There are a couple of things students should know before joining a higher learning institution. As a new student at the college or the university, it is important that you understand that there are many errors that may undermine your success. It could be disheartening to make these same mistakes after reading this article. Most learning institutions are focused on the academic syllabus such that they do not find time to educate freshmen students about what they should expect in a high learning institution. Most students are having difficulty adjusting to university life because they are frustrated to find that it is way different from what they had expected or watched in movies.
One clear thing is that it can be difficult and challenging to live in a new environment, away from parents and friends you grew up with. For the first couple of days or weeks, you might find it difficult to live with a stranger. It is essential to come to terms with the notion that writing assignments will demand a significant part of university life. At times, you may feel depressed or stressed out because of how your workload keeps increasing. On the same note, you might find it difficult when it comes to deciding on the activities that need to be prioritized. If you ever find yourself in any of the situations mentioned above, you should not hesitate to seek assistance from the right people and places. The good thing is that in most cases, your lecturers will be more than willing to offer you any form of assistance. As a student, you should never forget that there is no shame in not knowing something. Therefore, you should never be reluctant to seek help. This article will discuss essential things you should know before joining the university.
Manage your time effectively
You might have heard a couple of times the importance of managing your time well. Time is one of the most critical resources, which, once wasted, will never be recovered. Time management plays an essential role while at school, particularly when doing your research and completing your assignments. Unfortunately, most students fail to manage their time well, and hence, they end up making avoidable mistakes as they try to compete with deadlines.
Avoid relying on your tutor for everything
Whereas your tutor should provide you with 30% of the syllabus content, it is your responsibility as the students to search for the remaining 70%. Unfortunately, you should not expect to score exemplary grades by just attending your lectures, exam review sessions, and studying the guides provided by the examiner. You ought to go the extra mile and spend time in the library to compare what different authors have analysed a particular concept. Therefore, it is essential always to remember that your class notes can be a great starting place when it comes to revising for your examinations. On the same note, you should always remember that attending your classes and going through the lecturer’s notes does not guarantee that you will receive impressive grades.
Ensure you have a sufficient amount of sleep
By the time you join the university, you should be well aware of the essential role of having a sufficient amount of sleep. As a freshman student, you should always remember that campus life is always so hyped up to the extent that students believe that they should spend all their weekends partying. Most students have developed a negative perception that the fewer numbers of hours they sleep, the more productive they will become. It will be difficult and close to impossible to improve your writing skills or score good grades if you do not have a sufficient amount of sleep. Researchers believe that an individual should have approximately seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Therefore, always ensure that you have enough rest if you want to maximize your productivity.
Do not miss your breakfast or any other meal
Most campus students are fond of skipping their breakfast despite being one of the most important meals to a scholar. Research indicates that failure to have your breakfast could result in disastrous impacts on your memory and attention. A study was conducted on the importance of breakfast. The results indicated that students, who were fond of taking energy drinks as their breakfast, performed worse academically and had poor memory and concentration compared to those who took their breakfast. Therefore, if you want to be productive and accomplish a lot within the day’s limited time, ensure you begin your day by taking breakfast.
Do not compare of competing with your colleagues
Life is not a competition, and your weaknesses, maybe your friend’s strengths. Students ought to remember that every person is gifted differently and with varying abilities. You may not attain anything in your life if you live like you are in a competition. Although at times, you may use your friend’s performance to gauge abilities, that does not mean that you should start comparing yourself. The spirit of competition will prevent you from seeking assistance, even when you are struggling. Therefore, avoid living your life as if it is a competition.
Avoid plagiarism at every cost
Plagiarism, also known as academic theft, is considered one of the most punishable offenses in any academic institution. In simple terms, plagiarism can be defined as the direct copying of words without giving the authors credit. One of the surest ways of making good academic grades is by avoiding plagiarism at all costs. Most students find themselves caught up with plagiarized assignments because they did not take enough time to do their assignments. The majority of professors and examiners look out for plagiarism and any slight trace of it might be the end of you attaining your desired grade. If you want to avoid getting caught between cases of plagiarism, you might consider starting to work on your assignments from scratch or using a plagiarism checker tool.
Classes are very important even when no one forces you to attend
Higher learning institutions provide students with an unlimited amount of freedom. Unfortunately, many students make the mistake of using this freedom in ways that affect their overall performance. It is quite common for university and college students to miss their classes for one reason or the other. The major disadvantage of this habit is that it denies them the opportunity to learn in class as the lecturers teach which may have very negative impacts. As a university student, you should always know the importance of attending all your classes and making yourself available despite the many responsibilities that you have during your academic career.
Life in the university is not always that fun and exciting. However, with discipline, combined with excellent studying habits, you might have less difficulty attaining your desired academic goals. Hopefully, this article has educated you on the essential things you need to know before joining the university.
