12 tips for college freshmen

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

This knowledge will transform you from an insecure applicant to a real student.

1. Get to know your university better before September 1

Typically, a university building is much larger than a school building, so finding the right audience the first time can be difficult. Especially when the building is old and with a long chain of corridors. Or the university has several buildings: additional difficulties may arise if they also have an internal division, for example, there are buildings 2, 2b, 2c. The names of classrooms in different buildings may be the same, so carefully check in the schedule not only the number of the office, but also the number of the building in which it is located.

Find classrooms in advance where you will have classes on the first day of school. It will be a shame to get lost and be late right at the start.

Be sure to check where the dean's office is located - the organizational center of your faculty. You can contact there for any question regarding your studies. Also, there is usually a board somewhere nearby with important announcements, offers for a part-time job and a schedule.

2. Know your schedule. At the university you will have two

The schedule in universities differs markedly from the school one. At least the fact that the training is divided into weeks: even and odd. The schedule is different depending on this - be careful.

Also, don't confuse lectures and seminars. In the first, the teacher tells a topic, in the second, students are already speaking: they share their homework: answer questions, show reports and presentations.

The first couples on different days can be in different buildings. This also needs to be monitored.

An obvious life hack that not everyone comes to mind: in order not to forget the schedule, take a photo of it, rewrite it in a notebook, make a note on your phone, or add the start time of couples to the calendar on your smartphone.

3. Don't forget about non-core disciplines

If you are a humanist and dreamed of getting out of school as soon as possible so that you never hear about math again, we have bad news for you. Techies who want to forget about Russian lessons forever are for you too.

General education disciplines must be included in the schedule of all faculties. For example, physical education, philosophy, psychology, concepts of modern natural science, economic theory, Russian language.

It's important to visit them, even if you don't like couples. Absenteeism and carelessness can negatively affect your grades and overall performance. After all, you still have to hand over these subjects at the session. This is especially important for those who receive a scholarship or plan to transfer to the budget. So, postponed to the next semester, working off missed physical education lessons will turn out to be sideways for you.

Go to non-core couples and be active: ask questions, answer at seminars. Perhaps for this you will be given a test or an exam automatically.

If general education subjects make you feel bored, try changing your attitude towards them. Consider these disciplines as a way to broaden your horizons and become more erudite. And physical education, for example, is like free classes with a trainer. And remember that this is temporary: usually such subjects are taught in the first years, and then the schedule of 90 percent consists of core disciplines.

4. Visiting couples and doing homework is your concern

Another obvious truth, the neglect of which leads to sad consequences. Nobody cares about the progress of students, unlike schoolchildren, since it is your responsibility, and not the responsibility of the teachers: you study poorly and skip - expect expulsion.

If possible, attend all lectures, ask questions, prepare for seminars and complete coursework and semester papers on time. This will increase your chances of passing or exam automatically. And today it is easier to get access to all the necessary literature than 20 years ago, when the Internet was not so widespread and you had to “live” in a library.

5. Take notes, but do not try to write the lectures verbatim

It's not a good idea to come to a lecture and be bored for two academic hours staring at the ceiling. In these sessions, trainers provide information to help you prepare for a seminar or session. Therefore, it is important to write it down. And no, it is not always in some one textbook that you can easily read a couple of days before the exam. That is why it is in your best interest to attend lectures. So you can not only take notes, but also record information on a dictaphone or ask the teacher again if something is not clear.

Some teachers are not allowed to pass the exam or test without notes in a notebook or laptop.

Usually, teachers in lectures speak quickly and do not repeat the same idea several times. To keep up with taking notes, use abbreviations, for example:

• Abbreviation symbols: =>(hence), ≈(approximately), =(equal, same).
• Letter abbreviations: f (function), t (time). If the topic of the lecture, for example, the rule of law, write instead of this combination PG.

Do not expect your classmates to copy the notes. Sometimes, abbreviations make students' notes difficult to decipher, even for themselves.

6. Communicate with classmates

This is a great school of life: in the future, you will need to interact and negotiate with different people. In addition, at the university there are often collective tasks that are much easier to complete with those with whom you have established contact. Try to be friendly with everyone, but do not tolerate bullying and unpleasant people - safely bypass them: there will be no benefit or positive emotions from this communication.

Get contact numbers from the head of the group and responsible students. This can come in handy: if you get lost and don't find an audience, or if you walk a couple and need to learn your homework.

7. Switch from study to rewarding leisure

The university has a huge selection of classes. These are clubs, for example, a discussion or business club, scientific communities, their own KVN team, sports teams. You can find out what interesting the university offers in the Department for extracurricular work.

You can also go to parties with classmates or to nightclubs, bars, pubs. The main thing is not to make such evenings the norm and try not to break away if you have a seminar tomorrow at eight in the morning. Coming to class with a fume is a failed idea.

8. Do not attach importance to horror stories about teachers

Older students often share stories about educators with freshmen. “Marya Petrovna’s exam can be passed only the third time”, “Ivan Vasilyevich always chooses a couple of favorites, and knocks down the rest”, “Kira Semyonovna is so cool, you can get a test from her without even getting ready”. You don't need to believe in this and set yourself up for bad (or good) in advance, thinking that nothing depends on your efforts.

But you can listen to general useful advice. For example, "Vasily Vasilich loves to ask clarifying questions", "Agafya Arkadyevna strictly keeps track of attendance, but Irina Petrovna does not remember students by sight - you can skip a couple of classes."

9. Do not try to sit behind your backs

If you come to an empty or half-empty auditorium, do not run to the back desks. Teachers do not like such students. They may think that you sat there chatting, taking a nap on your smartphone, or sleeping.

Front desks are optional. If you do not want to be active and be in direct contact with the teacher, sit in the middle. This is the perfect place to be smart and lazy.

Ask questions, try to be remembered by the teacher - they often favor those who were more active and visible, and not the most brilliant. If you are very smart, but sit quietly, the teacher may simply not know about your outstanding talents.

10. Keep track of your budget

A student's income can consist of pocket money given to him by his parents, scholarships, and a salary he receives from a part-time job. These funds will be spent on public transport, meals, clothing, entertainment. And if a student lives separately from his parents, then the rent or dormitory fee may also be added to the expenses.

It is convenient to keep track of your budget in a notebook, notes or special applications on your smartphone.

Students can save on many things. Be sure to check what benefits you are entitled to. For example, a public transport pass, discounts in museums, cafes, clothing stores.

11. Observe the daily routine

Lack of sleep, lack of breaks, and the wrong diet lead to decreased productivity, poor brain function and other problems. Therefore, you do not need to study around the clock and stay awake for several nights.

Strong coffee or energy drinks will not save you from the regular lack of rest. The human body gets used to the dose of caffeine within a week and stops responding to it. In general, you can drink coffee for cheerfulness, the main thing is no more than four cups a day.

12. Put knowledge into practice and take advantage of opportunities

If you have time, look for specialized practices and internships already during your studies. This will help create a professional portfolio and make it easier to find employment after college.

You can look for a part-time job not only on the Internet. Contact your specialized department or the trade union committee - a student association, which is in every university.

The trade union committee can also help you find a place for summer practice, get into a volunteer organization, apply for a scholarship.

Many universities also have international agreements with foreign universities. Students can go to study there for a semester or two. You need to submit an application and pass the intra-university selection. And here again, good academic performance and attending classes will help you.

Also, the university often helps students to get international internships, take short educational programs or summer internships abroad, for example, through Work and Travel. You can learn more about such options in the International Cooperation Department.