The first year is the beginning of adult life, and you need to meet it fully armed. We have prepared some useful tips to help you adapt to college and make student life interesting and productive.
Stay calm
In your first weeks of study, you may feel confused. It’s normal to feel confused because you’re surrounded by new people and an unfamiliar environment. Can’t find the right classroom? Don’t know where to get your student ID card? Confused when filling out documents? Don’t be afraid to ask for help, even if the question seems to sound silly. It’s normal for newcomers to be unsure of things when they first enter college.
Many universities have a guidance counselor to help newcomers adjust to college life. Talk to a counselor if you’re having difficulty, and he or she can show you around.
Only you are responsible for the result
If at school the losers are pulled to the last, until they get at least a basic education, then in high school the result depends only on the efforts of the student. Teachers will not follow you and persuade you to attend lectures and pass exams. Therefore, if you do not want to be expelled, you will have to make an effort – to study long hours, to learn the topics you do not understand, or at least turn to research paper writing help.
However, most professors monitor students’ attendance at lectures and seminars. And some even check the notes. If you have absences, you may simply not get admission to the exam or be under the scrutiny of the exam. So it is not desirable to skip classes without a good reason.
Take notes, but don’t try to write down every word
Going to a lecture and being bored for two academic hours staring at the ceiling is not a good idea. During these classes, professors give you information that will help you in preparing for a seminar or an exam session. That’s why it’s important to write it down. Sometimes not all the information you need is in any one textbook, which you can easily read right before the exam. That’s why it’s in your own best interest to attend lectures. So you can not only take notes but also record the information on a dictaphone or ask the teacher if something is not clear.
Start with a clean slate
You have a great opportunity to express yourself at university. If at school you were a good student, now there is nothing to stop you from becoming an excellent student. After all, the teachers don’t know you, and they have no preconceptions about what you are capable of. Even if your high school math teacher thought that you cannot give this science, now you can prove that she was wrong.
If you didn’t get along with your classmates – try to find new friends. You were shy and afraid of public speaking – you can overcome that fear.
Get the school supplies you need
Even though school is behind us, you need to prepare for the school year. The minimum you need is some general notebooks to write down lectures, pens, and highlighters. Other things depend on your specialty. For a medical student, the set of necessary items will be one, for an artist – another.
There is no diary at the university, but there are even more different tasks than at school. You need to keep track not only of the schedule but also to solve a lot of organized issues, such as pick up at the Dean’s Office, go to the bank, and order a card for a scholarship. In order to not forget anything, buy a paper diary or keep it in electronic format.
There is no place for a modern student without technology. In addition to a laptop or computer, it is a good idea to have a printer handy. You will need to print lecture notes, various reports, and essays, and a printer will save time and money on a lot of printouts.
Find out about additional opportunities
Universities often have study-abroad programs that can lead to admission to a foreign university. This is a great way to gain new knowledge, improve your language skills, and make friends.
Also, find out about internship opportunities at the university. If you perform well in the company in which you had an internship, in the future, there is a chance to work there.
Communicate
The college years are a great time to make new friends. High school classes are usually based on locale, so you may not find people close to you there. College is another matter. You can meet people with similar interests and make lifelong friendships with them. In addition, at university, you can meet people of absolutely different nationalities from different countries – as part of student exchange programs. It’s also a great opportunity to see the world.
Work for a professional portfolio
Get a part-time job in your specialty if possible. Working as a waiter or merchandiser, of course, will bring money, but it will do little for your CV. Look for specialized internships, even free – and the sooner the better.
As a rule, the question of part-time work for students arises around the third year. But only a few find work in their specialty. However, if you don’t actively act during studying, it will be difficult to find a job after graduation. For an inexperienced graduate, it is more difficult to interest a potential employer than for someone who has already tried his or her hand at the profession.
Be active
Attend academic conferences, create projects, and participate in sports competitions, concerts, and contests. The more active you are, the more useful contacts you will make. And modern employers are often interested in the hobbies of applicants. It helps to learn about a person’s aptitudes, understand how capable he or she is of self-learning and can quickly join the team.