What I wish someone told me my first year of university
I went from Valedictorian of my high school class to getting 50s in university… and it killed me! Breezing through school and being naturally smart was not working for me here. That is why I compiled a list of things that I wished someone told me that first year (or what people told me and I just didn’t listen to…).
Read textbook outlines before you go to class! I started doing this but quickly fell out of the habit. Understanding what the prof is going to be talking about before you go to class helps you pay attention even if it’s just because your have your ears out for certain keywords.
Don’t bring your phone or computer to class. And if you have to, keep if turned off in your backpack or bag. Everyone else might have their phone or laptops out around you but that don’t mean you have to. They are distracting and taking notes the manual way is the best way to remember and revise.
Sit near the front. It might seem scary but it’s the best way to stay focused. Having the prof right in front of you might make you less inclined to not pay attention or talk to someone next to you. First year lecture halls usually have over 200 people in them and the people in back tend to be the ones distracting others.
Lay down the ground rules with your roommate as soon as you move in. If you live on campus and have to share a room with someone this is super important. If you let things slide because you want to remain friends, it can lead to a lot of pent up rage and passive aggressive tendencies. You’ll see when October rolls around.
Ask lots of questions during your labs. The TAs’ won’t mind, you’re actually saving them the boredom of walking around. It will help you understand better and make you stand out amongst the other students. Labs are a big part of your grade, don’t settle for a mediocre mark when you can easily get 90 or above on every one.
Rewrite your notes as soon as you get home. Scribble them down on a loose leaf in class then when you have time between classes write them in a clean notebook and make them more cohesive and studyblr pretty. Add in notes you might have from the textbook reading too.
Make at least two friends in all of your classes and labs. Class friends can come in handy when you missed a class and need notes or someone to study with. Just don’t rely on them too much or use them to slack off yourself.
Every Sunday before bed, revise all of your notes from the week. Studying before bed apparently makes you remember stuff better and it’s good to constantly revise your notes and keep refreshing. You won’t regret it when finals come around.
Don’t feel like you have to go to the library to study. If it helps you stay focused and you like the atmosphere go for it! I always felt more comfortable in my own space though and whenever finals or midterms rolled around I always felt like I had to go to the library.
Participate in school or house activities. This is what will help you make bonds and your lifetime friends. Even if you are a shy person, everybody feels the same way you do. So go out on a limb and have fun.
If you start getting stressed, clean. It can be relaxing to do a monotonus task and not think. Plus it makes you feel accomplished after cleaning. Completing even a small task can push you to do the bigger stuff on your list.
That’s about everything! Have fun and good luck at your first year of university! Make all your dreams come true.
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