What you should know before uni
Written by the wonderful Michelle from our blog team.
For many students, 2019 is the year they will first commence their studies at university. It does not seem that long ago that I was a first year, filled with excitement at the prospect of studying my passion and taking a step closer to what I wanted to do in the future. But of course there were also the nerves that accompany taking such a huge step forwards as you face a new learning curve and being more independent as a young adult.
It can be scary. There are so many new things at university that can seem daunting: making new friends, timetables, required readings and even finding classes. But I can assure all first year students this year that it is not as scary as you might think. Here are some things to remember.
I remember being worried about not being able to make any friends, but I made friendships in my first week at university that have turned into close bonds. I first met my friends through the orientation session for students studying the same degree as me, and although I felt worried about not getting along or being able to talk with anyone, I found that the orientation was worth it. You see, the university does not just throw you all together – they make it easy for you by doing team activities and getting to know you sessions that connect you with everyone. Therefore, I highly encourage every student to participate in some type of orientation session as you can forge strong bonds and face the first week at university with confidence that you are not alone.
Image: Flinders Uni
Remind yourself to take in every aspect of what you study at university and try to challenge yourself. You got to make the decision of what you wanted to study at university, so enjoy it and explore every new opportunity that comes your way. You’re not in high school anymore so take in the freedom that you have! Even relations with your lecturers and tutors are different. You can talk to them openly, send them emails with your concerns and call them by their first name. In my first week, I kept calling all my professors by their last name with formality, like ‘Mrs This and Mr That, but I quickly felt silly as they kept insisting I call them by their first names. I immediately felt much more relaxed and happier with this open casualness.
Take advantage of any study support; it will be a major help in your first semester. You go into your first assignments thinking it won’t be that hard, but then little things here and there pop up that can throw you off. Don’t try and solve it yourself if you’re unsure because it will stress you out and drive you insane (believe me, I know). It’s your first year so no one expects you to be perfect. Ask lots of questions, get in contact with your study support networks and email your teachers like crazy! In the end, it will make doing your first assignments a lot easier and the assignment as a whole better, because you asked for help and learnt how to do things properly.
My final and most important piece of advice would be to make time for yourself. I found that I let my studies overpower my social life – I was doing assignment after assignment with no break, so I couldn’t make time for things that I enjoyed doing like reading and writing. Plan your time so that you get the best of both worlds, otherwise you’ll feel overwhelmed and you might even start to hate university just a little. Take a breather and do something that makes you happy, and try to indulge in the fun events run by the clubs on campus (which is something that I wish I had done).
Congratulations to all new university students! I wish you the best with your future studies!
Featured image source.