Last updated March 15, 2017 at 11:32 am
If you’re an existing uni student, you know that O-week is about freebies.
But if you’re new to uni, it can be overwhelming. It’s a big stage in life. For many of you, it will be the first time that you’ve ever set foot on a university campus. Yeah, it’s nothing like high school. With any bet, your campus is larger than any where you’ve been. You’ll faceplant into a whole new culture of student associations, cafes and even the ol’ uni bar. It’s easy to get caught up.
“I have to walk how far between lecture halls?”
“I have 5000 words to finish in 2 hours before happy hour starts!”
We’ve asked some of our bloggers to give their tips to surviving your first (or second or third or fourth or…) year of uni.
David McAfee:
- Organisation is important. It is important to label your notes and look over them on a regular basis to review large topics.
- Make a schedule and stick to it. Be sure to review your schedule each week and keep a record of major assessments to adjust your schedule as necessary.
- Work in a quiet environment that is conducive for study (such as a library or quiet room). Avoid studying in front of the television or in a noisy area.
- Do as many practice problems and past exam questions as possible. By practicing questions and reviewing course content, you are able to truly test your understanding and identify areas where improvement is necessary.
Nick Lucas:
- If you need help or are struggling with anything (Coursework, access, work life balance), ask for it early. There are a heap of different people and services on campus that can help you out, but it is way easier to arrange if it happens early in the semester rather than the night before the exam.
- Engage with your campus culture. Join a club or society or two, attend a few hosted social events. Make new friends and build a support network.
- Tutors, lecturers and demonstrators are not scary. They’ve been through what you are going through and may be able to point you in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to ask!
- Don’t sell group-work short. Sometimes the best learning you can do is done in a small group of your peers. If you find that lots of people are having the same problem, arrange a time and place and go through it together.
Marianne Peso:
- Your tutors are some of your most valuable assets. They are just a few years ahead of you so have the best advice- especially if they did their undergraduate at the same uni.
Lisa Semmler:
- Say yes to every opportunity
- Start work early
- Don’t think “I’ll remember this so I won’t write it down.” Because you will!
- Eat as well as you can
- Group work can be great for meeting people you normally wouldn’t.
- Ask for help!
- Make use of the library books. Mostly they just sit there whilst people use the computers but they are excellent resources.
- Don’t be that person at uni that doesn’t wear shoes… haha
Skye Jenner:
- You’re not as smart as you might think you are. But that’s ok, almost no one is and that’s why we have lecturers… to help you get smarter.
Whether or not you are studying science, engineering, maths or law or the arts, going to university is a big step. It’s a life-changing experience that you’ll never forget – you’ll learn so much more about yourself as well as learning all about your chosen field. Have fun with it!
