Are you feeling nervous about starting university?

I think we can all agree that starting university is an exciting yet nerve-wracking moment.

Going from hanging out with your friends every day in secondary school to big lectures of 400 new faces can be quite intimidating. Being a final year student, I’d like to give you some tips on how to tackle university successfully and make the most out of it.

Don’t fall behind

This goes without saying, but don’t let your social life and extra-curricular activities come into the way of your studies. The first year can have a slow start as lecturers have to make sure all students have strong basic knowledge before beginning more complicated topics, as people are coming from all different academic backgrounds. However, it is important to always stay on top of your work in order to achieve top grades without the hassle of last-minute panicking.

Sign up for everything

Try out different clubs, societies, and extracurricular activities as, other than making you a more competitive student and being a great addition to your CV, this is a great way to explore different interests you may not have known about. Furthermore, this will make you a more well-rounded student and will push you to acquire transferable skills useful in your studies as well as in your professional life. Additionally, this is a great way to meet new people and make friends outside the students from your degree.

Use all resources available

Universities are great in providing a variety of services to help their students, such as career, placement, academic advisors, and mental health consultants. Make sure you make the most out of these resources and book meetings to explore your options. They will help you visualise your wanted path and help you pursue it, other than being of assistance in moments of need. This can be anything from landing your dream job, to helping you in moments of anxiety.

Apply, apply, apply

Make sure to apply to every internship or job that you may be interested in, in order to start tailoring your interests and learn what you are passionate about. Furthermore, with each application, you will develop employability skills and will start learning what makes a competitive applicant. This will come in handy in the future when you are applying to jobs you wish to get.

We are all in the same boat

Finally, don’t be afraid to talk to other students both inside and outside the lecture theatres. Make sure to meet as many people as possible, in your class, in your accommodation, in clubs, and at social events. This will help you make many friends in different settings which will make your experience at university fun and pleasant. It can be quite scary to make the first move but remember that everyone is going through the same process, hence they will be just as willing to talk to you back and become your friends.

Conclusively, put yourself out there fearlessly to try anything new and meet new people and you will make the most out of this experience. I hope these five tips will help you look forward to starting university a little bit less nervous and with a lot of excitement!