Student Life

Guide to First Year University Classes

A Guide to First Year University Classes

Nervous about your first university courses? Whether you're a first-year student or returning to school after some time away, your first lecture can feel a bit daunting. 

At Wize, we’re dedicated to helping you not only get through your classes, but succeed! Here are some of the things you should keep in mind when you’re getting ready for first-year lectures.

What Can I Expect?
First of all, there are generally a lot of students in first-year lectures (especially in general education courses!). If you’re taking a psychology course or a course in a similar field, these classes can have hundreds of students. 

Typically, this is because first-year courses offer a more general look at the information. As a result, more than one program or faculty assigns the course to their students. 

For example, when I was taking my marketing classes, I was learning beside students in accounting, business, communications and more! This is a great opportunity to learn a bit more about other programs offered at your school and meet students with similar interests!

As for the classroom set-up, you will probably be in a large auditorium or classroom with rows of seats and a professor standing at the front of the class. Think of it as a large-scale version of a high-school classroom. 

Again, similar to high school, the professor will have prepared something to talk about that day and will likely either have something up on a projector or screen (PowerPoints are a favourite among most professors). 

That’s not to say that all professors will have something up on a screen — I’ve had some lectures where the professor referenced their handwritten notes and wrote key terms and theories on a chalkboard. Each professor can have a different teaching style, so use your first few lectures as a guide to how they will run the course going forward!

How Should I Prepare?
Overall, all you really need for most first-year classes is something to take notes with. It’s usually some of the most relaxed classes you will have during your degree. If you’re not quite comfortable with the lecture setting or structure yet, I suggest you take a peek at the syllabus (a.k.a. the course outline) regularly to get a feel for the topic you’re going to discuss in class that week. 

Your readings will also help you prepare for any class discussions or complex theories that you’ll be going over in class. Feeling comfortable in class will also help you focus more on the material you’re going over, so it’s a win-win!

Another great way to prepare, especially if you’re still not sure where your classes are or if you need to see the layout in advance, is to arrive on campus with extra time before your classes start for the first few weeks. 

This way, you can get a feel for where your classes are, where you might want to sit and more!
What Should I Do Moving Forward?
This might sound a bit obvious, but stay on top of your readings and assignments! Your professors will generally assign you a project that has to do with a topic covered in a recent reading, so take advantage of the extra resource. And if you’re unsure about anything, don’t be afraid to ask! 

Your professor is there to help you get the most out of their course.

As a student who has had their fair share of classes, one of the best pieces of advice I can offer you is to make a schedule. Now, I know creating a schedule sounds a bit boring, but bear with me! A schedule can tell you in advance if you’re going to have a heavy or light week for readings, assignments and exams. 

In my program, we mostly have assignments, so I often have a week or two in each semester where I’ll have five or six assignments due. By looking at my schedule, I’ll know to do some of the assignments in advance or start them earlier if an upcoming week is going to have a heavy workload. 

With all of this in mind, you’re set to begin your first-year classes — best of luck!

Liked these tips? Follow us on Instagram @wizeprep for more tips on how to best #StudyWize