Settling Into Uni Life: How To Get Ahead In Your First Term!
Whether you’re a first year or a third year, the first term at university can always be a little bit challenging - after a nice, long summer, you’re suddenly back to regular lectures and revision. Here’s a few quick tips on how to settle in and get ahead in your first term.
Make a list of key dates.
I remember my first few course lectures very clearly: mainly because I was terrified about how much work I had to complete in such a short span of time and how many different module deadlines I suddenly had to remember! Although I quickly adapted to the workload and realised it was perfectly manageable, one of the best pieces of advice I received during that time was to start keeping a diary of key dates and deadlines.
Whether it’s through the calendar app on your phone or scribbled in the front of your main uni notebook, having a regular reminder of what needs to be done and when saved me a lot of stress in my first term.
Aim to do a little bit every day.
I’m a born procrastinator so this tip doesn’t come naturally to me – but nonetheless, it’s a great way to reduce stress and stay ahead in your first term! Whether it’s heading to the library to do some pre-reading before class, finding new sources for an upcoming essay or completing another slide on that pending group presentation, doing a little bit of independent work every day can go a long way.
If you genuinely don’t have the time to do a little bit of work every day, try and dedicate a specific day in your week for catching up; for example, my schedule is particularly packed on Wednesday right now so I try and do a bit extra on Thursdays to compensate for the independent revision I missed the day prior.
Take advantage of office hours.
If you’re in your first year of university, the concept of office hours can seem a bit strange – especially since lots of lecturers don’t actually have dedicated ‘offices’. However, the term is used to signify a period of one or two hours during the working week where lecturers/teaching staff are available to chat with students about any academic issues they might be facing.
If you have an essay you’re struggling with or don’t know if you’re fully grasping a certain module, reach out to your lecturer by email and ask if you can arrange a short meeting to talk it through. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – the staff on your course are there to support you!
Hope this helps! How are you guys finding your first term at university so far? 🙃
Eve (Kingston Rep).
Make a list of key dates.
I remember my first few course lectures very clearly: mainly because I was terrified about how much work I had to complete in such a short span of time and how many different module deadlines I suddenly had to remember! Although I quickly adapted to the workload and realised it was perfectly manageable, one of the best pieces of advice I received during that time was to start keeping a diary of key dates and deadlines.
Whether it’s through the calendar app on your phone or scribbled in the front of your main uni notebook, having a regular reminder of what needs to be done and when saved me a lot of stress in my first term.
Aim to do a little bit every day.
I’m a born procrastinator so this tip doesn’t come naturally to me – but nonetheless, it’s a great way to reduce stress and stay ahead in your first term! Whether it’s heading to the library to do some pre-reading before class, finding new sources for an upcoming essay or completing another slide on that pending group presentation, doing a little bit of independent work every day can go a long way.
If you genuinely don’t have the time to do a little bit of work every day, try and dedicate a specific day in your week for catching up; for example, my schedule is particularly packed on Wednesday right now so I try and do a bit extra on Thursdays to compensate for the independent revision I missed the day prior.
Take advantage of office hours.
If you’re in your first year of university, the concept of office hours can seem a bit strange – especially since lots of lecturers don’t actually have dedicated ‘offices’. However, the term is used to signify a period of one or two hours during the working week where lecturers/teaching staff are available to chat with students about any academic issues they might be facing.
If you have an essay you’re struggling with or don’t know if you’re fully grasping a certain module, reach out to your lecturer by email and ask if you can arrange a short meeting to talk it through. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – the staff on your course are there to support you!
Hope this helps! How are you guys finding your first term at university so far? 🙃
Eve (Kingston Rep).
(edited 4 months ago)
Reply 1
First term’s chaos until you settle in. What actually helped me wasn’t fancy planning, it was just sorting my space out. Once everything had a proper spot, my head cleared up too. I kept the stuff I didn’t need every day somewhere safe and the room felt lighter right away. Makes it a lot easier to think straight when you’re not tripping over your own stuff.
Reply 2
Original post
by isola.jFirst term’s chaos until you settle in. What actually helped me wasn’t fancy planning, it was just sorting my space out. Once everything had a proper spot, my head cleared up too. I kept the stuff I didn’t need every day somewhere safe and the room felt lighter right away. Makes it a lot easier to think straight when you’re not tripping over your own stuff.
Hey @isola.j,
That's a great point! Sorting your space out can make it feel much more homely, and waking up in a room that feels clean and organised can help give your brain that bit of necessary structure.
I know tons of my coursemates in first year kept all of their stuff sitting about their rooms for weeks in cardboard boxes instead of unpacking - and whilst it might seem fine to some, my instinct was always to unpack right away. 😅 After all, the sooner you settle into university life the better!
Eve (Kingston Rep).
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