Adjusting to University Life
For many first-year students, university may be their first experience living away from home, driving alone or starting another chapter of their life in a completely new and unfamiliar environment. The person’s usual sources of support are no longer present to help make the change to the unfamiliar environment easier. Here are some tips, which may provide you with realistic expectations about adjusting academically, social life on campus and living arrangements in Resident (RES).
What to expect and take note of:
The first few weeks on campus can be a lonely and daunting period. There may be concerns about forming friendships. When new students look around, it may seem that everyone else is confident and socially successful. The reality is that everyone is having the same concerns. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Allow yourself sufficient time, you will find peers in university to provide structure and a valuable support system in the new environment. The important thing for you to remember in meeting new people is to be yourself.
Meaningful, new relationships should not be expected to develop overnight. It took a great deal of time to develop intimacy with your high school friendships; the same will be true of friendships at university. You will find the community, in all universities, is diverse. Students are from different parts of South Africa and the rest of the world, from rural as well as urban areas, from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. This is a good way to meet new people and learn about various cultures and traditions.
Increased personal freedom can feel wonderful but frightening at the same time. Students can come and go as they choose with no one to “hassle” them. At the same time, things are no longer predictable. The strange environment with new kinds of procedures and new people can create the sense of being on an emotional roller coaster. This is normal and to be expected.
Balancing the different areas of your life – social, academic, health, financial, spiritual etc – will be one of the most important challenges you will face.
University classes are a great deal more difficult than high school classes. There are more assignments and the tests and exams cover a greater amount of material. Lecturers expect you to do more independent work, outside of the classroom.
In order to survive, you must take responsibility for your actions. This means that you need to follow the course outlines and keep up-to-date with the prescribed readings and activities.
If a class is missed, it is up to you to borrow lecture notes from someone who was present or request a consultation with the lecturer in order to catch up.
If you are having difficulty with the coursework, you need to ask for help – ask to do extra work, attend tutorials, request an appointment with a lecturer or consult a psychologist at the Student Psychological Services Centre to assist you with time management, planning, study skills etc. Alternatively contact TutorBox on 011 450 4528 for one of our highly skilled and specialised tutors.
Most Importantly…
ENJOY university! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience which should be fun, fulfilling and fabulous.
‘If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the HARD that makes it GREAT.’_ Erin Fike