Surviving your first year

Real-life tips from real-life people

“Your first year of university is, without a doubt, character-building. Of course, this could be either a good thing or a bad thing.” Callum Dawson

Starting university is both exciting and daunting. You’re out of your comfort zone and for many of you, it could be the first time living away from home. Here are some tips, put together by our recruiters, on how to survive the first year.

• Be disciplined in your approach to your studies. There’s a time for everything and in this time, you’re here to get a degree – do a bit of work every day.
• Familiarise yourself with student services and what they offer. Most universities offer counselling on a range of matters related to wellbeing.
• Aim for balance. Study hard but do remember to take enough breaks between your studies.
• Schedule going out so you don’t get carried away with the night life.
• Exercise your discipline muscle. Develop the habit of discipline. If you don’t, you may  find yourself succumbing to procrastination, which has dire knock-on effects.
• Get your assignments completed and submitted on time. This will help prepare you for the world of work where deadlines must be met.
• Make an effort to befriend classmates. Don’t be afraid to strike up conversations in class or make plans to catch up after lectures. You need a support system, especially when you’re far away from home.