First year: the facts
by Noel Towell
If you’ve just started uni and you’re feeling on top of things then you’ve obviously misjudged the situation. However, help is at hand as Students@UniSA presents our guide to getting by, maybe even getting ahead, in your first year at uni.
Lesson one: turn up
Lectures and tutes need to be dealt with, trust me, there’s no getting around them. Many hassles can be avoided by simply showing up. It’s a novel approach but extremely effective. If I could offer only one piece of advice for academic success at the University of South Australia, showing up would be it. Showing up will minimise the amount of study you have to do to get through your course and it will endear you to the academic staff who will think that you’re there because their teaching style is so damn enthralling.
Learning Connection
If you’re still having difficulties after all that then try Learning Connection, they can help you out if you’re having academic problems, like referencing, language difficulties, study stress, personal “issues” or problems with a disability. There is a Learning Connection link on the UniSA homepage and offices on all campuses. If the uni provides it, then it can’t be cheating, right?
The students’ association
The UniSA Students’ Association (USASA), I can’t recommend this one strongly enough. Think of USASA as a bit like your best mate. They’ll give you advice about almost anything, and unlike your best mate, they know what they’re talking about. They’ll lend you money as long as there is a good reason for it, but unlike your best mate, you have to pay it back. They’ll invite you to parties. They’ll hook you up with a house, a job, a sporting team. They have a gym, it’s cheap. They provide affordable food and booze on campus. They’ll even get you a lawyer should the need arise. Everyone should have a friend like USASA. The Students Association can be found on all campuses or on the links from the uni website.
Campus Central
Campus Central is kind of like the doctor’s office. You don’t want to go but you know that there will be more pain if you don’t. Treatment is available for enrolments, swapping classes, dropping classes, student cards and buying your course readers. The staff here are all fully trained professionals and there’s nothing to worry about really.
A few more things:
It takes some people a few years to learn to ask for a student discount and this shyness costs them a fortune. Ask anywhere and we mean anywhere. Even if they don’t give you cheap stuff, they’ll admire your cheek.
Attempt every question – it could be your lucky day.
And go easy on the energy drinks.