Student Life

Steps to Success in First Year University

7 Steps to Crushing First Year
1. Get Involved 
This is perhaps the most common suggestion given to incoming university students, yet still not enough first years get involved in extracurriculars. 

If your not sure what your passions are yet, sign up for a few things that you think might interest you. Then, narrow it down and pick 1-2 things that you realize genuinely make you happy. 

By limiting yourself to a few things that you are passionate about, you allow yourself to meet people with similar interests to you and gain undergraduate experiences outside of those purely academic ones, while still having time for school.  

2. Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy
There is one thing that is guaranteed to make your first year of university more difficult and miserable: being sick all the time. Most first year university students have meal plans, so it really shouldn’t be a burden to get your daily servings of vitamins and minerals. Mix in the salad bar, a multivitamin and a couple pieces of fruit per day - your body will thank you. 

3. Use a Calendar
It’s as simple as this: if you want to remember something, write it down. Using a calendar seems like an annoying “adult” thing to do, but since your parents aren’t looking over your shoulder anymore, it’s important to start keeping track of your own daily life. 

Some people like Google Calendar, others like laptop electronic versions, while others still stick with good ol’ fashion paper. I personally use an App called Trello, but anyway works as long as you can keep track of your daily to-dos. 

Mobile/laptop reminders are also super useful - setting reminders both a few days ahead, and the day before, your due dates allows you to plan ahead for your upcoming tasks. 

4. Learn How to Manage your Stress 
University is a stressful time. Everyone will be stressed at one point or another. What separates people is how they cope with that stress. Each person has unique practices that will help them manage their stress and it’s important to figure out what works for you. 

Personally, I need to watch sports highlight videos on youtube, but my friends do things like: listen to music, read a book, meditate, go for a run or hit the gym. At the very least, take a deep breath – you got this.

5. Study What You Love
Ultimately, we all just want to be happy. Seeing as most of us will need to work almost our entire lives, it is important that we get some value from our jobs. This starts with what you choose to study in undergrad. Don’t be afraid to change your major, or even your program, if you will be happier elsewhere. 

PLUS, the more passionate you are about what you study, the less it will feel like a chore to do homework. Your university offers so many free academic resources, so make sure to stop by your academic counselors at least once a semester to talk about your current and future classes! 

6. Exercise 
The hardest part about exercising is getting off your butt in the first place. However, it’s important to remind yourself that exercising - whether it be going to the gym, doing yoga, playing tennis etc. - is essential for both your physical and mental health. Balancing studying with being active will increase your attention span for school work and provide structure to your days and sleep cycle.   

7. Remember, Everybody is in the Same Boat
Feeling overwhelmed? 

So is everyone. Keep in mind: first year of university is a huge transition period in your life. It will be uncomfortable at times, but don’t let this bring you down. Remember that everyone around you in that massive lecture hall is feeling the exact same way - maybe you can channel some of those nerves and anxieties into excitement for the best years of your life!


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