Congratulations! If you’re reading this you’ve probably just been accepted into University or you’re thinking about taking that next big step. This is a big decision and sometimes the pressure can be overwhelming.
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So to ease the stress, I’ve come up with five tips I wish I knew before starting University.
Textbooks
I guarantee most courses will require a textbook or two and they aren’t cheap. One mistake many first year students make is buying them brand new. I call this a mistake, because you’ll look at the book three times throughout the semester and after that it’s left accumulating dust under your bed.
Fear not! There are cheaper options available.
Find out whether your University offers a textbook exchange program or search on Facebook for textbook exchange groups. Otherwise you can search for them on Gumtree or Ebay.
Attend class
When you leave a school environment where attendance is compulsory, it can be confronting knowing that University doesn’t work like that. You can choose to attend or not. They aren’t going to call your mother up and put you in detention for a week for wagging. That’s the problem. You’ll notice for the first four weeks of classes that most students attend. But soon, the number begin to dwindle. In turn, so do their grades. It’s so important to make sure you are committed to the classes. At the end of the day, you’re the one paying for it. If you want to enter your chosen field with confidence, it’s important you make the effort to keep up to date with the content (and avoid last minute cramming sessions).
Don’t rely on online session recordings! It’s hard to connect with what the tutor is discussing – you can’t ask questions. Some tutors also like to give out exam questions or hints for those students who bother to turn up. To make online viewers suffer that little bit more, they’ll pause the recordings so they miss out!
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Arrive early
Budding drivers – parking permit or not, if you’re driving to university be sure to arrive at least half an hour early. It’s a fight to the death for a car park, and chances are you’ll miss the first part of your class waiting for a spot.
Find out about Peer Assisted Study Sessions
Often known as PASS, these sessions are a god’s gift for students who love in-depth discussions and debates. These are helpful if you’re looking for some further guidance in preparing for assessment.
Sometimes it’s not always what you know, it’s who you know. This is the time for you to start finding out more about your peers and your tutors. Keep in contact with people in your field – it’s important to start building a contact list. The more people you know, the more opportunities come your way!
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