1. You don't have to fit the student stereotype
You probably have an idea of the stereotypical student: always up for a party, a member of a student association and going out every Thursday night. Of course, there are plenty of students living this life and that's totally fine. But would you rather go for reading a book with a cup of tea or a casual game night with your friends? Go for it! There are so many different types of students, so don't feel the pressure to fit a certain stereotype.
2. Always be yourself
So, always be yourself! Even if you have a unique hobby that no one in your high school had, at university, I’m sure you will always find like-minded people. Whereas in high school, people perhaps were a little bit more judgemental, you don't have to worry about that at university. So don't pretend to be someone you’re not, because that way you will quickly find friends with the same interests as you!
3. Don't buy all your books right away
Of course, as a new student, you want to start the academic year well-prepared. And to be honest, I also ordered my entire book list at the beginning of my first year. However, I would advise you not to do this. Study books are very expensive and some of them you will hardly use. Consider buying your books second-hand, download them online or get them through the university library. Or ask senior students which books are useful and order those.
4. Attendance is not always mandatory (but highly recommended!)
The advantage of uni is that many lectures often don’t require attendance (always check this, of course ;) ). But before you decide to sleep in every day and skip your early lectures: I would still recommend attending as many lectures as possible. The pace at uni is quite high, so if you miss lectures, the catch-up work piles up quickly. Definitely try to attend all your lectures at the start of your studies. The first few weeks are the best time to get to know people and important information about deadlines and course structure is provided then.
5. The way of learning is different
Studying for an exam at university is very different from studying for a test in high school: the material is much more extensive and in-depth. It is therefore important to focus on the main points and not lose yourself in all the details. Moreover, it is more about understanding the material rather than pure knowledge. Try out different study methods, such as flashcards, writing summaries, watching videos, learning with others... Eventually, you will find a method that works for you!
6. Prepare for your lectures
A little bit of preparation before a lecture can make a big difference. Teachers often tell you what to read beforehand. Don't panic if that suddenly turns out to be 5 chapters of 20 pages each. You really don't have to have read and understood everything in advance, because your lecturer will also explain the material during the lecture. Just scanning through the material a bit can already help you understand the lecture better later on.
7. Make notes during lectures
Speaking of lectures: always take notes. This way, you pay more attention and you can easily review the material later as a summary. In the beginning, experiment with what works better for you: writing or typing. If you type your notes, don't forget to save them in the cloud (on OneDrive, for example). This way, you can always access them from any device and never lose your documents!
8. Everyone is in the same boat
Starting university is new and exciting for everyone. In the beginning, you may feel like you are on your own, while actually, everyone is in the same boat and doesn't know anyone yet. As a result, your fellow students are often open to new friendships too. Sit next to someone new, start a conversation and before you know it, you will have a new group of friends!
9. You will fail something at some point
No matter how hard you study, you will probably fail an exam or assignment at some point. And that's okay! Of course, it could be that you didn't study well for an exam, but sometimes you tried really hard and still failed. This is of course very disappointing, but it can happen to anyone. Fortunately, at university, you can often retake exams. As long as you learn from the mistakes you made, you will often pass your resit, so no worries!
10. Don't leave your references until the last minute
At university, you will have to back up every report with references. For an average report, this can sometimes add up to dozens of references. Everyone once makes the mistake of thinking that references can be arranged only one hour before the deadline. Believe me when I say: this is not possible! References that are not in the correct order, references that have disappeared or miss certain elements... you encounter it in every project. Therefore, save yourself the stress and just keep track of your references from the start.
11. Try out new things
You might think that everyone at university has already found their favourite sport or hobby by now. Nothing could be further from the truth! Many sports and cultural associations offer classes for beginners, so now is actually the time to try something new.
12. It’s very normal to bring your own lunch
In the Netherlands, it’s very normal to bring your own lunch rather than buying some. Even though at campus the available sandwiches, fries and snacks might tempt you, packing your own lunch is worth the effort; it can save you a lot of money!
13. You have more responsibility
At university, you have much more responsibility: where in high school your homework automatically appeared in your digital agenda, at uni you have to check the syllabi on Canvas yourself to see what needs to be done and by when. Also, teachers will no longer check whether you have done your assignments. This freedom is very nice, of course, but it also requires independence and good planning. Don't forget to register yourself via Osiris for modules and courses, because you are responsible yourself for that too!
14. Don't forget to schedule time for yourself
Studying is important, but so is your mental well-being! It is therefore important to find a good balance between studying and free time. Planning fixed moments to study, but also to play sports, cook with friends or do something fun can help. And if your busy student life becomes a bit too much, take an evening off to relax.
15. Join your study association
I recommend everyone to join your study association. The membership fee is well worth it! As a member, you get a discount on your study books, you can get free coffee and tea and you often also get free access to summaries and old exams. Besides, study associations also organise fun activities and help you meet people from your study!
16. Enjoy every moment
It’s a cliché, but true. Studying for four or five years sounds long, but believe me: time flies! So, seize every opportunity you get, try out new things, make mistakes sometimes (nobody is perfect) and learn from them. And above all: enjoy everything you experience!
