5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Day at University

There are so many things to do after you are enrolled, and you may be feeling a little overwhelmed by it. In this post, I have summarised 5 important things to do in the weeks leading up to your first day at university. Since the new academic year is coming up, here are 5 things I wish I knew the summer before my university life officially began.

1. Take note of critical dates early.

These are the administrative work you need to do a month or so before your first week of school officially begins. Once you have successfully matriculated, visit your school’s website and note down important dates such as medical checkups, orientation camps, collection of student cards and bidding for your modules. I almost missed the deadline for my medical checkup, and I didn’t get to attend a few freshmen events and camps as I didn’t know about them until they were over. Actively look for information on various platforms so you don’t make the same mistake as me. Some ways for you to stay updated is to check your emails and the student portal regularly, as well as following a few student clubs’ social media accounts.

2. Attend events and activities organised for freshmen.

These activities can include school camps and CCA fairs. I found these one of my highlights in my first year so I highly encourage you to join as many of them as you can. This will not only allow you to make new friends but also gain advice from seniors, and even notes or second-hand textbooks! Do note that some of these events are free while others are not so be sure to budget some cash for them.

3. Explore the school campus.

Find out where the food courts, lecture halls, libraries and student centres are so you won’t get so lost trying to find a place to grab a sandwich before your next class during your first week. It is also usually not very crowded during the holidays so you can take the campus shuttles without having to squeeze with other students and peacefully wander around the parks at your own time.

4. Write a letter to yourself.

Write what you aim to achieve while studying at university and why you think it is important to you. You can also note down a few encouraging words for yourself. You can place it in your school bag or desk drawer, or put it up on your bedroom wall to serve as a reminder for you to see the bigger picture.

When the stress of studying and doing group projects get to you, it can be really easy to lose sight of the end-goal. Reading my letter which I wrote in my second year got me through trying times during my mid-terms and finals weeks when I felt like giving up. I highly encourage you to set a timer for 15 minutes and write a note to yourself with pen and paper. Your letter doesn’t have to be long or perfect. It can just be a short motivational quote for you to persevere during the semester.

5. Prepare your materials before school starts.

Organising your bag, desk and shelves allows you to start with a ‘clean state’ before the chaos of school begins. Check if you need to stock up on your stationery, notebooks and binders. Ensure that your laptop is ready for use. Make sure you know what resources are needed for each of your classes. For instance, one of my modules required me to order a course pack which I could only collect after 5 working days. Hence, it is important to factor in time for these things so that you won’t panic the night before.

I know these tips can be quite intuitive, but we usually leave them until the last minute. Schedule them into your calendar, do them early and your future self will thank you. I didn’t know many friends or seniors who were going to the same university as me at that time, so I had to rely mostly on myself to figure things out. Hopefully with these tips, you can actively seek out opportunities and prepare yourself for your next phase of schooling life.

A Final Piece Of Advice

Go in with an open mind and know that you will be embarking on your journey of massive growth and self-discovery. Do not worry too much, and trust that you will figure things out as you go along.

You may also like to check out my post on the truth about saving money in college, as well as 7 easy ways to save as a student!

Do you have other advice to share with fellow freshmen to help them start their semester on the right note? Feel free to leave a comment below!