Adjust to University Life

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about adjusting to university life? I’m particularly interested in insights on managing the transition from high school, building relationships with professors, and finding ways to get involved on campus.

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

Go to Fresher's Fair and look at what societies are on offer - many of them will offer taster sessions in the first few weeks of uni which are almost always free and if you don't like it, there's no obligation to go back. I was a committee member for two years for my society and our taster sessions were FREE, we provided sticks if you needed one (hockey), and we all went to the SU after for a catch up with returning team mates and get to know new people. Probably half of the people who came and tried out didn't come back, which was a bit disappointing but if they didn't like it, we weren't offended. Joining a society is the best, best way to make friends who share mutual interests. Your student's union website should have information on them and many will have their own instagram pages.
If you've missed freshers week, you can still have a look at what societies are on offer - we invited people to come down and watch/try for 4 weeks rather than 1, so if you couldn't make the first session you could still come and try for free. It may depend on your SU but it's worth checking if you missed taster sessions but want to try. Your SU will also have information about who the club president/vice president is if you need to contact them directly.
Go to your course induction as well and yes it's nerve wracking but see if anyone wants to go to the SU or a local bar/pub as a course/class.
I also found signing up for the student rep programme on my degree was good because people came and spoke to me about things in the department and it led to friendships with people in my department.

Reply 2

AWUoS

Original post by Lindalian

Hi @Lindalian,

You've already been given some great advice!

On the more academic side of building relationships with lecturers I might be able to help. In first year a lot of my lectures were with 100+ students so it can be hard to build a rapport. Answering questions in the lectures can be a good first step but this can be nerve-wracking. At most universities it is encouraged to email the professors with any questions about the module and from my experience at the University of Southampton they are more than happy to do so. They love to see passionate and engaged students.

At UoS you are given a personal academic tutor who is often one of your lecturers. This may differ between universities but if you have this available they are always a great place to start as you will be able to get more one to one time with them. As a Russel group university we also have lots of opportunities for students to aid in the lecturer's research, again if this is available to you it could be something worth asking about if you are interested.

Having said all of this first year is about getting settled in and learning the step up from high school so don't feel pressure to dive straight in. For most people the adjustment comes quite naturally overtime and once you are in second and third year your lecturers will probably know you quite well already.

I hope this helps,
Abby - 4th year UoS student

I hope this helps,

Reply 3

Scotland Yard

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

You've got given some good advice above.

Indeed the best advice is to be as involved as you can in university life, I feel like. Go to all your lectures, make sure to ask questions to your lecturers to build a rapport with them, make friends, go to societies (I agree with anon above about looking at societies, they are some of the best things about universities in order to have fun and make friends), keep yourself occupied... it's also ok to struggle with the transition, because it's not easy at all.

Reply 4

Chester Student

Official Rep

Original post by Lindalian

Hi there,

For me it wasn't just one piece of advice that worked, but instead a little trial, error, and gradual effort to adjust. Don't worry if it takes some time, as it's a big change for everyone.

It can be really overwhelming and confusing to settle in and get into the routine of things, so it's great that you're looking for some guidance. I think one really essential thing would be to plan your time well, as this ensures you are keeping on top of the important things and staying on track. I love getting a new calendar or planner (or both!) and keeping a note of assignment due dates, fun events, extracurriculars, and any other important dates.

For building relationships with professors - don't hesitate to reach out. That's what they are there for! Asking questions in class, emailing, setting up meetings, getting to know your personal academic tutor, and showing general interest are all great ways to build a relationship with your professors.

Getting involved and having things to do outside of your academic studies is incredibly important. Make the most of your Welcome Week, where you will likely have inductions, fairs, and lots of free stuff! Sign up for taster sessions, join a sport or society, keep an eye out for volunteering opportunities, and look into part-time jobs on campus. I'm sure your university will also host events throughout the year, so keep an eye out for those too. There are so many great things to get involved in at university, so keep an eye out for these and also for any opportunities in your city!

I hope this helps,

Isabella
Fourth-Year Geography with a Year Abroad Student

Reply 5

University of Bath

Official Rep

Original post by Lindalian

Hi @Lindalian!

It looks like you've received such great advice already!

My experience was similar to Isabella's, where it took me sometime to adjust to the new ways of uni life. I struggled with lectures as I didn't find them very engaging (I have ADHD, so I tend to zone out during lectures) and struggled with the long written based assignments, like essays and lab reports (I've never been a huge fan of these!). Personally, I found connecting with my fellow course mates, especially those who have contrasting strengths and weaknesses to me, incredibly beneficial. Now I have study buddies who can hold me accountable, and can support me in the areas of work where I struggle, and I support them in their weaker areas. This has really helped with giving me the motivation to work, whilst making friends all at the same time!

I would advise you to be patient with yourself during this transition period. It doesn't always come so naturally, and that's perfectly okay! Focus on attending all of your lectures, reaching out to your lecturers after lectures/via email if you need their support and to build some rapport, and meeting new people through your course or by joining any societies that interest you!

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions 😊

~ Claire 🙂

2nd Year UOB Psychology Student

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 6

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by Lindalian

Hi @Lindalian ,

There is lots of great advice on this thread but I just thought I would reiterate some of the points made and add some of my own!

In terms of making the most of university life, I would say make sure you are getting involved as much as you can. Look into joining a society- they are great ways of meeting lots of people and just having a good time doing something you enjoy doing. The socials are good too and lots of societies do free taster sessions or cheaper taster sessions which are worth doing if you are unsure if you want to join as you never know you might really enjoy it!

There will also be lots of other things to get involved in. Have a look at volunteering opportunities, job opportunities or just see if your student union puts any events on that you can be involved in too. This is the best time to get involved in as much as you can as this is when everyone is new to all of these things and you will meet so many people this way!

I would also say this is the best time to ask people to do things- ask them if they want to make plans with you, ask for their number/social media and just try and talk to as many people as you can! Everyone comes to uni and wants to make friends so you will find that people will be friendly and will want to make plans with you. Nobody will think it is weird that you are asking them to make plans, they will be happy to be talking to new people and making plans!

This being said, one of my best pieces of advice is not to worry if you feel like things are progressing slower than you imagined they would. Everyones uni journey is different so don't compare yourself to anyone. If you feel you haven't met your close friends, don't worry you will find your people. If you feel like you aren't where you wanted to be with your uni work, don't worry as there is plenty of time for you to improve and get to where you want to be.

For building relationships with tutors, I would just make sure you are engaged and listening in all of their classes. It's hard to build relationships in lectures as there isn't much room for interaction, but in seminars or tutorials, make sure you are engaging with the lessons, ask questions and make sure you are listening and doing the work as they will notice and will want to help you. If you ever have any questions, make sure you ask them as they are there to help you and will answer questions and emails as much as you can.

With the transition from school to uni, I would say that the biggest change was that you have to be a lot more motivated to do the work yourself. I went to a sixth form so it was quite like school in the sense that they would make sure you are doing your work and making sure you are attending and know everything you need to know, but uni is quite different to this. You need to be motivated and make sure you are organised and keeping up with everything you need to do.

I hope some of this helps 🙂

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Reply 7

Kingston Reps

Official Rep

Original post by Lindalian

Hi @Lindalian,

The best piece of advice I've received about adjusting to university life is probably getting used to the area/campus around you as soon as possible. Moving to university is a big change in most people's lifestyles, and if you're still relatively young when you start, you may be presented with a level of freedom you've never fully experienced before. Getting to know the area around you can help you feel more at home, as well as giving you a better idea of the support (e.g. local GPs/mental health programs/counselling services) available to you if you do feel disheartened or stressed during your studies.

Eve (Kingston Rep).