It’s a big jump from secondary school to university, often an overwhelming one. Here’s how you can make the experience easier, and gain all you want from your university career
We all have ideas of what our first year at university will be like; parties, new friends, independence at long last, and perhaps a bit of studying when you have the time. But the leap from the structure and discipline of high school and home life, to the self-rule of the university, can be too much for some people.
It might be the first time in your life you’ve been expected to cook and clean for yourself; there are dozens of social options available to you every day, and the standard of work required from you is much higher than it’s ever been before. But fear not, there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure that leap into university life is a painless one, enabling you to handle the pressure and enjoy the many perks of student life.
Make a plan
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One of the biggest problems first-year university students face when they arrive for fresher’s week is the lack of structure. Apart from class times and a few initial appointments with tutors, you are largely left to govern yourself. No longer are you held to the timetable of your parents or school teachers; you’re free to do as you please. This might sound great in theory, but it’s all too easy to let such freedom go to your head. If you don’t plan and organize yourself, the workload that comes post fresher’s week can quickly become overwhelming.
So prove that you’re the adult the university expects you to be. Allocate yourself specific times for specific assignments, working around your classes, meal times, part-time jobs and the various social activities you want to take part in. Mark exam times and when assignments are due to give yourself plenty of time to get into the swing of things.
Involve yourself in the university
University isn’t just for academics. It will be your home for the next three or four years, so involve yourself in it! Most of the students who drop out in their first year do so because the lack of face-to-face tutor time, large class sizes, homesickness and the reliance on independent work left them feeling disconnected from the university.
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It’s true that it is a big change, but joining the student union, a club, or involving yourself in student politics can help to give you roots in these unfamiliar surroundings, by giving you a sense of purpose and new friends, making it feel like you belong.
Prepare with summer school
Easing the pressure that comes with the first year of university can begin well before freshers week. You can practice cooking and cleaning for yourself at home (your parents will thank you), befriend other new freshers on social media, and, if you’re really dedicated to getting the most out of your university studies, you can spend a few weeks at summer school.
Summer school is not like high school. The classes are smaller and more in-depth, the available courses more varied, and the student population more diverse. Programmes like the Immerse Education Cambridge summer school are taught by tutors from some of the best universities in the world, like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard, who will help you learn study habits at a higher education level, which will give you a real advantage during that first year at uni. The location of the Immerse Education summer school, Cambridge University, is one of the most prestigious schools in the world. What better place to get a taste of what your future has in store?
