Tips for a successful time in university

[TeenHelp]

Tips for a successful time in university
By Dez ( *~Sparkly Queer~* )

When people go to university, they want to be successful. However, sometimes things such as procrastination, difficult class material, or making friends can be a problem for students. There are ways to combat these problems before they grow too large, and to aid a student in being successful in university. In this article, the term 'professor' will be used to refer to the person teaching the class, but other terms such as lecturer and instructor can also be used depending on the university.

Don’t procrastinate

Procrastination is a major problem in university. Students will put off completing their assignments for a variety of reasons. Sometimes things such as a student’s social life or job will get in the way. In other instances, a lack of motivation towards or understanding of the assignment will drive a student to delay its completion. Students will say they’ll do the assignment later, and then end up rushing to complete it last minute. However, it is important to avoid procrastination whenever possible. Saving everything for the last minute can get overwhelming as assignments start to pile up, and it is important that a student has enough time to think about their assignment as they are working on it. Also, if a student saves their studying for the last minute, they may not retain enough information and therefore not do as well on a test or quiz. If a student is prone to procrastination, there are solutions.

It may be useful to make a schedule and block out times for completing certain activities, such as assignments, volunteering, jobs, or socializing. Start out by writing down class times, work schedules, or other appointments and obligations that can't be missed. Write down the times these activities start and end. From there, set aside some time for activities such as eating or taking a shower. Then, schedule a decent amount of time to get assignments done or to study. It may be useful for a student to schedule some of this time in between classes, so they don’t have to do all of the work straight through. When they set aside all of the things they have to get done, they will realize they actually do have time to do fun things, such as socialize or relax!

Another thing that may help is to keep a planner where every assignment and its due date is written down. This helps to keep track of what has to be done and when it has to get done so nothing is forgotten. A planner may also be useful when creating a schedule because it will show a list of all assignments that must be completed. It is also important to write down dates of upcoming quizzes as well as the tests and midterms or mid-semesters in order to be prepared.

Once procrastination is reduced or eliminated, a student may notice that they are getting assignments done on time and even early, without the added stress of scrambling to finish things the morning they are due.

Take notes

Taking good notes has many benefits. Firstly, as a student writes down the notes, they will hopefully be thinking about the material at hand a bit better since not only will they be hearing it, but also thinking about it and seeing it. Also, when it is time to study, the more detailed notes they have, the more prepared they will be for any tests, quizzes, or assignments they may have coming up.

Using shorthand or other abbreviations may prevent students from falling behind as the professor lectures. Student should make sure these notes are able to be understood at a later date by creating a key or using abbreviations that are easy to remember.

It is useful to take notes while reading. Students can write notes directly into the book. Highlight, underline, and circle any key points. Look up unfamiliar words and write them in the margins. Ask questions about the reading and write down the answers. If the reading evokes any thoughts or ideas, write them down. If unable to make marks in the book, do this with sticky notes or on a separate sheet of paper. This allows students to read more actively and better retain the material. They will also be able to quickly find relevant information while doing assignments, and pinpoint where they may need a bit of extra help.

Ask for help

Nobody expects students to know and be good at everything, even in university. There may be times when they encounter a difficult class or assignment, and may need a bit of extra help. This is okay!

Many professors have office hours where a student can visit them and discuss any material or assignments about which they are unsure. In most cases, the office hours are listed on a professor’s syllabus. However, if these are not listed, students should ask the professor when their office hours are, and where they will be located. Office hours are useful because there will be one-on-one interaction with the professor where they are able to go more in depth about difficult subjects, and explain things in a different way. Sometimes professors will even be willing to look over assignments students have done before they turn them in to make sure they are on the right track.

Some students fear that their professors will think poorly of them if they have to use their office hours. In fact, the opposite is true! Professors love to see their students take initiative in their classes and ask for help. In larger classes, this may also allow a professor to get to know their students better which can help them build connections. It is useful for students to get to know professors of classes related to their major because these professors may aid their students in finding internships and writing letters of recommendation.

Students may be able to get a tutor for their class material if they do not want to go to the professor directly. Students should ensure the tutor is skilled in the specific subject they need help with.

Many universities offer writing and/or mathematics centers where students can go and receive extra help on things such as essays, other pieces of writing, or mathematics classes and assignments. They will receive extra help here to not only make sure the assignment is done properly, but to ensure they grasp and truly understand it. If a student is unsure if their university offers one of these centers, their professor may know.

Another option is creating study groups with other students in the class. Study groups allow students to collaborate on assignments and put their heads together to gain a better understanding of the material than they did before. Study groups take off some of the pressure of going to the professor but still allows students to learn the material. When attending a study group, students should ensure that the group stays on topic as much as possible.

Try not to miss class

If a student misses class, the professor is not going to take time out of the next class to fill them in on what they missed. While sometimes missing class is unavoidable due to illness or family emergencies, students should try to avoid missing class as much as possible. When in class, students have the opportunity to take notes, get explanations on assignments, and ask professors questions. A lot can be missed in just one class, so it is important to show up!

Each professor has a different policy regarding absences as well. While some professors don’t include attendance in the final grade, others do, and missing too many classes may add up and severely impact the final grade. Be sure to check the class syllabus or ask the professor about their policy.

Get involved

It can feel a bit lonely when a student first starts out at university, especially if they do not know anyone. The best way to remedy that is to get involved.

If a student lives on campus, they should try to befriend their roommate and attend any events that are put on by the residence hall. These events are great ways to meet other people that live nearby and make some friends.

Students should speak to some of the people in their classes. If unable to speak to them during class, it is okay to approach them outside of class. Start by making an introduction and beginning a conversation. The first conversations can be about things such as the class or hobbies, but they are great ways to get to know people and make friends. Befriending people from the classes is also a good idea because this gives students the opportunity to form a study group or get notes and other materials when they are absent.

Joining clubs and social groups is one of the best ways to get involved on campus. Many universities have at least a few clubs to get involved with. These clubs and social groups cover many topics such as LGBT+, mental health, political parties, and more. These are wonderful ways to meet other people on campus who have similar interests. Many clubs also offer campus activities that can be attended to have an enjoyable time!

If a student is able to, they may apply for a job on campus or see if the campus has any volunteering opportunities. These are other ways to meet and work closely with other people in the school.

Use your resources

Sometimes adjusting to university can be tough, but there are resources a student can use if they are ever having problems and need to talk. Nobody deserves to go through this alone!

Some schools have a health and wellness center so students can access basic healthcare free or for a reduced price. Some of the services offered may include physicals, gynecology, and STI testing. Students should call the campus’ health and wellness center for a complete description of what they offer.

Other schools have a counselling center on campus so students can get access to counselling free or for a reduced price. Counselling services are there to help with a variety of issues, such as mental health issues or with transitioning to university. These services are confidential and typically only short-term, but they can give students a referral to someone in their town.

The school may also offer help for drug and alcohol problems, or in the event of a sexual assault. The school may offer services for LGBT+ youth, or those from a diverse range of cultures. The university wants to see its students healthy, happy, and safe.

It may also be useful for students to write down the phone number of the campus police department, if it has one, or the number of the police department of the city the university is in. In case of an emergency, it is important to be able to get help!

As long as a person stays motivated, works hard, gets involved, and asks for help when needed, they are definitely able to have a successful and happy time in university!