Name: Danielle Gibson
School: Queens University
Program, Year: Political Science, Fourth Year
What was the deciding factor that made you choose this school?The tight knit community, city size, and its school colours.
What do you love most about your school? The campus and buildings make me feel like a real academic.
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? I’m currently a member of Corporate Relations for AIESEC, I frequently write for magazines on campus, and I’m looking to win the coed indoor intramural soccer championship for the second consecutive year!
What’s your best advice on how to meet new friends? Join clubs and get involved in a variety of things to find out what you like early.
Where’s your favourite place for:
A cheap dinner: Copper Penny or MeKong for yummy Vietnamese food.
Brunch: Grizzly Grill for a killer buffet or the Brass for the classics.
Lunch: Common Ground on campus or Stooleys on Division St.
Coffee: CoffeeEco (even though their hot chocolate soup is my fav.)
What bars do you frequent the most? The Brass for Sunday and Monday nights to sing along with Smitty (do not try this bar with a fake), and The Spot for cheap shots and a spunky crowd.
Where do you go if you wanna dance? The Spot, MyBar, and Alfies are my top three choices as they are intimate venues and the music does not only consist of top 40s.
Any party nights we should know about? In the fall and spring – Stages hosts Beach Slam on Monday nights which always draws an outgoing Hawaiian dressed crowd. Alfies is open on Wednesdays and Fridays and is notorious for hitting capacity prior to 10pm. The jager bomb, a Queens favourite, is only $2.50 at The Spot, which makes it a popular pre-drink location. Thursdays covers both ends of the spectrum with Ale House serving cheap bar shots (the most popular location all week) and Grad Club hosting a very competitive trivia night.
Do you have a favourite clothing store? Kingston has the only Urban Outfitters outside of Toronto in Ontario and every Queens’s girl goes there once a month. However if you are attending a themed party of any kind, PHASE 2 is the place to go!
Where’s your favourite place to study? When I study on campus, I like to go to the Harry Potter room in Douggy Library for its beautiful stain glass windows. Otherwise, working at my desk or on my bed are my fave places to hit the books.
Do you have a hairdresser / salon you’d recommend? I can’t say enough about James Brett. I still prefer going to the location on Princess Street over anywhere in Toronto.
What has been your favourite class thus far? I highly recommend taking some crazy elective courses to broaden your mind. The courses that switched up my regular routine, such as a first year Spanish course, a Queens Commerce marketing class, and the art history course I took at Herstmonceux Castle, have been some highlights of my undergrad career so far.
What class are you looking forward to most this year? Political Communications and more commerce courses!
What’s your best piece of first-year advice? Going to class is half the battle (especially once it gets cold). After that, do your best to pay attention and actually absorb something. It’ll save your butt when exams come around.
What did you learn the hard way? Student IDs do not act as a second piece, pay for coat check rather than hiding your coat behind something (it’ll save you money and a freezing walk home), and sleep is more important than staying up all night to cram for 9am exams.
Any misconceptions you want to clear up about your school? We did not flip the car on Aberdeen at homecoming. The out-of-towners did.
Before you graduate, you are going to make sure you: Go skating on one of the three ice rinks within downtown Kingston. I’ve already taken the ferry to Wolfe Island a number of times, but it should be on everyone’s undergrad bucket list as it is an incredible getaway that’s so close to home.
What do you love most about your university town/city? There are tones of stores and coffee shops downtown Kingston that make it easy to hide if you want some alone time to study or read. But if you want company, the Kingston ghetto is so condensed that friends are only a couple of houses away.
Best memory so far? There are way too many to list, and I can’t wait to make more come September!
Got any weird /specific tip that would only apply to your school? Getting to Leonard Caf at 5:15pm can save you a thirty minute wait for dinner. When Stauffer starts being open for 24hours during exam season, be prepared for people to start packing their sleeping bag.
Be prepared to be rivals with your friends who go to Western and buy WUCK FESTERN shirts the first week of school.
Anything else you want to share with first year students? You will meet some of your lifelong friends in the first week of university. Be excited to learn about every faculty and to dive right into the craziness of Orientation week!