As the graduating class of 2020, I understand the struggle that is/was being a university student in the age of COVID-19. As things like remote learning and zoom calls become the norm, it’s hard to imagine a time when we were all just fresh-faced uni students attending our first lecture or getting lost in the campus library. Now that my university journey (as an undergrad student anyway) has wrapped up, I see new students and hope they don’t fall into the same trappings I did when I started. It’s best to become prepared for anything that comes your way, and this article will allow me to give some advice to you to help ease your journey through university.

Learn the importance of referencing

APA was my university’s chosen referencing system. To a complete newbie who had no idea what referencing was or its necessity, I struggled to pick it up for a while. I cannot stress enough how important referencing is to your time at uni. The information in your assignments must be factual and attributed to its proper source (hence why referencing is needed), and lecturers mark quite harshly on how the layout of your citations and reference list is structured. Taking the time to go to one of the university library’s workshops on referencing or watching some tutorial videos on referencing will aid you considerably in the long term. 

Take responsibility for your schedule

Here is a surprise to new uni students straight out of high school. No one is going to check that your assignment is near completion or that you have revised this week’s course material. Fail to hand in a project, you a D, and potentially flunk the course. Forget to study for a class, and you risk falling behind other students. It is easy to get caught in the other things that uni offers, but neglecting a healthy work schedule won’t help make your life easier. My advice to new students is to sit down, plan out their weekly schedule and make time for study/assignment work. It is better to control the chaos that uni holds than be stressed out by it. For student planning, you can check out this article; 6 Best Apps for Students!

Stick with uni, no matter how hard it gets

At the end of my first year, I saw so many talented people drop out of uni because they couldn’t manage the workload and got lost in the shuffle. University is challenging and will push you to breaking point at times, but there is no better feeling than walking across the stage and getting your degree at graduation. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you require it. Uni is often stressful but rewarding, and the skills you acquire here will last you a lifetime.

Orientation week is your new best friend!

“Hello new students, welcome to (insert university name here) where we encourage you to attend our orientation events to learn all about your uni and what it can offer you. Join one of our many clubs and groups which cater to all your leisurely desires, or if you’re not satisfied, why not create your own group. Connect with other students and staff through our networking opportunities or visit our student services for any queries to your studies. Our many computer suites are available for use, and our campus library houses thousands of resources to aid you in your courses. Our top-of-the-line facilities ensure you learn as best as possible and do not put your tuition to waste. Please join us at orientation week and start your university journey with a bang!”

Make friends with your classmates:

New students at uni typically hang out with the same people from high school and never branch out beyond their friend group. It’s almost like they are afraid of approaching their fellow students and starting a conversation. However, this is to their detriment as it robs the opportunity to establish new connections and learn from each other. A fun part of the university experience is meeting people from different backgrounds and expanding your network of friends. Your classmates may become your fellow work colleagues at some point, so make a good impression now and reap the rewards of having people you like working with later.

In conclusion, I understand the struggles of starting university as a student and personally wished I had someone to guide me in the right direction. University is a place of self-discovery and especially with what you decide to go and study. Having some handy tips at your side to navigate the murky waters of uni life will make your time at university more enjoyable for the rest of your time studying.

-  Taylor Tutawa, Nxtstep Content Writer