So you’ve made it to University – congratulations and well done.
Hopefully you have selected the right course for yourself because 30% of your peers change courses, change universities or simply drop out altogether. It’s a disturbing stat and one to avoid contributing to. So without stating the obvious here are some tips for choosing the right course first time;
- You must be really interested in the subject.
- If you are not sure, ask people with experience and knowledge, dig deeper, ask questions and actively collate decision making information.
- You must be confident you will get a job when you graduate as 30% of graduates don’t and remain unemployed for a period of time
- You must be able to afford the course fees as well as the costs of living
- Is the university environment right for you – large verses small campus, city verses country living. We are all different and so are the campus environments
Freedom
The first thing you will notice is the freedom you have. At school everyone wanted to know where you were every minute of every day and if you skipped a class, where was your note. The bell rang for recess, then lunch and you were part of a structured program. On a geographically fragmented campus where things are difficult to find, nobody cares whether you turn up for class or not, whether you skip a tutorial or not. The lecturer is unlikely to know you name, ever and your tutor will know your name but really is not going to lose sleep if you’re not ‘getting it’ and fail. You’re now in an unstructured environment and it’s a great feeling. You’re in control of your own destiny and sometimes the choices are pretty difficult to make – do I go the boring Econometrics lecture which I don’t have a clue what the lecturer is talking about anyway or do I go to the beach or better still to the bar with my friends and enjoy a cold beer, in the sun with my shirt off.
Expectations
So don’t have too many expectations about university. The content will be tough and there is lots of it. Fall behind & you will struggle. Work at an even pace and you will be fine. There is no-one to hold your hand, nor do you want them to. The only folk, who will be concerned about you, are you and your family. Others don’t, so accept that up front. You must be proactive, track down, search and get whatever you need, from facility enrolment, to library card usage, missed lecture handouts and so on. Subscribe to the theory of ‘push management’ not ‘pull management’ as nobody, repeat nobody is going to pull you up at university.
Get Smart
If you’re half smart, then utilise technology for information rather than relying on personal input from others. It’s quicker and more reliable. When assignments are given out, get the reference material quickly to avoid all copies being ‘out’ if you leave it till the last minute. If that’s likely to be you, then steel yourself for your first ‘all nighter’ and hand in that assignment in right on the 12 noon deadline. If you’re a day student try to avoid 9.00am and 5.00pm lecturers or tutorials. Despite your best intentions your attendance rate is likely to be lower at these times as there are so many other more attractive things to do, like sleep, go for early morning surf, not get caught up in the peak hour traffic and play time with friends.
It's about life...
For many students there is a huge letdown after a tough Year 12. The long strokes you put in took their toll and despite the 3 months holiday you had it’s now March and the thought of more intense study is demotivating and unthinkable. If this is you, then relax, you’re normal. Many students are burnt out before they start 1st year university or they are now experiencing the sobering reality of picking the wrong course or worse still not getting the pass they had hoped for. In fact I repeat, 30% of 1st year students either changes courses, change universities or simply drop out altogether. Some take a Gap Year overseas or Gap ½ year and commence university in Session 2.
...and balance
You see university is about learning at a higher level and about life. It’s about application and socialising. Sure you need to learn and acquire knowledge about the course that will underpin your future career aspirations. Being diligent with attendance to lectures and tutorials will get you part of the way there, handing in assignments with proper research, clarity of thought and effort will get you further but the bottom line is there is no substitute for application – taking good lecture notes, doing the required reading, resolving issues you don’t understand and when exams roll around swat the hours. Some argue it’s an exercise more in application than intelligence.
But you also have to be realistic – what grade of pass do I want? Some students strive to achieve the University medal for their course, whilst others take a more balanced approach. They argue a HIGH DISTINCTION is way too much study, a life completely out of balance, in fact get a life, whilst a PASS grade is a fine delicate balance between work and play and you both move to the next subject. At university the way you learn is simply different from school and takes time to adjust to the new system. Be patient and keep an open mind. It’s OK to not have immediate goals and it’s also OK just to jog along for a while. You don’t have to have the same intensity and finely honed study habits you had at high school.
Your grades will be influenced by the groups you hang out with. The campus if full of people who have differing priorities. Some are even professional students. They enjoy a good time and so should you, within reason and with a sense of balance. Socialising, making new friends, managing the freedom responsibly, choices and decisions you now have is an important part of your adult development. University has such great scale and social scope, with factors such as gender, cultural differences, people from the city and the country all providing new challenges related to interactive learning between students, tutors and lecturers.
...and being lucky
If your one of the lucky ones and still live at home, be thankful for the family support and the fact your dirty clothes still magically reappear back washed and ironed in your wardrobe, Mum and Dad still give you some cash when your short and you have a team behind you. But if you’re not and share a flat, working part time, having domestic responsibilities, maximising that heavy social independence, then chances are your reality check has just arrived, you’re pressing the envelope and loving it. The mark of PASS looks good.
There is the middle ground of living on or near campus. Most of the universities offer accommodation of some sort, usually halls or colleges residences. The rooms are small and Spartan – desk, bed, cupboard about 3m x 5m in dimension. The upside is the convenience of allowing a focus on study, socialising, meals provided and little to no housework but they are very expensive and you receive virtually no privacy. Off campus, university owned apartments allow more independence, you get more privacy but you have to cook and clean.
Fantastically some of life’s great times occur during this time – the cooking skills to rival Jamie Oliver, the domestic skills to challenge any Nanny and the financial management skills that Peter Costello would be proud of. Then there is your first car, whether it’s a $2,000 masterpiece with multiple former lovers or if Mum and Dad buy one brand new it doesn’t matter. They are your wheels and you can go anywhere. So go everywhere, never drink and drive and demonstrate maturity whenever you’re behind the wheel.
...and realistic
Remember your HELP debt will accrue. So a ‘FAIL’ mark in a subject not only will require you to repeat it but will cost you double. That’s right the HECS applies again. Make sure this is not you. It doesn’t enhance your Academic Transcript and employers seeking high quality graduate and cadets will more likely shy away from you. Take time to assess and reassess your career direction. Don’t be surprised if you change your career choice the further you get into your undergraduate course. That’s normal. Make a pact with yourself to better understand who you are, what your personality really is, how you impact on people around, what are your strengths and weaknesses and which career choices you are likely to be better suited to. Making an informed choice can only lead to you attaining high performance in both career and life.
To deliver the bottom line
It is one of life great moments when you stand there with a cap and gown to receive your first degree. So enjoy university life, graduate and make yourself proud. Some say it’s the last frontier of unbridled enjoyment and freedom you can experience before you face the real music....
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