Lessons learned from University students

There is no single way to prepare a student for first year university or college. Students face a wide range of new experiences as they embark upon their first year in postsecondary studies – whether they live away from home or commute to school.

We asked current university students to share their insights on their personal struggles, rewards and lessons learned after completing their first year of post-secondary studies. Here’s what they told us. “I never realized how important getting enough sleep would be, as well as eating a relatively healthy diet. A lot of the time (more so with poor sleep) you can notice a lack of cognitive function. For example, while taking notes I’ve just stopped for a moment and looked back to the rest of my notes and barely remembered even writing it and not even understanding that well what we’re learning about.” Elliot, Western University “The amount of freedom you have to choose classes and attend classes is a new experience. You’ll also be surprised by how fat you’ll get off residence food. You’ll soon realize how important it is to balance social life and studies. It’s a panic to catch up if you don’t get the balance right!” Abigail, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph “Choose your friend group wisely. Easier to make it through first year when you have a strong social support system. Also if you realize you want to switch programs or schools, don’t be afraid to admit it, get advice and move quickly.” Genevieve, University of Guelph “In first year, I learned a lot of things. First, high school does not prepare you well for university. Second, you aren’t as smart as you think you are. Third, you have to put in a lot more effort just to receive average results. The skills I wish I had before beginning first year are an ability to better manage my time and prioritize, and I wish I had put a greater emphasis on extra-curriculars.” Jillian, Queen’s University “In the first year I learned that it’s important not to be too hard on yourself and not to stress out too much. Doing poorly on one exam doesn’t define the rest of your university career, it’s okay not to succeed sometimes as long as it pushes you in the right direction. One skill that I acquired is being able to manage my time very well. There were lots of times when my plate was very full and I had to make a schedule to make sure I stayed on track. I am still working on my time management so that I never fall behind in a class and avoid having to cram.” Lara, Western University “First off, don’t be embarrassed about your needs. If you get caught up in being ashamed about needing resources you will shy away from them and ultimately not do as well. Second, professors are not as scary as people make them out to be. They are there to see you succeed. If you need help or clarification, don’t be afraid to go talk to them. Third, a lot of people say your average drops in university. In my experience this is not true. Don’t admit defeat before you even begin.” Megan, Laurier University “Recognize that it may be harder than you think to be distant from your family and friends. I didn’t think hard enough about how I would feel moving away. Also, I did not have a roommate, and I wonder if that would have made it better for me.” Samuel, Brock University