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Seven Tips for New University Students

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Written by CB Community

Starting university is a big time in any student’s life. It marks the beginning of a new journey and the last big academic challenge (for most) before getting out into the workforce. Despite all the stories – late-night cramming, writing essays, and balancing a million different tasks at once – here are some things that can make the process a little easier to handle.

1. Plan a Budget

One common issue for university students is that they overspend and often find themselves dipping into their student loans. Having a budget may feel like an overwhelming issue, but it doesn’t have to be. It can keep you living somewhat comfortably without dipping into that loan money.
Most of all, look for discounts where you can. Discounts are a university student’s best friend and most places will offer some sort of student discount. It may take some minor adjustments, but you will be better off in the long run and avoid serious problems later on.

2. Manage Your Workload

This is one of the most common issues for college students across the globe. Taking on a full-time schedule might sound like a good idea to some, but it can lead to a plethora of deadlines, projects, and essays that need to be written. This is not necessarily for everyone.

For example, if you are struggling with a course and you feel overloaded, some students turn to an essay writing service which can show them examples to help them increase their writing skills or learn how to cite more efficiently. Managing your workload is the best way to keep yourself from feeling the stress that can come with a full-time academic workload.

Additionally, taking on a load that is too heavy means you miss out on social interactions and events. Don’t bog yourself down if you don’t absolutely need to do so.

3. Look Out for Each Other

An unfortunate reality about university is that the aforementioned stresses can exacerbate mental health issues and lead to students taking their own lives. This is why it is so crucial for students to look out for one another.

If you notice a friend or classmate that is struggling, ask them how they’re feeling. Even if they skirt around the question, just knowing that someone took the time to ask them that question can be enough to pull them out of the deep end.

While university life is hugely important, there is nothing more important than one’s life and looking out for one another. We are all people first, and students second. Positive human interactions should always be something at the forefront of university students.

4. Try to Eat Well

A common mistake that university students make is that they do not watch what they put into their bodies. This means poor dieting and too much drinking. While the university can certainly be the place for these sorts of indulgences, it can also hinder your experience.

Try to eat well as often as you can. Eating nothing but junk can not only lead to weight gain, but it can also hinder your energy levels and have negative effects on mental health issues.
Taking care of your body is key to keeping your mind sharp and preventing falling into some of the negative health cycles that many university students fall victim to.

5. Don’t Feel Obligated to Go Out

The common perception of university students is that they have to enjoy the social experience as much or more as the actual learning experience. But burning the candle at both ends can lead to burnout and a worsening effect on mental health.

Going out to party once in a while is fine, but don’t be afraid to take a night off and stay home to relax. Partake in hobbies and enjoy some time to yourself. This can help to recharge batteries and keep motivation up even during the toughest deadlines.

6. Expand Your Horizons

Yes, the academics are definitely important, but there is so much more to the university experience than just hitting the books. Campus activities, social gatherings, and extracurriculars can make the university experience all the better.

There will always be time to worry about studying, writing essays, and finishing projects. Take the time to experience the other aspects that university life has to offer. You will get a more comprehensive experience and feel better about your own personal experience.

Your studies are important, but don’t let it be the only aspect of university that you experience. You may come to regret it later on in life.

7. Back up Your Work

There is nothing worse than putting hours into a project only to have a laptop crash, a hard drive fries out, or to lose that work in any other way. This is why backing up your work is essential.

Creating a cloud-based backup is a fantastic idea. Something simple and free like Google Drive can give you a resource for storing the work that keeps you protected in the event that the unexpected happens.

Save yourself some stress and the time it takes to rewrite something by backing up your work on the cloud.

For more great college tips, check out the other blogs on College Basics.

About the author

CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.