Making the leap from school to uni
Starting uni is an exciting time but it can also be challenging. You will be entering a new world academically and socially, and possibly taking on a lot of new responsibilities in your life.
The first thing to remember is that you are not alone. Not only will you be surrounded, every day, by other students going through the same experiences, but we also have services at Sydney Uni specifically designed to help you through the transition to university.
With the help of a group of current students, we have compiled a list of tips below to help you start uni. This is not a definitive how-to guide because only you will know what works for you. This is just a list of things that they were either told, or wish they had been, before starting uni.
- Get to know your new world
- Preparing for your first day
- Preparing academically
- Making the most of other's experience
- Meeting people
- Finding work, somewhere to live and other examples of life's nitty gritty
- What to do if you get in trouble
Get to know your world
You have probably heard the phrase: 'getting to know the lay of the land'. Getting to know the lay of this land is a really good first step.
It is important to know your environment to help you feel more confident in a new situation. Knowing the physical layout of your campus can really take the edge off any jitters you might have about starting uni. It will also stop you getting lost.
The best way to get to know your uni is to visit it and have an explore.
You may want to check out our tours and our maps.
Preparing for your first day
Come to Orientation from 27th - 29th February and have another look around campus. While you are there you will be able to pick up your first semester timetable so you can work out where all of your classrooms are before lectures start. It will make your first walk to your first lecture a much more enjoyable one.
Some of our students recommend doing a practice public transport trip to the uni before you start. You would be surprised how many people get lost, or simply underestimate the amount of time it takes to get to their campus. More than one student we spoke to joked about getting stuck in a nearby station or walking the 'really long way around' from the supposedly nearest bus stop and feeling flustered for their first class.
Find out about your campus, including transport info.
Preparing academically
When you applied for your course, you may recall that most courses have listings of assumed knowledge. For example, if your course lists physics as assumed knowledge, all of your lecturers will assume that you are proficient in HSC physics.
If you have never studied a subject that is listed as assumed knowledge, or even just need a brush up, we strongly recommend doing a bridging course.
Visit our page on bridging courses for more information.
Making the most of other's experience
Another excellent reason to go along to O-Week is to take part in the SWOT program. SWOT (Sydney Welcome Orientation and Transition) is a program set up precisely to help you through this transition period. You can attend welcome and advisory lectures given by your faculty, learn about what services are available to help you, and generally get to know your university and your faculty.
All the people who are involved with SWOT have been through exactly what you are going through. It is worth taking the time to listen to their advice.
Meeting people
When you start uni you will be surrounded by people. There are people in the library, in your tutorials, sitting next to you in the lecture theatre...they are everywhere.
One piece of advice that every student we spoke to gave was that you should never miss the opportunity to speak to someone new. While it is hard to just walk up to someone you don't know and start talking, remember that everyone is in the same boat. They are all in a new environment.
Don't forget, if you are studying the same course there is a really good chance that you have a lot in common.
Having friends in your lectures will make your experience so much fuller. Not only do you have new people to hang out with, but you will also have people to study with, share notes with; basically people with whom you can share the uni experience.
Student tips for making friends include finding people to walk with to your next class. If you have already worked out which way to go by checking it out first you will be the most popular tour guide around.
Invite people to have a coffee with you after class if you have a break. They will be keen to have someone to talk to as well.
One very enterprising student suggested taking a bumper pack of lollies with you everywhere to share. This approach is not for everyone!!!
All agreed that one of the best ways to meet people is to join a club or society. When you come to Orientation you will find the front lawn covered in over 200 tents, with each tent containing a different club or society spruiking their wares. Believe us when we say that there is something for everyone. Clubs and societies offer an instant social life and a new group of mates. Search around until you find the right one for you.
One final bit of advice that many of the current students had to share was to try not to just hang out with people you already know. If you just talk with your school friends you are missing out on exploring people from many different worlds and experiences. By all means, don't dump your old friends!!! Just remember to make some new ones.
Make the most of the uni life and enjoy meeting some of the amazing and interesting people on campus.
Finding work, somewhere to live and other examples of life's nitty gritty
In between juggling your studies, your new friends and your new life, there are a few other things to think about - day to day living.
Sydney Uni has numerous services to help you sort out your life. We can help you with finding somewhere to live, finding a job, planning your career or even just writing your CV, going to the doctor, or finding services to meet your needs if you are living with a disability.
Visit our Student Services site, find out what is available and make the most of it. We are here to help you after all.
If you get into trouble, any sort of trouble, what you DON'T do is keep it to yourself.
That is never the solution.
There is nothing to be ashamed of if life isn't clear sailing for you. The most important thing to do is get on top of it before it spirals out of control.
If you find yourself falling behind in class, your first step is to go and speak to your tutor or lecturer. Some of our students say that when they started uni they were a bit intimidated by their lecturers and were scared to tell them when they were falling behind. There is no reason to be scared. They are your lecturer because they love to teach. Let them help you. Most academics will have set times when they will see students. Pop in and see them in their office, send them an email or even chat to them after class about making an appointment. A theory missed in one class could snowball into you falling far behind, so speak to them as soon as possible.
Similarly, go and speak to them if you have any concerns about meeting deadlines for assignments or essays. The earlier you speak to them the better.
Keep in mind that university is very different from school. You have to take responsibility for your own learning. This means you have to tell your tutor or lecturer if you are in trouble.
If your struggles are a little bit more general you might want to pop in to the Learning Centre for a workshop on essay writing or time management, or visit the Mathematics Learning Centre for some individual assistance.
Make the most of our various learning services and you will find it easier to nip academic problems in the bud.
If your fridge breaks down or you have an unexpected medical bill or can't pay your rent, the last thing the University wants is for you to be so stressed that you miss classes or can’t study effectively. We can step in and help out. Sydney Uni has the most comprehensive and generous financial support scheme of any university in NSW. Pay a visit to our Financial Assistance Office and see what we can do to help.
What to do if you get in trouble
We aim to help students fulfil their academic, individual and social goals through professional counselling which is free and confidential.
We provide short-term, problem-focused counselling to promote psychological well being and assist clients to develop effective and realistic coping strategies.
If you need someone to talk to then visit our counselling service and make an appointment.
The SRC provides free and confidential advice to undergraduate students on academic and welfare issues. They can help you with everything from legal problems to defending your rights in the classroom.
If you need help defending your rights in or out of the classroom, your SRC will fight on your behalf.
