How to handle your first day at Uni

University Quadrangle The first day of uni can be pretty scary. The campus is huge, everyone seems older and more confident and you feel certain that they can all spot you as a first year from a mile away, easily identifiable by your dazed expression … and enormous campus map. However, much like the first day of high school and your fears of being dunny-flushed by the older kids, you'll quickly find that it's no where near as bad as expected - honest.

The first day will probably still be scary but it's only one day and at the end of it you'll be wondering exactly what it was that you were so terrified of in the first place!

Know where you're going

To make things easier for yourself, read your campus map before going to lectures so you know where you need to go in advance. Bear in mind also that there are ten minutes between lectures, which is plenty of time for you to get hopelessly lost and ask an approachable looking stranger for directions. It's by far better to ask someone for help than turn up late to class and suffer the humiliating consequences - which usually involve a pregnant pause from the lecturer while a room full of 100 students take a moment to stop and watch you blush horrendously before attempting to climb over someone to get to the closest available seat. If you're really unlucky, you'll lose your shoe in the process.

Quiet in the back!

To avoid yourself further embarrassment in lectures and tutorials, try to minimize your own noise. This means restraining yourself from gossiping with your friends, turning off your cell phone, and thinking carefully about any food you may be planning on eating during the class. Sometimes you will find that your timetable runs for 3-4 hours solid with no breaks and subsequently you may be forced to grab some food on the run. This is fine. What is not fine, however, are people who eat potato chips, apples, and other loud and crunchy things - stick to something safe like sushi (essentially followed by chewing gum) or a muffin.

Ask and you shall receive

You pay a lot of money to be at university so don't be afraid to take advantage of the resources available to you - and this includes the staff. If you don't understand something ask your lecturer or tutor for help (it's what they're there for). And if you feel a bit foolish asking in front of other people, go and see them during their weekly office hours. Also know that you can approach lecturers and tutors for help or advice with upcoming assignments and exams - even if it seems as ludicrously simple as clarifying the question itself, speak out! It’s an extremely easy way to waste a lot of time researching the wrong thing (a common and frustrating mistake).

Library tours essential

The university library is excellent for research, providing you know what you're doing. Don't be a smarty-pants and think you know best as you'll only end up missing out on using faster, more efficient systems and methods. Take a library tutorial at the beginning of the year to learn how to access the databases, etc. It's an hour out of your life that will save your fingernails and your sanity - along with heaps of time - over the next three years.

Expand your horizons

Don't be afraid to try new things. University's about getting qualifications but it's also an opportunity to develop other skills, including learning how to think for yourself. You don't have to stick to subjects you did in school, and you will, in actual fact, end up getting far more out of your time studying if you're open to new possibilities. Try picking up an interest paper and have a go at Religious Studies, Gender Studies or whatever else takes your fancy - often it's the least likely subjects that will surprise and delight you.

Enrol with SJS

Being a university or polytechnic student is a time when you might not have much money. Enrol with Student Job Search - they have lots of jobs and you might pick up some great contacts for later in your career. There are plenty of ways to save money too - such as the text book sale that is held annually. The sale usually takes place in early March.

Enjoy yourself!

So, finally, have fun, be social - but not too social - the university bar's great at the end of the week but bear in mind that you're spending around $3,500+ a year to be there in fees alone. Make the most of your time and meet as many interesting people as you can.

by Rachel Williamson updated February 2008

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