Starting university can be difficult at times – there are a lot of new skills and information you will need to learn. Here is some advice on surviving the start of your first year that I wish I had been told before I started that would have made life much easier!

 

Friends

The start of the year when the workload is fairly low is a perfect time to start building some connections with people in your classes! Not only might they become good friends, but you could also form a study group with them and revise for exams together later in the semester (which definitely makes studying a lot more enjoyable!). They will also be people you can go to for help if you’re having trouble with some of the subject content. Sometimes all it takes is someone else explaining it in their words for you to understand!

 

Textbooks

Don’t rush out and buy every textbook on your booklist brand new. Many first year students (including myself) spend a lot of money on brand new textbooks and then not actually use some of them! Instead, wait until after your first lecture to see if you will really need the book for readings or exams. Sometimes they are only an extra reference that they are recommending to you.

It might also be a good idea to check out if there are secondhand copies of the books you need so that you can save some money. You can often find these online through Facebook groups, and some campuses also have secondhand books available to buy in the bookstore. Often you might be able to save up to half price on them! If you’re able to use an older edition then you might be able to save even more. Sometimes there are only small changes between editions but other times there are much more important changes, so check with your unit coordinator first.

At the end of the semester you might also like to think about selling books you won’t need again in the future. This will give you a bit of money back to spend on next semester’s books while also helping someone else out!

 

Asking for help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it – this goes for all aspects of your life! If a problem arises then it is important to seek out the best person to ask for help rather than dealing with it all on your own. If you are having academic problems, talking to your lecturer or academic support might be helpful. If the issues are more personal, many unis offer free or low cost medical and counselling services that you can access.

Even if the issue isn’t serious (such as being stuck on a question in class, or having trouble finding your classroom/lecture theatre) don’t be afraid to ask someone around you for help, they will more than likely be happy to help you!

 

Researching and Referencing

One skill I wish I learnt early on in my degree is how to reference properly. Take the time to find out what style you need to use and find a guide that talks you step by step through it and how to reference different kinds of resources. Even if you use referencing software it is always a good idea to go back and check the little details such as:

  • What needs to be in italics
  • Where full stops or brackets need to be
  • The order information needs to be in
  • The correct way to reference the particular resource you are using

Referencing is often worth at least a few marks on an assignment and taking the time to get it right really pays off (especially for second and third year!).

Taking some time to learn good researching skills is also really important. Some universities may offer information sessions to help you learn these skills, and asking the librarians for help is also a good way to get some advice on how to find the best resources possible. Some of my tips based on my own experiences are:

  • If you can’t find exactly what you need, try using synonyms for the main topic words. For example, when I did an assignment on prenatal development I used the words infant, baby, neonate etc. when researching. This really helped me to find more relevant studies!
  • Aim to use the most recent information as possible, unless you need to talk about really important studies or cases (in which case it is completely fine to use old resources – especially if you can find the original research!)
  • Keep search terms simple rather than putting lots of detailed information into the search bar. This gives you a much bigger chance of coming across relevant information you could use.
  • Check the credibility of the sources you are using. Is it a peer reviewed journal article? A well-known book? Or is it just an opinion piece that isn’t based on evidence?

 

Having a balanced life/Time management

Studying all day every day can cause you to really burn out! It is important to set aside some time to relax, socialise, exercise, sleep and generally look after yourself. Having a balanced life will help you work consistently through uni, rather than running out of energy around exam time or when you have a lot of assignments due!

Time management skills are helpful when it comes to having a balanced life. It can be useful to write down what you need to do each day and when work is due. Having all of this written down or put on a calendar can help you to make sure you are getting everything uni-related done while still having some time to do the things you enjoy!

 

Are you someone who has been through your first year of uni or (know someone who has) and have some more tips or advice for new students? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know!