1. Organize Yourself
The first step in the 10 tips for first year university students is organization! Post secondary education is very different than high school. The workload is heavier and the pace is much faster. It’s extremely important to remember to stay organized. Have your books, notebooks, pencils and pens ready! There is no worse feeling than as though you’re falling behind and don’t know how to catch back up. Check out this useful list to get organized for school at University Survival.
2. Prioritize
Similar to staying organized; prioritize your tasks. You will have assignments and exams due on the same day in more than one class, and this can be stressful. A useful tip? Work on them in order of importance and due date. Wondering how to rank them when everything is priority number one? Check out these tips from Liquid Planner.
3. Study First, Party Later
It’s easy to get caught up in the social life university has to offer. It might be hard to turn down a party, but don’t worry, you won’t regret not going. There will be plenty more just like it. Study hard, and it will pay off— you may even be throwing those parties one day.
4. Take Good Notes; Pay Attention
You will come across many different professors who have new and different teaching styles. Finding a note taking system that works best for you can be a challenge. Here are five effective ways of taking notes from Oxford Learning. During lectures information might be revealed that can add value to PowerPoint presentations or the notes posted online. Paying attention to these informative gems will help your notes and earn that amazing grade.
5. Keep Calm and Carry On
Don’t stress. It’s not the end of the world. You might not get an A on that essay that you thought’s well deserved. Maybe you’ll sleep in too late and miss an 8 A.M. class. You might miss a social date with your friends.
It’s really okay. It will pass. Life goes on.
Stress will only cause headaches, anxiety, anger, and pimples. Nobody has time for any of that. Thousands of people are in the same position as you and feeling the same pressures – relax and enjoy some calming tips from the Canadian Mental Health Association.
6. Self Storage Units
There are plenty of students who are completely content and comfortable living at home while attending a local University or College. However, there are also those who are more adventurous that wish to experience a foreign city and atmosphere. For these students – moving between semesters may become an expensive hassle, but with a storage unit – help eliminate the stress of bringing home and finding a place for all your possessions.
7. Take Advantage of Resources
Many students miss out on the great resources available through their schools. Universities and Colleges help with all kinds of problems, or connect you with people who can help. Take advantage of these resources. Be sure to check your school’s website and student center to see what they have to offer.
8. Get Involved
There is no better way to meet new people and get to know your school than getting involved! Your school will have plenty of teams, plenty of clubs, and plenty of get together events; go to them! Maybe you’ll want to join student council, try out for the track team, join the latin students association, the Pokemon club, or maybe the chess club—why not! What do you have to lose?
9. Make Friends
These years are probably where you will meet your longest and best of friends. Universities and Colleges are a great place to find others with similar interests as you – even obscure ones. Interactions and the social life available at these schools really bolster the learning experience. Take a look through your school’s clubs, organizations and groups to get a sense of the types of people you can meet. Need a hand breaking the ice? Check out these tips from Psychology Today and make friends today.
10. Get Prepared for the First Day
The first day can be overwhelming, but you can get through it. Attending orientation week helps a lot. Print out your class schedule and look for your classrooms before-hand as many universities are mapped out like mazes. Read your class syllabus and keep a copy. These are essential and easy actions a student can take to make the first day a lot easier and less overwhelming. Your school will likely have “first day preparation” resources available online, so be sure to check them out. Here’s some preparation advice from Toronto’s Ryerson University.
By following these 10 tips for first year university students we know you’ll be off to a great start!