How to get through your first year at university

Author: Helen Garcia
Date Of Creation: 14 April 2021
Update Date: 1 July 2024
Anonim
Tips for starting University and getting through your first year
Video: Tips for starting University and getting through your first year

Content

If you are reading this, then you have earned a place at a university or institute. Congratulations! University will be one of the most exciting times in your life, full of fun, friends and opportunities for communication and self-development. Of course, while all of this is there, the university is stressful and easy to deal with (often after being prompted!) Here are some tips on how to make a slightly challenging first year easier for you.

Steps

  1. 1 Communicate constantly. One thing that you will understand at university if you have not already understood that friends do not necessarily appear on their own. Interact with people, talk, ask questions. Do this within reason, of course. If you become interested in people, they will show interest in you. The best place to start this is during Freshman Week, when everyone is in the same boat and actively looking for people to be friends with.
  2. 2 Chat with your flatmates. This does not mean that you have to be best friends with them, but keep in mind that you are together almost 24/7 and share a kitchen / common wall. Bad relationships with your flatmates put your entire apartment down, so do your best, even if you don't like them very much, to include yourself and them in activities like walking, shopping, the gym, etc. There will be times when you’re angry at one of your roommates for drinking your milk, or at another for not washing your bowl after use, but it can be helpful to be on good terms.
  3. 3 Do not allow yourself to spend all your money while walking. You are a university student, of course you want to walk! But keep in mind that finances are a factor, and bars aren't going anywhere. As cheap as drinks on college campuses seem, if you add up all those purchases, you run the risk of running into debt, or you may not be able to afford essential purchases such as food and paying bills. Drinking can be a well-known student fun, but be aware of the other recreational options you have, such as the gym, societies, and clubbing.
  4. 4 Hide food and utensils away. This may sound a little extreme, but in my experience, it's for the best. Just remember that most of the time your flatmates won't take food maliciously, only when they just ran out of milk and they decided to drink some of yours, or someone came home very hungover and ate your mom's delicious lasagna, taking from refrigerator. Many universities anticipated this problem and cabinets come with holes for locks on the doors. By blocking your food and dishes, you save food, money, time, energy, and dishwashing.
  5. 5 Develop a smart stress management strategy. Most people who were about to go to university fell into three categories: 1) they can't wait to leave their parents, 2) they are afraid to leave the comfort of their own home, and 3) they are nervous and anxious. These are all perfectly normal and acceptable feelings. You are more likely to miss home from time to time, especially if something negative happens, such as the stress of working too hard, having a fight with a friend, or worries about money. Remember that your parents will think of you and will be more than happy to talk to you if you need help or advice. Some may find that regular phone calls / home visits are therapeutic in coping with separation, while others may find that limited contact stops them from thinking about home. Formulate a smart strategy that works for you and helps you stay productive and happy. First of all, make sure that you are busy with business.
  6. 6 Don't leave all your work to the last minute. This can seem very tempting as you will have long periods of time, sometimes a couple of months, and an extended vacation period (also sometimes a month), but the deadline will soon begin to approach quickly. A very useful strategy, albeit a bit boring, is to get the job done as soon as you get it, or as soon as possible thereafter. This way, the notes are still fresh in your head, and you will have more time to play after finishing work, and you will not worry about the essay that you should have started a week ago.
  7. 7 Don't include nightlife. It's also very tempting because you won't have a parent whining that you need to go to bed at a reasonable time. You have to set up your own sleep by any means, but getting to the stage where you go to bed at 6 am and wake up at 4 pm is too funny. University is fun but difficult; give your body everything else it needs and the rest will follow.
  8. 8 Don't be afraid to raise a question or ask for help. University is very different from school and college. Learning styles are different, the work is more difficult, and you are expected to develop your own way of learning. In fact, you will learn a lot more on your own than under the guidance of a teacher. Teachers understand that it takes time and patience to adjust to this state of affairs, so if you do not understand something, ask them. This will not make you stupid in their eyes, as if you weren't listening, in fact, you will be smarter because you will know exactly what is expected of you and how to do it, unlike a classmate who decided to fall asleep during the lecture rather than follow it.