Hereâs a list of some of the things I learnt in my first year of college that I wish I had known before I started:
Unidays!! So before I started I went out & bought new clothes, notebooks, stationery etc. for college, & I wish I hadnât because most of the stores I bought from, have a student discount when you use Unidays/show your id in store. ((They also have 10% Apple if youâre buying new electronics!!))
Lecturers do care. All through secondary/high school, I was told, âwhen you go to college, lecturers wonât care about you.â Â From my experience, this isnât true. Most lecturers do care because your performance in exams reflects on them as a lecturer. While they wonât spoon-feed you, they are there to help you if youâre struggling/have a few questions.Â
Donât copy down the lecturerâs slides (if they post them online!). In my first semester, I wrote everything off the slides, and spent so much time in the lecture paying attention to the slides, I missed what the lecturer was saying, which is more important to note down as you wonât be able to find it online.Â
What buildings and lecture halls my classes were in. If you can, try going to each building/hall to see exactly where you need on your first day/week.
You donât need to sit at the front of a lecture hall to get the best out of a lecture. I thought before college the only way I could pay attention would be by sitting up the front but Iâve found this isnât the case for me. I work best sitting in the middle because then I donât have to make eye-contact with the lecturer (something I find really uncomfortable) and Iâm not worried about whatâs happening behind me. Everyoneâs different so try to find a place that suits you!Â
Itâs totally okay to do things alone. In school, I feel like thereâs a bit of a group culture, where you canât do anything without someone else but in college, itâs good to go to lectures/have lunch and go the library by yourself sometimes (& no one will judge you for it).Â
The library isnât the only study place. The library can be intimidating especially for 1st years. When I started I loved reading rooms which were smaller and more private.Â
How to print stuff off in college. Learn how to do it asap! I only found out in my second semester. Itâs just something thatâs handy to know! Before you go to college just google your collegeâs name & print and youâll find out how.
The college doctorâs office is free/a lot cheaper! I didnât actually use the doctorâs office but itâs good to know how much itâs going to be if you do need to go! (This depends on what college you go to, check beforehand)
You donât need to buy the textbook. I know so many people who paid a lot of $ for a textbook when they could have used one of the libraryâs multiple copies or got a cheaper one from a past student.
College can offer a lot more than just classes. Volunteering opportunities, societies, clubs, counselling services are just a few things that are available that arenât related to class, make use of them.
The people youâre friends with the first week, may not still be your friends at the start of the year (and thatâs okay!). Youâll meet a lot of people in college and it can take time to find people you really connect  & want to be friends with.Â
You may have to study something youâre not that big of a fan of at first. Some courses are general to start off with and let you specialise later. Donât be put off by this, work hard and itâll pay off when you get to pick what you want to study later!
College is hard. You may get homesick, find your classes difficult, or feel lonely but it getâs better. Itâs only normal to find a new situation difficult but stick with it & youâll get through it!! Â
Best of luck if youâre starting college this year!! Remember to enjoy every moment of it! đ
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