Every first-year student worries about enrolling in do not always know what to expect from student life. As a result, students make mistakes due to a lack of experience and lose time and interest in classes. This article offers tips that will make your life at the university more accessible and more fun.
University is not a school. You are responsible for your training. And as soon as possible you will understand this, the easier it will be for you. University life is the first big step into adulthood, where you are responsible for yourself. No one will remind you what to take and when. Create yourself a calendar and notes or notes in the form of stickers with the dates of projects, term papers or homework assignments. If you miss the deadline because you didn’t pass or forgot, you will be deducted interest, affecting your final grade. Some teachers give allowances and may forgive you for missing the deadline but try not to count on it and do everything on time. The habit of following deadlines will also help you in the future when working for any company or organization. Punctuality and organization will show that you treat your work professionally.
Learn to work with literature on your own. Work with literature may not be new for Canadian high school graduates, but our university has representatives from different countries and cultures. When preparing papers, you will need to use notes from lectures and textbooks and scientific literature. The Internet is an excellent resource for finding scientific articles, but some material will need to be searched in the university library. Sounds like too much work. In the future, you will realize that finding information and learning on your own is very useful. In the information age, knowledge becomes obsolete very quickly. A professional need to study and study to remain in demand, and for this, you need to have self-education skills. If you think that the purpose of a university or college is to give you knowledge, then you are mistaken. The purpose of the university is to teach you to receive information independently, to provide you with self–education skills and, preferably, to form your scientific thinking.
Tune in to a new learning rhythm. Your usual 40-minute classes and extended breaks are a thing of the past. There are classes at the university that take 50 minutes, but more classes take an hour and a half or three hours. And often, between classes, you will have 10 minutes to move from one building to another to another class. On the other hand, there are also advantages, you will not need to get up every day by 8 am but will be able to sleep. Try to appreciate the breaks between classes and spend them on rest and homework so you can relax in the evening.
Take advantage of a small university. In large universities, teachers will not have time for you during the extracurricular time. At our university, you can ask teachers to come to them during the allotted hours, talk to them after class and ask questions of interest to you, or accidentally meet them at the university and have a little conversation with them.
Make acquaintances—many neglects to communicate with other students or isolate themselves from society. However, connections play a significant role in university life. Try to get to know other students, especially with whom you have the same major. Connections will make your way to university much easier for you. You will see how much easier and more fun it will be to prepare for classes and do homework together but beware of plagiarism. Also, try to make connections that can help you in your future career. Go to conferences related to your specialty for career week, which the university conducts, making new connections and delving into your thing. Don’t you think the first year is too early to consider the profession’s future? The years at the university pass quickly, and you never know what opportunity will turn up for you.
Learn to benefit even from boring lectures. Not all classes and courses will seem attractive to you, but they can be a handy skill for you—train perseverance and attentiveness. If you are not interested in lectures, this does not mean that this material will not come across. Also, sometimes the material includes a lot of theory, which will be challenging to teach yourself if you do not listen to lectures.
Do not neglect attending lectures. Even if you think you can study the material yourself, still attend classes. Firstly, some teachers give percentages for attendance. Secondly, the teacher will remember your face and name, showing you as a diligent student. Also, some teachers may provide additional light quizzes to encourage those who attend their classes. It will also add other interests! Also, teachers often point out the questions on the exam, which will also help you get a good grade.
Do not hesitate to ask questions to the teacher. Even if you think your questions sound silly or inappropriate, ask. It is better to ask right away if you are not sure that you have understood the material correctly than then not to know how to do homework or how to answer a question on an exam.
Learn how to take notes. There is no need to rewrite the slides word for word. Instead, highlight the main thing, and sign letters, especially on which the teacher emphasizes. Develop a system of records that will be clear and logical for you, according to which it will be easy to find material and prepare for exams. Learn to make word abbreviations to save time and keep up with the professor’s words. You focus on what the professor says and what is not on the slides because you probably won’t find this information in the textbook. Take notes logically and structurally.
Start doing your homework and papers as early as possible. Time flies fast, so even if you have another month to complete the work, start immediately. Studying and finding the material may take longer than you expect. You may also encounter that the delivery of papers will coincide with the time of the midterm exams. So, you start to do the work in advance.
Register for more items than you plan to take. You have two weeks from the beginning of the semester to drop the class you do not want to take this semester. Then, come to the class, look at the syllabus and decide which courses you want to take. Teachers often give different amounts of work to be done during the semester, so try to find a balance in the classes.
Look for the scholarships that the university provides. Perhaps you fit the criteria for some of the scholarships. Then, apply to be able to receive additional funds for education.
Don’t rush to buy new textbooks. Students sell a large number of used textbooks for a small price. Also, in the library, you can find some textbooks that you need. Websites on the Internet allow you to download some textbooks in electronic form for free.
Read about the principles of time management. Learn to allocate time so that it is enough to attend university for independent training and rest. Try to plan your schedule depending on how much time you need to prepare for classes and exams. Set aside enough time to rest. Try to enjoy the years at the university and spend them usefully. Make friends, have fun, and have fun! In moderation, of course. But so that there is something to remember!
