Enrolling into university is an exciting period for every teenager. It’s an opportunity to discover your passions, become an independent individual and meet new and interesting people. However, a great number of freshmen become stunned as soon as their first year begins.
They’ve been misguided by unfair presentations of uns showed in teen movies or someone else’s misperceptions. Therefore, if you want to avoid getting disappointed or completely overwhelmed by your university experience, you should take some time to learn more about the real reality of the first year as uni students.
Myth no. 1: A reputable uni will get you a better job
One of the greatest misconceptions about the university is that if you earn a degree from a prestigious college or university, you’ll get a better job. The fact that you’ve earned a degree with excellent grades is what truly matters. What also matters is that you’re truly interested in and good at what you do and that you can put the knowledge you’ve acquired into practice.
Just because someone has a degree from a reputable university doesn’t mean that they’ve got what it takes to succeed. Your abilities, skills, knowledge and resourcefulness will get you to the top.
Myth no. 2: You don’t need to adjust your studying approach
Some students believe that just because they’ve been excellent students in high school, they’ll be at the top of their game in college, as well. However, they can soon realise that their old habits aren’t appropriate for their new responsibilities. University courses are completely different from high school ones, so you’ll probably need to adjust your studying approach and acquire new habits.
You may need to start studying differently, find a new place to study and even study at different times of the day. Studying at night in your bed might have worked before, but the chances are that this approach won’t get you through your first semester.
Myth no. 3: The Internet is just a distraction
You’ve probably heard from your fellow students or their predecessors that the Internet has made their lives more difficult. They couldn’t focus because they needed to check their social media profiles or watch a new episode of their favourite series. However, the internet will open up a world of learning opportunities. You can find sites with helpful studying resources and additional materials.
For instance, the Thinkswap is a popular Australian student community platform where fellow students share their notes and advice with others. You can join and contribute to the community by sharing your personal notes. Thus, you shouldn’t just disregard the Internet, but rather browse through it to find similar sites and platforms. Of course, you need to be responsible and know when it’s studying time and when you can relax over your favourite series.
Myth no. 4: You don’t have to take up extracurricular activities now
Extracurricular activities and side projects can be a major advantage for your future employment opportunities. And while it is true that you can get involved in student organisations later, it will be much more useful to join in your freshmen year. This will enable you to improve yourself, take on higher positions and even become one of the leaders over the course of time. It will also allow you to find out whether that’s what you want and even change your interests over the years.
Myth no. 5: There’s no going back
You’ve been studying for your entrance exam, passed it and enrolled into the college you’ve always wanted. However, after a few months, you’ve realised that it doesn’t really suit you, but there’s no going back. This is completely false! In fact, a surprising number of students realise that they want to study some other area or transfer to a different college.
If the programme or university you’ve chosen doesn’t suit you, don’t be afraid to change your mind. It’s better to make the change now than spend the rest of your life doing something you don’t like.
College experience is truly enriching and life-changing, but often students don’t have the real image of it. It’s important not to let these myths misguide you because they can affect your success and even make you feel disappointed. Finally, keep in mind that the freshman year is often the toughest one because you need to deal with numerous changes and challenges.
Special thanks to Lana Hawkins for providing us with this article. Lana is an architecture student and a crafty girl from Sydney, Australia. She loves writing in her free time, as well as reading about sustainable architecture.Â
