JerryMouse

Hey Everyone,

Hope you've all been well.

I recently finished my last exam for my 1st year and so that's why I've decided that now would be the perfect time to restart my university journey journal (albeit under a new name) (here's my old archived journal - https://archive.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php?topic=196384.0)

I've come to the conclusion that when I first started my journey, I really didn't know what to expect from uni. I didn't know exactly what I wanted and what kind of field I wanted to be in. I went to uni because it felt like the most obvious pathway to take. I started this year by studying IT but now I'm considering a move to Business next year. I still don't know 100% if Business is right for me but I do know that if you don't try then you'll never know.

In terms of friendships, all of my closest friends went to other universities so I really felt the loneliness at the start of my journey and I still feel it now. I haven't made any close friends during my 1st year and I've realised that making friends at uni is a lot harder than high school because everyone is on a different schedule. To solve this issue of loneliness, I've put myself out there by going to multiple uni events held by clubs and societies. However, I've realised that going to these events does not guarantee the creation of strong friendships (especially since I'm approximately 60% an introvert but extroverts might have a different experience). My favourite events have been networking events because I've learnt so much about X industries from people who work in X industries. Many older uni students have also told me that they wish that they would've gone to networking events earlier on in their degree as that would've helped them with finding more opportunities later on. I would highly recommend going to uni events as much as you can early on (2nd year onwards or even 1st year if you're really interested) as that would help expand your knowledge. Technical skills are not just the only thing that employers look for, soft skills are also considered to be very important. I've also done some volunteering at uni to strengthen my soft skills, boost my CV and to just feel a part of something bigger than myself.

As a 1st year, the biggest advice that I can give to future school leavers is that uni is what you make it.

This is what I wish I knew before I started uni:

1. You can decide on how you want to run things. If you struggle with a 4 unit load per semester then cut down to or enroll in only 2-3 units per semester. It might take you a little longer to complete your degree but at least you'd feel less stressed/anxious about it.
2. You probably won't have to think about this until your 2nd year but I'm still gonna mention it. Not all units are available in each semester so please check if the units that you want to study are available to enroll in before making your study plan. Also, keep track of all units which require a prerequisite unit to be successfully done beforehand.
3. Don't work full-time and study full-time at the same time. Doing a full-time load of 4 units per semester and working full-time is very difficult to manage. If your goal is to work full-time and to do uni at the same time then I'd suggest studying a part-time load of 2 units per semester. It might take you longer to finish your degree but at least your full-time work commitments wouldn't impact your academics. Besides, most employers like students who do more than just academics so your full-time job could actually be a great benefit for your CV. A lot of degrees can also be done completely online so that greater flexibility might suit your lifestyle better.
4. Ask questions. Nobody is going to help you at uni unless if you ask for help. If you feel intimidated by asking questions in person then send an email to your unit coordinator/tutor (trust me, it's a lot less intimidating). Asking questions earlier in the semester would also make studying less stressful near the end of a semester. It would also make the chances of failing a unit (and having to repeat a unit) a lot less likely.
5. The independent lifestyle of uni provides many freedoms but it also makes procrastinating a lot easier to do so make a study plan and try your best to stick to it. Use your uni's support services if you need them. Make an accountability group and organise regular meetups if you find it hard to stay on track. Even a simple 10 min virtual meetup that happens once a week would be good.
6. Go to uni events early on if you have the time (especially clubs and societies) and you won't regret it later. A lot of 1st year students don't bother going to uni events often until their last few years at uni. Going to networking events especially can help you find opportunities which aren't advertised everywhere and they can also help build your network. Also, make a LinkedIn account and use it at networking events to connect with people from industry.
7. Your 1st year will be boring sometimes and that's okay. The 1st year of uni is often considered to be a year of experimentation. You are forced to go through so many units which are supposed to give you an idea of what each major involves. Some universities make you choose your major just before your 2nd semester begins and others allow you to decide at the end of your 1st year (there is often a lot of flexibility). Not having a choice regarding the units that you want to study during your 1st year isn't fun but it does set the scene for the rest of your uni years (which give you more choice).
8. Above all, don't lose hope just because you're struggling. Withdrawing from a unit should be your last resort. Talk to your unit coordinator/tutor if you're struggling and find out all of the options that you have available to you before you consider withdrawing from a unit.

I hope this post has been helpful,

Until next time,

Kind regards
JerryMouse