First year university survival guide

Matric results, schools re-opening and anticipation of the first day of school are indubitably hot topics as the year new year begins. In light of this, social media users took to various platforms to offer some guiding words to individuals who will be undertaking their first year of varsity this year. The advice covers everything from a student’s academic life to their social life and imminent career paths – highlighting the fact that the early stages of university life can be both daunting and the greatest time of your life.

Check out these top 10 tips that will help you start off on the right foot:

1. Be open to new experiences and don’t be afraid to go your own way, it may help you discover your strengths and weaknesses and help build self-reliance.

2. Grab each and every opportunity for work experience it will come in handy during the job-searching process.

3. Preparation for your finals begins the moment you begin the first semester, by all means, avoid procrastinating and putting off assignments until it’s too late.

4. Try joining campus-based societies. This is a sure-fire way to meet new and great people.

5. Respect for everyone you meet goes a long way. Do not look at this as a way of scoring points for a later stage but as a trait that will speak to your character for a long time.

6. You may not have some sort of solid income stream but it is important to have a budget for the money you may have. No one wants to be broke by the end of the first week of the month.

7. Finding a balance between your social life, grades and sleeping patterns may seem impossible but all it takes is, to be honest with what matters to you and add a little bit of discipline into the mix.

8. You absolutely do not have to do what everyone else is doing. For instance, if you’re not a fan of alcohol and the nightlife you don’t have to dive in nose first, there are other fun and healthier alternatives.

9. Not everything will go according to plan and it’s important to remember that failure is not final. Pick yourself up and try again.

10. Take in all that varsity has to offer and leave with more than a degree.