2. Your first year of university is, without a doubt, character-building. Of course, this could be either a good thing or a bad thing.
3. To help every student make the most of their first year, we got in touch with a group who made it through that awkward transition and lived to tell the tale. These individuals gave us some fantastic tips that will guide you through first year.
Go your own way
4. Independence is vital at university, it helps you to build your network beyond the university bubble. Doing so, you get a stronger experience of your city, which gives you the confidence to put yourself into situations that might previously have terrified you.
Get work experience where you can
5. Work experience consistently catches employers’ eyes, helping graduates to land top jobs every single year. Being able to prove that you’ve spent time working with accomplished professionals in your chosen line of work is important.
6. There’s often a lot of anxiety around landing your “dream job”, and a bit of work experience is a fantastic way to combat this.
Respect deadlines
7. It’s easy to let things slip when you’re halfway through the academic year and the deadlines are stacking up. But you’ll manage your time far better with forward planning and a sincere respect for deadlines.
Develop a regular sleeping pattern
8. We’re all guilty of hitting the snooze button every now and then, but at university it can turn into a regular occurrence. Developing a sensible sleeping pattern is easily neglected, but don’t make the same mistakes that many other students will.
Grades do count in first year!
9. Complacency in your first year will have a knock-on effect throughout your degree because it’s arguably your most important year. It’s your introduction to university-level learning and scholarship and all its demands. You’ll need to learn how to manage your time – in terms of both study and social life – and also how to work, independently or in groups.
Try a society
10. Enough with the serious stuff. Join a society! You may have been told that this is exactly what you’ll do and that you won’t attend a single social, but that doesn’t matter. Joining societies is a numbers game – each society you do join will increase the chances of your meeting new people and making friends.
Plan ahead
11. It might take a bit of cheek, but it’s worth a shot! With a bit of know-how and a whole load of chutzpah, you’ll be dining for free on a fortnightly basis.
12. Start your first year with a smile and don’t try to reinvent yourself too much
13. Above all else, a smile goes a long way. You’ll come off as more approachable and with an open and friendly demeanour.
14. One more thing: be wary of trying too hard to “fit in”. It’s common for first-years to fall in with certain groups and act in ways that don’t necessarily reflect who they are. Make sure that you socialise with people who share your interests and your values.
15. And, take it from our students, you might get the urge to pack your bags and head home within the first few weeks. Unless you’ve really thought about it and are sure that the university or course isn’t for you, try to stick it out.
Source: Timeshighereducation
