The First Year Transition

Advice for first years from current students

In common with other significant life transitions, the first year at university is a process with different dimensions to it:

Every student who's been through the first year has advice to share about what went right, what worked for them, and what they might have done differently if they had a second chance. Now, you can benefit from their accumulated wisdom:

General Transition advice

'Although starting uni can be a challenge, it should be embraced. It is a very exciting transition and even though there seems to be a lot more freedom at university, a lot more discipline is required as well.'

'Be prepared to be independent, organised and motivated. You need to take initiatives in your own life. Find out what you really want to do and to get to know yourself better, i.e. know your own personal goals.'

'Having found the transition process quite challenging, I would advise other students to accept that it will be challenging at times (as well as exciting).  

'Get involved in clubs, societies, extra-curricular activities to meet new people, take advantage of uni support programs (like the Learning Skills advisors) and be organised!'

'Have balance in your everyday life (what you need to do vs. what you want to do). Don’t over-schedule yourself or you’ll set yourself up for burnout.’

'I would say that self-discipline is important in the new environment. Transition from school or college to uni is hard as there is a huge difference between the two environments. Students need more time management skills and need to develop self-discipline.'

Social advice

'Enjoy the transition process – get involved as much as possible initially and meet new people, develop networks. Try and stay up to date with work as it can be very hard to try and catch up at uni - much faster pace!

'Create time to fit socializing in between uni work and money-earning work.'

'Don't be shy to meet new people and ask questions when you don't understand.'

'Be proactive in making friends - introduce yourself to others, etc. Get involved in clubs and extracurricular activities. Take advantage of a wide range of opportunities.'

‘Accept that it’s okay to occasionally disappoint someone in order to take time for yourself. Don’t base your self-esteem on always pleasing other people.’

‘Get off campus whenever you need a break from university or from your fellow students. ‘ 

Academic advice

‘Don’t get carried away with the idea that “the first year doesn’t count”. It’s in the first year that study habits get established. Lecturers will also form an initial impression of you. It’s not always easy to change their minds later- or even get their attention- if you haven’t made any impact at all.’

'Be aware that there is more assessment throughout the university semester, which varies from subject to subject.'

'Join a study group wherever possible.'

‘Be realistic in your expectations and goal-setting. Remember you are human and nobody is perfect. Determine what success means to you.’

'Keep up with the work that is thrown at you or otherwise you may find yourself struggling towards exams.'

‘Read your emails from tutors and -the university, even if you’re scared!’

Finding help

‘Ask for help before a situation turns into a crisis. Don’t just bury your head in the sand’.

'Seek help from academic staff before it's too late – communicate with lecturers.'

'Get help when you need it; there are loads of places to go, it's just that no one will come up to you and ask if you're OK. It's up to you to approach places for help.'

'Seek assistance and support from uni student support services if needed, as there is a lot of help on offer.'

What would you have done differently if you had the chance?

'I would be more organised and disciplined about studying. Having to meet multiple deadlines really threw me in the first year.’'

'Joined the gym earlier! Done some after hours study, use more library services, be more organised. I didn't realise that after the hard work of A levels, it’s not all over!'

'I would have liked to go to more activities in the first term to make even more friends. It gets progressively harder to meet new people as uni gets busier.'

‘Worried less about making good friends in halls- it wasn’t until my second year that I found people I really clicked with.’

'I would have tried a greater variety of things, taken a few more opportunities and found out about events before they were on (I was too late for a few things).'

‘Sometimes I was too much of a doormat for my friends, my roommate, and my family. I should have been more assertive about what I really wanted.’

'My time management – trying to share time more evenly between individual subjects and between uni and other parts of life.'

‘I wouldn’t change anything. I am enjoying myself so far. I think that as long as you are able to make some friends, you can feel comfortable at uni and it is an enjoyable place to be.’