Becoming a student is often the first step to
independence, particularly if you are moving away from home, you get to meet new people and there are lots of chances to socialise, However you may find yourself struggling to achieve your study goals.
Student life is different for everyone. If you want to get a taste of what student's life can be like, have a look at education provider's websites with student stories, pictures and videos, they aim to
give you a feeling of what life on campus is like. You can usually find useful information about
course work, finding accommodation and how to
get started as a first year student.
How can I prepare for student life?
Talk to people who have done the course or degree you're doing. They may be able to give you tips and advice about the workload, and make suggestions for on how you can prepare.
If you're moving to a different place, try to arrive a few days before you start. That way you'll be familiar with the town or city and even learn your way around. You also work out how you'll get around. If there is no suitable public transport in the city, can you get a bike or car? Do you need to get a driver's licence?
If you're moving into a flat, ask your parents if
you can take any furniture with you (eg bed,
dresser, desk, chair, sofa). Otherwise, start gathering stuff together on your own. If you're going away to study, it may be easier to leave this until you get there. Decide on your accommodation choice early If you want to live on campus, you'll need to get in early. If you're going flatting, getting in early
gives you more choices.
Think about doing holiday work to help you earn and save money for the year ahead.
Course work
Course work is always different in each school. Check out your school's website for specific information about course
work. This can help you to plan and help keep you on track. The website may also let you know where you can go for more help if you have problems.
How to choose papers and courses
Choosing papers in your first year in the university maybe difficult. Don’t be afraid to ask predecessors or your student adviser for help often you will find more information about this on school's website.
Colleges of education, polytechnics and institutes of technology usually plan out the course content for you. Going to classes may be compulsory to
pass your course.
How do you set realistic goals and plan your reading timetable?
It's tempting to try to achieve too much in your first year of study, which is common with new students, this can leave you feeling overwhelmed
and unmotivated because you may not have enough time to do your course work or take time out from your study. Remember to leave time for things
such as preparing for lectures, part-time work and spending time with friends.
You also need to consider what time of day best suits you for reading. For example, would you schedule reading for Mondays at 8am if you know you'r not a morning person?
Ask your predecessors how they plan their timetables. You can learn from their experiences and get valuable advice.
"My preconception of medical school was that they study 24/7 but that hasn’t been the case. There is a lot to study, but when you put in a time-management plan, you can make time for
fun things like going to the gym or the movies."
Kelechi Alozie,a Medical Student shares his experience of studying medicine
Why should you go to lectures, classes,
tutorials or labs? Classes or lectures can be less structured. You may have many opportunities to do other things instead of going to class. For example, it may seem more appealing to hang out with your friends. However, you need to be aware that when exam time comes you may have to spend more time in the library looking up what was taught during the lectures you missed. You may not even be sure what’s asked of you for the exam which makes it really vital to attend classes.
Try to take a sensible approach to attending lectures and classes – they are worth it. If you take good notes you can use these to do targeted research. This will give you time later to do the fun things that come with being a student. Alozie sticks to a successful study routine "When we finish class at 3pm I’ll stay in school until
5pm. That’s an extra two hours’ study. Then at lunchtimes, instead of just hanging out for the
next class, most of us will use that time
productively."
Read more about how alozie is managing his study programme
Why you should ask your lecturer,
teacher or tutor questions in class? It is good to ask your lecturer or teacher any
questions you may have about the course work. If you don’t like doing that in front of other students, visit them at their office. Every lecturer has different ideas about assignments and how information should be presented. For example, an English lecturer may
favour a certain writing style. It can help your grades so its important to find out what they prefer.
What if you don't like your course?
You may find that the course you have chosen is not what you expected. Speak to a student adviser at your department if you have any doubts. You can usually switch courses in the first few weeks of a semester. Take time to find out what you really want to study. Ask different people and older students about
their experiences and go to lectures for other courses to see if they would suit you better. If you want to switch your subjects when you are
further into your study, you may be able to cross-credit your current achievements.
What are your housing options?
There are several accommodation types you can choose from if you decide not to go from home.
The best accommodation depends on your ownpreferences. You'll have to weigh up your preferences on how you want to live with and what you can afford. Some things to think about are:
Would you prefer to have your own place?
Would you prefer not to live alone?
Do you like socialising and meeting lots
of different people?
Do you know a few people who are going to the same place to study and would you really like to share a place with them?
Would you want to live right on campus?
Would you prefer an organised environment such as a hostel?
Do you enjoy a family environment?
Some housing options
A flat with other flatmates
You can set up a flat of your own, or move in with
others. Setting up a flat might mean you are the head tenant, responsible for finding flatmates and organising electricity,water and security, This can be a lot of work and responsibility.
Joining an already established flat avoids these issues.
Campus student accommodation
Living on campus means you'll save time and money getting to class. In fully-catered hostels(often found in private universities)
meals are also provided by the hostel/school authority. Hostels and other forms of on-campus accommodation can be very sociable and are a good place to make friends. Spaces can be limited, so you'll need to apply for a room in time.
Privately run hostels -These are usually close to the campus, and often run by church, community groups or private individuals. They often have a more communal approach, with some shared chores, shared bathrooms and living
spaces.
Living with relatives -This gives you an experience of living away from
home, but you'll be living with people you know
and trust. This option could also be reasonably
cheap, but you'll need to work out up front whether you'll be paying board, and if so, howmuch. Discuss the ground rules with your relatives first, so you know what's expected.
Private boarding
This involves living with a family in their home and paying. The
situation can vary, so you'll need to work out with the family before making such choices (For example, you may have to help out with housework or cooking.)
Living alone
Living alone in a flat can be quite
expensive, but a good option if you like your privacy and independence. If you want a little more security, a place that is attached to or on the same property as a bigger house might be a good option, as you have neighbours close by.
Meeting people and making friends
You may be living away from home for the first time. When taking care of your own finances and searching for accommodation in a strange place,
your family cannot always be there to support you.
How to meet people
Some students find it easy to make contact with other students in the first week of study, as everyone is new. Just start speaking to others and you will be surprised at how easy it can be.
It could also help to make contact with friends and family who already live in the town or city you will be studying in. Ask them lots of questions about all the things you can do and should
know about your new school. This will make you more confident and you will soon find new friends. Even if you are not on the same wavelength as some of the people you meet, you may meet
other people through them. You can also join student clubs and sports teams
to meet people with the same interests.
Goodluck to all Nigerian students who'll be writing their post utme examinations soon,my heart goes out to y'll
