Five things you should do in your first year to ensure a successful university life


by

Raka Muhammad Iqbal Ismail

Many people leave their hometowns after a long time to attend university and start a new life in a city or rural area where they have few acquaintances. As the saying goes, 'The beginning is the most important thing,' so how you make friends and spend your school life in your first year at university will have a major impact on your long-term student life. The Conversation has compiled a list of things you should do to succeed in your first year at university.

Five top tips to succeed in your first year of university
https://theconversation.com/five-top-tips-to-succeed-in-your-first-year-of-university-112135

◆1: Find a support service


by

Victoria Heath

Many universities offer student counseling, mental health, sexual health, disability services, and financial support services, as well as career centers and accommodations. The university's official website is the first place students should visit to find the right support services. Students can also attend presentations during orientation, speak with teaching assistants, or contact student centers to find more information about university life, which The Conversation notes is a 'must.'

The best way to get information about your upcoming student life is to talk to other students, and freshmen should actively participate in opportunities like peer mentoring , which The Conversation describes as 'fun sessions where upperclassmen teach you how to tackle assignments and exams.'

He also recommends that first-year students 'become familiar with university libraries that focus on improving literacy and math skills.' These learning centers often offer free workshops on academic writing, reading strategies, and time management, which can help students develop skills that will be extremely useful in their academic lives.

◆2: Manage your time well


by

Markus Spiske

One of the biggest challenges in college during your first year is figuring out how to balance your social and academic commitments. One of the best ways to tackle this challenge is to create a semester plan at the beginning of each semester.

Create a plan in the form of a timeline or calendar, enter all your assignments and exams first, then allocate time for research, planning, proofreading, checking references, etc. By adding all other information such as part-time jobs and personal plans into this semester plan, you will be able to manage your time well in university life, where you will have much more free time than in high school.

◆3: Maintain a consistent reading volume


by

Alejandro Escamilla

There are many different faculties at universities, and student life varies greatly depending on which faculty you belong to. However, one common theme across many faculties is that 'good work is backed up by accurate evidence.' This means that only well-supported student opinions will attract interest, and that the amount of research and reading a student does is a prerequisite for submitting a good work.

However, the amount of reading required of first-year college students is overwhelming. The Conversation points out that 'the good news is that you don't need to read the entire textbook,' and that you need to be able to quickly look up relevant information.

◆4: Learn how to avoid plagiarism


by Jazmin Quaynor

Learning how to properly reference materials is crucial to avoid plagiarizing other people's work during your student life. As The Conversation explains, 'At the beginning of the semester, students must complete an online module that explains the intricacies of academic integrity.'

Students need to be able to properly reference the books and research papers they cite to avoid the risk of losing credits or having their degree revoked for plagiarism, and they need to be aware of the different referencing styles that may be required.

Proper referencing demonstrates to instructors that students are part of the academic community and respect its rules. Learning to properly reference bibliographical information, such as author name, title, year of publication, and page number, from the first year of university will be a valuable asset for students throughout their academic careers, The Conversation writes.

◆5: Enjoy your university life!


by Priscilla Du Preez

If you are dissatisfied with your university life, you should seek advice from your faculty. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own academic progress, but if you have any concerns, it is important to 'confide in your instructors' and reconsider your career path. It is important to plan your future properly, taking into account the possibility of transferring to another department.

College life is not only a time to study and shape your future career, but it's also an important time to build lifelong friendships. The friendships you build during your student years can be very helpful in college and beyond, so it's important to play well and build friendships properly, The Conversation writes.

in Education,   Note, Posted by logu_ii