29 Pieces of Advice For Students Starting University
Starting university may be an emotional rollercoaster, ranging from worry to enthusiasm, and there will almost certainly be a slew of things you’ll need to get in order before you leave.
Though it may appear frightening at first, preparing for university life should be an exciting time as you prepare for what could be one of the most memorable experiences of your life.
I’ve compiled some of the greatest tips in order to make the days leading up to it, as well as the weeks you spend settling in, as easy as possible.
Sit back, peruse through this article and follow these guidelines, and your new student life will get off to a flying start.
1. Be intentional
This entails starting with sets of things you need to be intentional about in order to become productive and relevant.
It includes getting clarity and asking yourself some questions like What do I really want to do?Where am I heading to in life? How can I achieve certain things? etc.
Keep yourself safe, be selective about the type of company you will hang out with, have fun, save for the future and constantly remember that the world is waiting on you!
2. NEVER BE SCARED TO STAND BY WHAT YOU BELIEVE
The university will initially appear like a completely new universe to you, but you need to realize that it is actually made up of a vast number of worlds.
As a new student, you might feel conflicted about sharing information or opinions in some classes with students from different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
However, there is no shame in sharing information that you may believe to be accurate, whether it be for recognition or correction.
3. SET REALISTIC GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS
If you’re going to university for the first time and it’ll be your first time away from home for an extended period of time, you should set some reasonable expectations and achievable for yourself before you leave.
Now that you have no one to determine how you spend your time, it would only be fair to yourself if you are intentional about everything you need to achieve.
Anyway, it is important that you allow yourself to grow through the motions without putting too much strain on yourself.
You can also start searching for graduate opportunities to win scholarships and study abroad. This video below will give you some insights.
4. BE CURIOUS
There’s absolutely no shame in this. While figuring out who you are and what you actually want to study, there are some completely valid considerations to make.
However, you won’t excel at anything you don’t enjoy. No matter what discipline you decide to pursue, it is crucial that you enjoy it.
Fulfill all of your unanswered questions, undertake personal study, ask questions, and never be afraid to approach your professors.
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5. SURVEY YOUR NEW ENVIRONMENT
After you’ve settled in, it’s a good idea to devote some of your free time to get to know your surroundings. Investigate the university’s campus, learn about the students’ union, lecture halls, library and other facilities.
Also, don’t forget to look further for bus stops, train stations, local shops and supermarkets, and other key spots. You could also invite your flatmates, if you have any, to join you and use it as an opportunity to spend time with them.
6. KNOW YOUR EXPENSES AND CREATE A BUDGET
It’s no secret that being a student comes with a lot of financial constraints. You don’t want to spend your entire allowance in the first week of school, no matter how tempting it seems.
As soon as you have a good idea of your spending, save a little and make a budget that you can stick to for the entire academic year.
Determine how much money you need to spend on necessities like food and rent, how much you could save, and then how much money you have left over to spend at your leisure.
7. GET INVOLVED IN FRESHERS ACTIVITIES
Every university has a freshman welcome week, which is aimed to assist incoming students in adjusting to university life.
Your university’s students’ union will offer a variety of events for you to attend, giving you the opportunity to learn about and join clubs and organizations on campus.
You won’t have any serious course obligations. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in all of the events going on.
You will be able to meet new people, and ensure that you’re well-prepared to begin your degree and life at university.
8. TAKE UP RESPONSIBILITY
If beginning university means exiting your comfort zone for the first time, learning to fend for yourself before it’s too late is definitely worthwhile.
It is the right time to master the art of getting things done for yourself without so much assistance.
Additionally, if you are quite not the domestic type, this might be the best opportunity to develop that part of you.
If your cooking skills aren’t quite up to par, practice some quick and simple recipes at home to begin to eat foods that supercharge your brain.
9. Build lasting relationships
Develop your friendships. Grow your social network of acquaintances, which includes both former classmates and lecturers. It might be the most priceless possession you will have left over from your university years.
You will experience stress in your first year, but it’s healthy for your mental health. You might not feel like you have time during the exam period, but it is a crucial moment.
When you sit back to think about it, you will acknowledge that the time was nicely utilized.
10. BUY THE BASICS DURING THE FIRST WEEK
Buying and packing everything you’ll need for university is perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the process.
However, you should do so in moderation. Many new students make the mistake of buying things they don’t need and end up being financially stressed. Do some research on what you do and don’t need at the inception.
When it comes to purchasing study materials for your course, it’s usually a good idea to wait until classes begin to have a clearer sense of what supplies are truly required.
This is especially true when it comes to textbook purchases: your personal reading list may be humongous, yet you may find that you only need to acquire one or two basic titles.
11. PERMIT YOURSELF TO EXPERIENCE INTELLECTUAL DISCOMFORT
People with diverse political and social perspectives aren’t communicating with one another, which is a problem in the world as we currently know it.
Fortunately, universities were established to solve that issue. Every day, whether from your teachers, fellow students, or the clubs you are a member of, you will be exposed to new ideas—but only if you are receptive to them.
You must look for them. You need that viewpoint and context in order to use those new ideas to improve your understanding of others.
Learn something new, unlearn, change your opinion, or simply become more resilient with your own thoughts.
12. ESTABLISH A BALANCE
Keep in mind that having a healthy happy life is important. In particular, before tests, pay attention to your diet and make sure you receive adequate sleep. Your first year of college should be spent learning new things, developing interests or discovering new ones, making lifelong friends, and joining and actively participating in organizations and societies.
These extracurricular activities will improve your time management skills, help you acquire your academic subject more quickly and effectively, and make your university experience more enjoyable and gratifying.
Lastly, keep in mind that life is all about balance and choices. So, pick your courses wisely, remain dedicated and persistent, and work to maintain a balance between your academic and extracurricular commitments while laying the groundwork for a solid career through strong personal development and active living.
13. BE RECEPTIVE TO STRANGE ENVIRONMENTS
Try not to lock yourself in for too long. If you would be attending a university in a far-off city, be prepared to experience both the joy of making new acquaintances and homesickness at times.
I think it’s cool that asides from getting acquainted with your new school environment, it’s okay to take the tour a little bit further, although it’s important to avoid areas that have been marked off as dangerous.
Do the surveillance in the daytime as well to avoid any unfortunate occurrences.
14. DECIDE WHAT GRADE YOU WILL GRADUATE WITH
It is important that you take out time to figure out what type of student you want to be, what grades you are expecting from yourself per semester, and over time, the entire school year.
Doing this makes you intentional about your study life. Having to remember that you have set targets for yourself to keep your level-headed and shy away from things that make students fail.
Remember, we might not care much if we disappoint onlookers, but our conscience pricks us to bits when we disappoint ourselves. Determine what you want to see on your scoresheet at the end of your school year and stick by it!
Napoleon Hill said “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. (With the required efforts).
If you were to get A’s in all of your remaining courses before graduation, where would you be? Isn’t that interesting to achieve? Work towards it.
This includes living a purpose-driven life coupled with self-discipline and persistence. There are various mind-blowing ways to achieve your academic goals.
15. Build connections
Learning is about making connections, as noted by renowned scholar Patricia Cross once put it. The capacity to draw connections across various groups of people and from one subject are two of the most beneficial things you need to acquire.
Above all, build on your metacognitive abilities so that you can continue to learn and reinvent yourself after you graduate and enter the workforce.
The fact that there is enough time is another important factor. There is time to complete the work and communicate with pals. to take a walk while reading the material.
Writing the papers yet still finding time for oneself. You are all that is left when the degree is completed. Make sure the routines you establish will work for your life because you will live with them for a very long time. Make your life rich and fulfilling.
16. DEVELOP CHARACTER AND POISE
The university isn’t a place for academics alone seeing that you get to relate with fellow humans at every moment.
It is the right time to fix your attitude towards people- if it was not good enough, as well as improve your communication and relations skills – if you have it set up already.
Most universities have their core purpose in line with teaching the students to excel both in learning and character. This means academics excellence is one side of the coin, and character prevalence is the other side of the coin.
17. BECOME A MORE SELF-RELIANT LEARNER
You will be launching into a whole new environment with study partners, colleagues, professors, and the likes. This will enable you to grasp a lot of facts that you were elusive of.
At the same time, becoming a self-reliant learner, one who creates out time for study and personal research is important.
Because there is so much going on and you are living away from your parents for the first time in the first year, you might not put enough effort into your studies or believe that grades aren’t important.
Take charge of your own education and cultivate the autonomous study style required for success at universities.
18. NEVER BE EMBARRASED TO ASK FOR HELP
It’s natural to feel confused and out of place during your first few weeks at university; nevertheless, if you’re having trouble for any reason, don’t hesitate to seek assistance.
And you can do so by keeping in touch with new and old friends as well as family on a regular basis. This will help you stay optimistic and maybe alleviate some of the loneliness you may be experiencing.
It’s critical to keep both your physical and emotional health in good shape. To maintain a sense of balance while studying, eat well, exercise often, and schedule some relaxation.
Finally, don’t be hesitant to reach out to your lecturers if you’re having trouble with your schoolwork or have an academic concern.
They may be overworked and under pressure, but they genuinely care about you and will almost definitely be glad to respond to you.
19. USE RECORDED LECTURES EFFECTIVELY
Student ratings show that the availability of recorded lectures promotes a better, more effective learning environment.
The majority of institutions don’t always provide video recordings of the lectures following each session, but one approach I utilized back in the day was to record the lectures on my smartphone.
Even after attending a specific lecture for weeks, it improved my ability to process information on a particular subject matter.
20. Learn a few skills before you graduate
While this might sound like a cliché nowadays, it can never be irrelevant. Skills, either soft or hard place you in a better position after graduating.
Learning software used in your field of study will boost your chances of securing a job or scholarship compared to graduating with just your first class and no other demonstrable competence.
Be friendly and talk to everyone since university is the best period of your life. Investigate your alternatives, including what you enjoy and are skilled at. Consider your areas of strength and remain open-minded.
21. Get information about the career you want while in school
It is so easy to graduate confused these days, this is because students are exposed to only few talks about career.
It is often seen as a piece of advice for graduates and even when seminars relevant to these topics are organized, students mostly form busy because you do not feel like they have any value to offer you.
Gathering the needed information about that company you wish to do your internship, the scholarships you want, and the industry you wish to set up yourself will fast track your journey when you graduate.
22. AVOID PROCRASTINATION
You probably tend to put off your work in order to unwind when you are overly worried.
While doing so might appear to be effective in the short run, it typically leads to more stress in the long run. Instead of putting off things, try dividing them up into manageable chunks.
23. MAKE LEARNING TO WRITE WELL A PRIORITY
When arguments are successfully articulated, they are much more persuasive and convincing. Ideas are more likely to be considered and retained when they are given succinctly.
These lessons are especially crucial for students who want to pursue careers in disciplines like public administration and foreign affairs, which rely on persuasion and justification.
24. OPTIMIZE YOUR TIME
Poor time management, like procrastination, can cause unneeded stress. Purchase a wall calendar or daily planner to aid in task planning.
Write out your deadlines and objectives, then mark them off when they are reached. Your thoughts will become more organized and clearer as a result of this.
There are times when you are overloaded and it is challenging to prioritize your tasks, intentionally strategizing will ease the workload.
25. Network
The social media age has a great advantage for newbies who are venturing into the university environment for the first time. Before you arrive on campus, use Facebook groups and hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to interact with your soon-to-be flatmates and course-mates.
Connecting with other students prior to the start of the semester is a terrific approach to alleviate your anxieties about making friends. Everyone is in the same situation; thus, everyone will be ready to participate in the dialogue and form connections.
Your network is your net worth. Social media has a way of making you feel you can single-handedly achieve whatever you want to achieve.
A close look at that line of thought will reveal that this is far from the truth. Depending on your career goals, having the right people in your network. Avoid living a fake lifestyle and keep only a few friends of like passion. You should also consider utilising platforms like LinkedIn.
26. USE ACTIVE LISTENING AND READING TECHNIQUES
Being present in class is insufficient. You must actively listen if you want to interact with the information offered to you. When the lecturer is finished, try to write a summary for yourself as well as take notes as they are being spoken.
Your eyes may move over words while you read a particularly boring article, but your brain may not process anything. Read with the intention of comprehending the content. Set manageable objectives and regularly review your readings.
27. INVEST IN YOUR OWN DEVELOPMENT
You will make connections with people who, like you, are yearning to discover a passion they never knew they had by bringing these buried experiences to light.
Nothing can grow if everything is scheduled and well-planned. You will be able to diverge from plans or may reinforce the path you had already decided to take by taking on new tasks and investigating new fields.
You will have a variety of experiences to extend your perspective, regardless of the outcome. There are so many incredible adventures waiting when you veer from the beaten educational road.
28. LEVERAGE PEER PRESSURE
Peer pressure does not always have to be harmful. Students who have powerful study habits and focused on success are more likely to influence you if they are around you.
Although you shouldn’t compete with anyone save your former self, having individuals nearby who can push and support you will be a massive benefit in university.
29. STUDY BEYOND THE REQUIRED COURSE LOAD
Don’t undervalue the significance of including experiences outside of the classroom in your education. Such occurrences might lead to intangible and unanticipated encounters, such as taking a walking tour of a historic neighborhood, listening to an elder recount stories, or researching an environment in the field.
Enroll in free or discounted classes offered in rural or communal settings. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone and be open to new ideas.
Doing this may not only improve your academic experience, but may also motivate you to open up new avenues for learning.
3 Reasons you should take these pieces of advice seriously
1. It will help you make the right decision
Our growth in life has so much to do with time and decisions. When you understand that hours spent wrongly can never be recovered while the ones spent right has a way of getting you close to the future you want, you will always strive to plan better and make good decisions in every matter.
2. It will help you to get rid of addictions
Today, there exist many addictions than is commonly treated. The endless scrolling and laughing that Tiktok, WhatsApp status, and other social media platforms have a way of reducing the quality of your thinking and your willingness to engage in problem-solving tasks. They may also cause a reluctance to study.
Starting university requires you to decrease the time you spend on all these platforms helps to invest time in much more beneficial things and helps get rid of the addictions you don’t know you have.
3. It will help you to graduate with an excellent grade
Only few people can go back to school to become an undergraduate after graduating, it is therefore important to utilise the only time you can spend as an undergraduate by getting the best possible grades.
You won’t have to look back and wish you had been a little serious than you were in school.
Martin Uzochukwu Ugwu once said, “Time well spent leads to a life well-lived”. So, make the best use of the time you have as undergraduates in your institution and field of study.
Conclusion
The university years are almost the best years of your life! My piece of advice asides from what has been stated is that you live cautiously and exist in every moment but at the same time, be sure to have a good time and make sure to accumulate memories that will last a lifetime.
Time is defined as the duration in which all things happen or a precise instant that something happens. Time is a scarce resource as everyone, either rich or poor, has twenty-four hours.
For someone who is starting university, you must have felt on top of the world when you gained admission and must have set some targets to achieve before certain levels.
That’s great and absolutely expected, but you should also make use of these pieces of advice as your start a new phase of your studies.
There’s an online community specially created for you to get all the motivation and vibes you need to succeed as a student.
Do you want to join this great community of students from all around the world?
