesting on- and off-campus activities such as the McMaster ALTITUDE climbing tower.

HYPE! is organized and developed by upper-year McMaster students under the guidance of staff from the Centre for Student Development. Its aim is to create a unique and innovative program that blends together personal experiences from current students and professional knowledge of qualified disability specialists and educators.

“Our goal is that students become familiarized with the University campus and learning environment before their first year begins,” said Elizabeth Van Dyck, HYPE! organizer. “The idea of entering university can be daunting for students, since there are so many unknowns. We have designed HYPE! to help prepare students to face these uncertainties and to give them a taste of how fun and exciting university can be.”