Advice for New (Freshers) University Students is important now that SHS graduates will begin arriving on the various university campuses as level 100 students. The university community is a city on its own, a town on its own, and a life-changing location by the time you graduate.
Another academic year has commenced, and new university students, popularly known as freshmen, are on campus. It is a great feeling to have made it to the university, and every year, the feeling is great for new students. “Fresher” university students are often the most excited to return to school. This comes with great emotions when you step on campus.
However, the university is a big community of learners, faculty, and administrative staff working together to help both new university students and continuing ones succeed.
Parents, friends, and others who might have passed through the university would surely give you advice on how to behave and carry yourself around on campus without losing focus on why you are on campus.
Now, what is the very important advice that has helped students do well at the university and balance academic work and social life with ease? Read on.
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Pieces of advice for new university students
1. New university students must set high academic as well as personal standards. Setting the standards is not enough; you must put in conscious effort to achieve them. Always listen to the little voice that keeps telling you, “I CAN DO,” and challenge the pessimistic voice that tells you, “YOU CAN NOT DO IT.” Put in your best effort and work hard at “A” in all subjects. If you fall short, you might score a “B.”.
2. Memorising at the university does not help. College and secondary education may reward you for memorising, but the university requires you to think and reason. As a new university student, challenge yourself to understand lectures. You help yourself if you increase your depth of understanding during lectures or after thorough research and extensive reading.
3. As a freshman on campus, do not forget that your grades count at the end of the semester or year. All things held constant: the best jobs go for the best grades. Scholarships for your masters and Ph.D. in the future go with the grades you make. The more high grades you obtain, the more you increase your chances in life and fulfil your reason for going to university.
4. Get to know a wide range of people. Do not be a lone ranger; however, be careful and think smart. Build strong social capital by knowing important people in the university, such as faculty, staff, and students. The good friends you make will become very important to you later in life. Being anti-social will only mess up your social capital. In the 21st century, networking and connecting with people are key to getting recommendations. Find harmless, forward-looking, and respectable colleagues, faculty, and administrative staff who are an embodiment of knowledge and seek guidance and direction.
5. Get to know your lecturers and students or class leaders. A lecturer may have a Ph.D., but that does not mean you cannot build an acceptable student-learner network and seek their help. Keep such meetings and connections within ethical and accepted limits.
6. Get to know the major courses you will be studying. Join very good study groups and set ground rules for success.
7. Manage your time very well and get the most out of it. Cut off overly playing colleagues. Set aside time for personal reading—time you want to be alone—and ensure your friends respect it.
8. Choose your friends carefully; not everyone can be your friend. Get those who can help you succeed into your circle and leave the rest out. Connect with coursemates who have high standards and thus high social, academic, and personal values.
9. Make good use of the university’s counselling department or unit to deal with issues that confront you. Never ignore your personal and academic problems. When they come, seek help from the counselling department.
10. Don’t forget about God. Freshmen are advised to take God seriously while in school. Don’t live life anyhow. Live a prayerful life.
We hope these pieces of advice for new university students in level 100 will go a long way towards helping them start their university education on a good note.