The first week of university is an important one. It’s a critical period in establishing a strong foundation that will, potentially, set you up for academic, professional, and personal success. From getting lost in the campus’s many buildings to feeling overwhelmed by the rush of university life – we've all been there, and we all ended up just fine. But hey, it’s your first week, and some good preparation never hurts.
Rest, rest, rest
If you participated in the Kick-In, then being tired is an understatement. Like most of the students that did the Kick-In in my batch, you’re probably sick – a case of the Kick-In Typhus. That’s why it’s so important to rest up before your classes begin. Even if you aren’t sick, the Kick-In probably did a number on you, so it’s not a bad idea to take a couple of days off and just curl up in bed. Your body will thank you!
Organise your essentials
Before your academic year begins, stock up on any essentials you still need in your living situation. Whether it’s food, toiletries, or pens and pencils, make sure you stock up before you start your studies, as you don’t want to be constantly running out of things in the middle of the week. Take note of inventory and make a system for what, where, and when you buy your things. This is also a good time to clean up your room/space, as a clean room really helps you adjust after a hectic day.
Manage your finances
Chicken costs how much??
Seriously, for some people, university is the first time that they need to be financially responsible, which means living within your means and keeping track of how much money you spend. The first week is usually not a good indication of this, as many people are prone to spending more than they’ve planned. As long as you haven’t gone overboard, that’s fine. Organising your essentials also requires you to be in control of your finances, which could mean setting a weekly limit in your banking app or ensuring that you won’t spend too much for the rest of the year. The first week is usually a good time to make a budget plan and divide expenses, which is the first step to being financially responsible, so that’s an idea.
Organise your schedule
My first week was jam-packed with full-day lectures and tutorials. It was basically a 9-5: I started at 8:45 and ended at 5:30 almost every day for the first week. I also had to study later on after classes, as the first exam of the year was just the following week. Your schedule may or may not look as hectic as this, but one thing is for certain: if you don’t organise your schedule, you’ll end up with a lot on your plate. Organising your schedule can be as simple as just looking at it and mentally preparing, but you can also plan things in advance to revolve around your busy university life. Luckily, for me, the first week or two were the most packed in the entire module, so after I’d slogged through it the rest felt comparatively light.
Finish the paperwork
There is no avoiding the paperwork. The only thing you can do about it is finish it, regardless of what type of paperwork it is. Unfinished registration? While unlikely, it’s still a good idea to finish it completely and get your ID. Unsigned housing contract? Just get it over with and sign it, even if you don’t like the place. Most people start looking for nicer rooms midway through the year anyway. Form from the government? I know it looks intimidating, but it’s going to feel a million times better once you finish it. It’s much better to deal with these boring, repetitive things before your first week than during. You’ll either be much too busy with uni to do any paperwork, or vice versa.
Get familiar with the campus
Being able to navigate the campus comes from experience. Everybody gets lost at some point, be it that you turned the wrong way at the Horst and ended up in the West Wing (Westhorst) instead of the North Wing (Nordhorst). During your first week, it’s encouraged to explore the campus (even if you already did during the Kick-In) and learn all the building names, or at least the ones where you’ll be spending the most time in.
The University of Twente has a handy app, fittingly named ‘MyUT’. You can view your schedule there, look at campus news, and see if there are any events, but most useful of all, in my opinion, is the map of the campus. You can look at which classroom your lecture is in and find the building using MyUT. Essentially everything you need to navigate the campus in one app – quite the quality of life tool.
Go to every class
You wouldn’t believe just how many people stop showing up after the first day of lectures ends. As tempting as it may be sometimes, I implore you: go to every class. The most important bits of the module are usually introduced in the first week, from administrative matters to grading schemes. You could miss some extremely important stuff if you decide not to show up for whatever reason, which could influence the rest of your module and academic career if you’re not careful. What’s more, the first week is usually when project groups are made, so it’s also a decent chance to make more friends and socialise. Probably the most important bit of advice I can give you – don’t skip your classes!
The first week is just the beginning of your journey in university. While it may be hectic and stressful, it is, at the end of the day (week?), just like any other week. You’ll get through it! And your future self will thank you all the more if you follow these tips during your first week. ;)
