First year survival tips:
Belinda Dali
I am a mature age student, have four children (aged 12, 11 5 & 3) and am doing full time uni. For those first year students who are time challenged, here are my tips for getting through, and doing well at uni:
- The semester is only13 weeks – it is a relatively short period of time so stay focused and practice saying ‘no' to friends/family that place unnecessary demands on your time.
- Plan out your degree. What subjects you undertake in 1st year is imperative to your majors. It seems simple but so many people get caught out.
- Exercise self discipline – during semester - I commit to sitting at my desk everyday for at least 15 minutes. Some days I am too tired and I use the time to get organised for the next day or to do some housekeeping. However, more times than not the 15 minutes turn into hours and I get loads done.
- Learn to be an efficient student – book into all the library tours and attend the study and writing skills workshops put out by the Learning Skills Unit (LSU). Additionally, establish a contact in the LSU and get them to assist with essay plans etc. I have found them to be a fantastic resource.
- There is a lot of reading so it pays to become an efficient “academic” reader. As I learnt, this is very different to the reading I was familiar with. Your friend in LSU can help you with this too.
- I also found it helpful to write a very brief overview of the article I read. A great tip if you are time poor is read the headings, introduction, conclusion and the first and last sentence of the paragraphs in between.
- Take marked essays to the LSU and ask them to give you their input on how to improve your overall mark, that is, how to progress from say, a ‘D' grade to ‘HD'.
- I subscribe to the school of “do what is necessary”, therefore I spend my time executing assessable work, skimming over readings but always attend (or listen to audio) all lectures and tutes.
- Participate in tutes. Your point of view is of interest. We all come from very different and diverse backgrounds and see things from a different perspective. Being ‘right' or ‘wrong' is not of relevance, what you add to the learning process is.
- At the beginning of semester I write on a whiteboard near my desk, a list of assessable work and the corresponding due dates in chronological order. Next to them I draw a box and when I hand in a piece of work I tick the box - it feels really good! When I am starting to burn out towards the end of semester I review my list and find comfort in the fact that I've handed in 4 essays and have 2 more essays to write…………… 3 more weeks to go…………etc….. it really helps to keep me focused and gives me the motivation to keep going on.
- Enjoy your time at uni because being here is a true privilege – if your heart's not in it, reconsider your options. You can always return at a later stage.