HOW does a student who was the best in his class back in secondary school end up with loads of ‘carry overs’ at the end of his first year at university and is placed on probation? A number of factors could be responsible, but at the top of the list would be a lack of readiness for university life.

Many get carried away with the joy of gaining admission into university. While it is good to celebrate your achievement, it is more important to prepare for life on campus because it is a lot different than what you were used to in secondary school. It is a new phase of life with its own unique set of challenges, which include the following:

A new method of instruction

Back in secondary school, you must have been used to teachers coming in to class and explaining the topics in great details, giving you notes and taking extra care to ensure you comprehend the material.

Don’t expect this at university. The lecturers will mainly aim to get you interested in the subject matter and give you a list of recommended texts. You are expected to make your own notes from the lecture and study on your own. As such, you need to develop good study habits and devote time daily to study the course material. You’ll also benefit greatly from joining a study group.

Heavier Workloads

The volume of reading you have to do at university is more than you were used to in secondary school. You are probably used to reading just the notes given to you in class. Perhaps, you could even wait till few days to the exam before you cram the material and ‘pour’ it out on exam day (I did that). That method will not prove effective at university, and one reason is the sheer volume of texts you have to consume. You may be consulting as much as five textbooks for a single course!

To find your way through this, you have to start studying on time. Don’t wait till the final moments. Don’t wait till you see the timetable. Start early, as soon as you know the course content and the recommended texts. Make it a routine to spend a few hours daily to study. Aim to finish the material a couple of weeks before the exam is due; this will give you ample time for revision.


Higher Demands

Not only is the volume (quantity) of work required higher, the expected quality of your work is also of a higher standard in tests, assignments, term papers and the exams. You will be required to show clear thinking, a deeper understanding of the course content and the ability to communicate same lucidly in writing.

Place higher demands on yourself. Consult past question papers and model answers in order to be familiar with what the examiners expect of you.

Managing your time

There never seems to be enough time, and there are those who wish there would be more hours added to each day. But will that really change anything? Some are able to do much more important work with 24 hours than others are able; it all lies in your ability to manage your time. University life is rife with distractions as there are many activities clamoring for your time.

To overcome this, always keep in mind your main aim of being in school: to earn a degree, and plan your time around that. Let it be your priority. Other activities can come in after that, not before.

The burden of freedom

The greatest joy of most freshmen is that they are finally free. No more parental restrictions and restraints. But with freedom comes responsibility. Your day is no longer planned out for you, neither are your finances. You need to do these for yourself now. Hence, you must learn to manage yourself. Self-discipline is crucial.

There are a host of other challenges you’ll likely face; but these are my top five. Your days at university are crucial; they will shape the rest of your life and impact your future. So make the most of them by preparing adequately to conquer these challenges.

More http://www.scholar.com.ng

ok

Nice one @op. A lot of newly admitted university students see university as a place to be free, have fun, have boyfriends and girlfriends, free from copying of notes, free from the teacher's cane on their body. They dont know that the university is where life starts, its where your destiny starts, its where adulthood starts. so any mistake will cost you.

work hard, flex lerrra

thanks for your Advice

Nice one

Thanks for the advice.

.........

What of 'fresh-babes hunters' and 'gold-digging chics'?

Heavy Challenges, I tell you.

always keep in mind your main aim of being in school: to earn a degree

That's not true!!. You're in school to get educated. Degree is just a bonus, not the main reason you're in school.

Its like when you buy airtime and MTN give you some bonus credit. You cannot get the bonus, unless you buy airtime.

However, if you go ahead (like many do) and get the degree/bonus without actually being educated, you're still not an educated person though you may hold a degree on paper. That piece of paper they gave you is not the education itself!.

Pay attention to your teachers, read your books, study hard. Any time spent on fashion, looking good, playing big boy or big girl is a complete waste of time. You'll find out later.

Finally, I'll advise any serious student to close that facebook account (or at least limit use), and try to read beyond the school curriculum.

olive282:
Nice one

hello Olive

ehix89:
hello Olive

Hello

olive282:

Hello

How is coal city today?

ehix89:
How is coal city today?

Good