Back to school: What to Expect in First Year University

The start of the school year is often a mixed bag of emotions. Excited to reconnect with old friends. Sad that the summer is ending. Anxious of what the new year will bring. If you start going into your first year of university, there is an added layer of complexity: new school, new people, new town, new subjects, and the list goes on. In this post I will share some back to school tips on what to expect in your first year at university. 

Independence 

If I had to summarize it all in one word, I would pick independence. Let’s start on the academic side. Simply put, you will need to decide whether to go to class, do your homework, get extra help and study for exams. Most Profs are not going to hold your hand and check-in on you. There is (usually) no attendance, no individual help, and no second chances. Class sizes are just so much bigger than highschool that the Prof can’t keep track of everyone. As a result, most Profs don’t get to know you much so they can’t remind you to finish homework or ask if you need any help. 

You will have to find the motivation and discipline to stay on top of your work. Using a calendar is a great way to stay organized between your classes, deadlines, and everything else going on in your life. But, I would be lying if I told you to go to all your classes. Honestly, you have to decide if it is worth your time. How do you learn best? Personally, I had to sit in lecture, listen and watch what the Prof was writing and also write it out myself. I call myself a high maintenance learner lol. Some people can just read the textbook and are good to go. That wasn’t me, so I went to class. Homework on the other hand, is usually a good idea. Practice makes perfect and more importantly you need to evaluate your understanding so that you can pinpoint areas of confusion which will help you narrow down what to review while you study. 

One thing I can’t stress enough is to get help when you need it. Use your Prof’s office hour to ask questions. If you have a Teaching Assistant, email them and set up a time to chat and ask your questions. Schedule a tutoring session if you need more one-on-one help. Just do not wait until its exam time to get help!!! Staying on top of your work week by week is the best way to do well and also reduce stress associated with studying. 

Beyond academics, there is all the other stuff that comes to going to school: getting there, eating, buying those expensive textbooks. If you are living away from home, this stuff can add up pretty quickly into a never ending to-do list. My best advice: not everything has to be perfect, be forgiving towards yourself when it’s not going well, and ask for help when you need it from family, friends, and beyond.    

A lot of Work in a Short Amount of Time

Back to the school part of school. University is the winner of trying to teach you way too much in ~12 weeks. The pace is notably faster than highschool which is why it is so important to stay on top of your school work week by week. Falling behind can be rough. On top of learning a 30 page chapter in each class, each week, you will also get bombarded with homework, assignments, labs, papers, projects, and exams. You will often find yourself with conflicting priorities: I need to do A and B both right now. Managing your time is going to be a very important skill. Moreso, you have to learn to put “appropriate effort” into your work. If you are doing well in one course, maybe only spend a couple hours on an assignment worth 5%. If you are doing not so well in another course, maybe spend 2 hr a day studying the week of the midterm exam. You have a finite amount of resources and will need to learn how to use them efficiently. 

Remember, you will also have other stuff to do outside of attending class, homework and studying. You might end up with a part-time job or joining extracurricular activities and you should also try to stay active and social too, especially in first year university. 

New Stuff, New stuff Everywhere

There is a whole lot of change that comes with your first year of university. Change can be good, but usually, change is hard. You’re trying to keep up with all this school work on top of dealing with a new schedule, a new commute, and maybe even a new temporary home. Try to embrace the novelty of it all but take some time to get comfortable in this new world. One helpful way to deal with change is to ease into things. Kinda hard to do when everything around you is moving at the speed of light but try: visiting your new school before class starts, participating in a summer prep course, moving in early to your residence, meeting some new friends during frosh week.  

Opportunity 

If I had to sum it up in another word, I would go with opportunity. From joining a club, to playing a new sport, meeting hundreds of new people, and learning new skills there is no end to the available opportunities waiting at your fingertips. My advice is to try out as much as possible during your university years. It is really a fail-safe space to learn what you really like. Once you find your passions, double down and surround yourself with like-minded people who will accelerate you to become the person you were meant to be. First year of university is full of change and uncertainty but is such an amazing opportunity to explore the world around you. Make it your own and crush it! Happy learning,Gabe