Want to ace your first semester of university?
The secret to success is all about knowing the right tricks and resources to succeed. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of tips we wish we had known when we first started university.
Build the Right Schedule for YOU
For the first time, you’re the one in charge of deciding your class schedule.
Ask yourself, what time of day are you most productive? Do you work best first thing in the morning or do you prefer to sleep in and get started later in the afternoon?
Whichever the case, you should build your schedule to match your learning style, so you can optimize your learning and productivity.
Choosing the Right Professor
People learn differently, and professors’ teaching styles can vary greatly.
It’s important to select a professor that’s the right teaching style for you. The platform Rate My Professor* is a great way to learn about a professor before committing to their class. You can view past students’ experiences and recommendations about a professor before deciding to take their course.
Taking Advantage of Recorded Lectures
While large lecture halls may be a shock to first-year students, one unique advantage is having recorded lectures.
You can ask your professor on the first day of class if the lectures will be recorded. If so, you can access the lectures any time online. So, you don’t have to worry about missing a thing that the professor says or stress about a missing class if you’re sick one day!
Another advantage of recorded lectures is being able to watch the lectures at up to double the speed. So, you can watch a lecture in half the time when you’re reviewing the material.
The Truth About Textbooks
Textbooks are a great way to learn more in-depth about the course material, and they are generally required for every class.
That being said, textbooks can be extremely expensive.
Most textbooks are available as “used” copies for a fraction of the price. You can usually buy them from the school bookstore, neighbourhood bookstores, or from upper-year students at your university.
Older editions of the textbook generally have the same material with only minimal differences in content. We recommend you ask your professor on the first day of class if buying an older version of the textbook is okay.
Buying a textbook online, from sites like Amazon, can also prove to be significantly cheaper.
The Deadliness of Deadlines
There’s a lot going on in the first few weeks of university.
Many first-year university students find they get caught up in the adjustment to university and forget to keep track of all their academic deadlines.
Unlike high school, professors won’t be the ones reminding you of evaluations, and they won’t be forgiving of missed deadlines. It’s up to each student to stay on top of their workload and assignments.
Once you receive your syllabus, it’s good to note down all your deadlines for the semester and try to plan the amount of time you’ll need to work on them.
Get Involved
University is the perfect place to get involved with a club, team, or organization that interests you. There are hundreds of options, so there really is something for everyone!
Getting involved is not only a great way to meet other like-minded students, but it can really help develop your CV when applying for internships and jobs.
Many employers value well-rounded students who are committed to pursuits outside of just academics.
Everyone’s in the Same Boat
It can be stressful trying to make friends, get involved, and succeed at school right away, but remember that all first-year students are in the same situation as you and upper-year students also went through the exact same thing.
So, don’t be afraid to talk to other students about your experience or reach out to upper-year students for their advice.
All in all, the university is some of the best years of your life. We hope these tips help you start off on the right foot!