As I prepare to return to school for the 2019 fall semester to start my master’s degree, I was thinking about all the things that I wish someone had told me before I started my first year of university. Everyone has a different experience at their university or college, but hopefully, mine can help you.

1. If your schedule allows, consider taking afternoon classes over early morning classes.

During my first year of university, I took a lot of morning classes because transitioning from high school I thought it was AMAZING that I could take all my classes early in the morning and be done so early in the afternoon! But I am not a morning person AT ALL! After a few weeks, I started skipping a lot of these morning classes simply because I didn’t want to get out of bed… and as a result, I did not score well in those classes. But if you are a morning person or if you are disciplined enough to get yourself to class on time, go for it!

2. Take breaks in between classes.

During my first semester, I had scheduled my classes one after another with no breaks in between. This sucked. A lot of your friends will have breaks in between classes. So, you are going to want to spend time with them when they have breaks or maybe you want to head to the cafeteria to grab a snack and collect yourself. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve skipped a few classes because I wanted to hang out with friends that didn’t have class at the same time as I did.

3. Make new friends but don’t forget about your old ones.

You are going to meet so many amazing new people when you go to College or University… and you’ll most likely make some new friends along the way! But the notion that everyone forgets about their high school friends is nonsense… There will be a lot of people that you considered friends in high school that may choose a separate path and you may lose touch and that is okay but there are going to be old friends that you will want to stick by your side forever. Make time for those people.

4. BUT – don’t be afraid to let go of old friends.

To elaborate a little further on number 3… Don’t try to hold on to people who don’t want to be part of your life anymore. There may be friends who you are super close to that end up on a different path from you and want different things. Don’t try to hold on to these people. They aren’t bad people, they may just want different things, and that’s okay!

5. Make friends with international students.

In Canada, we are so fortunate to have so many international students coming here to pursue their educational goals. Make friends with some of these students. A lot of international students come from so many different backgrounds and cultures. There is so much you can learn from them and them from you.

6. Don’t rush it.

Remember that school is not a race and taking on too much of a course load can set you up for failure. Not everyone completes their program in four years. I took five years to finish my undergrad and it was worth it. If you are someone who struggles with mental health, maybe a full course load isn’t for you or maybe you work a lot of hours to support a family while you attend school. Take your time and give yourself the best chance to succeed. Most of you that are just starting university or college will still be so young when you finish. You have lots of time.

7. Consider College instead of University – or Both!

After finishing my first year at university I was not enjoying my program so I decided to take a year off to decide what I wanted to do going forward. I found out that a local community college had an articulation agreement with the university that I had attended, which allowed me to complete the first two years of my degree at community college and finish the remaining two at the university. Community college offered a vastly different approach to learning than university did. I’m not saying one is better than the other, just different. I feel through this approach I was able to receive a much more well-rounded education. Another benefit to this approach was that after completing the first two years at community college, I received a diploma from them, so If you decide after that two-year program it isn't for you, you will still have earned a credential from the community college. This is also a good way to save some money because community college is typically a lot less expensive than university.

8. Take Spring/Summer Classes.

Spring and summer classes are a great way to stay sharp during the summer. Also, four months off in the summer is kind of ridiculous… I was always so glad to be done of the school year in April, but by the time the end of July or August came, I was always ready to go back to school. Spring and summer classes are a great way to stay on track if you take a light course load during the fall and winter semesters or if you want to finish your degree early. Most spring and Summer courses are offered in a condensed format, so you can take some courses and still have some time off in the summer before going back to school in the fall.

9. You don’t have to go away to have “The Real University Experience”.

I don’t really want to get into the debate on this one, but… I attended my local college/university and I met a ton of new people, I went to parties, I participated in school activities and I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. I know some of you may have to go away to take programs that may not be offered at your local school, but if you can, staying home will save you so much money.

10. Get involved.

Have fun! You deserve it. Your school will likely have some sort of club or society that you are interested in. Your Student’s Union may host events and activities at the school. Go have fun with your friends and meet some new people!

11. Talk to your professors.

This one is important. If you are struggling – let your professor know. Your professors are there to teach you. I have had a lot of great professors and instructors that were happy to help if I needed it. Most professors have spent 10+ years in school studying the subjects they are teaching they are usually passionate about their work and eager to help. If you can’t attend a class – let your professor know. Most profs are more than happy to accommodate you if there are legitimate special circumstances preventing you from attending a class or passing in an assignment on time. Let them know in advance because what they don’t like is excuses after the fact.

12. Use your writing centre.

Most colleges and universities have a free writing centre. They will help you with writing skills for your assignments, getting organized, and they will help you with formatting (APA, MLA, etc.). This is an incredible resource to have. Everyone’s writing could always be better. Take advantage.

13. BUY USED BOOKS!!!

Buying used textbooks is a very easy way to save yourself (or your parents LOL) a lot of money. During my first year of university, I bought all of my books brand new. For some reason, I convinced myself I needed the newest, shiny, and aesthetically pleasing books. I had spent $800 dollars on new books per semester that year. Some new textbooks can cost you $200+ each. Buy used when possible. You can usually buy used textbooks from students who had just finished the course you are taking for $40-$80 each and you are helping out your fellow students this way. They are going to get you through the course just as well as the brand new textbook will. Even if you can’t find another student selling a textbook you need, most bookstores sell used versions of textbooks at a discount as well. Some bookstores will even let you rent textbooks.

14. Save your money.

Be wise with your spending. I sure wasn’t. I was 17 turning 18 in a few days when I had received my first student loan. I was barely an adult being trusted with what was a massive amount of money compared to what I’ve ever had before. I lived like Beyoncé for the first three weeks. Then it was gone. I managed to blow thousands of dollars in a matter of a few weeks on absolute nonsense. I know a lot of other people who have made the same mistake. So, save your money, because student loan is not going to give you any more until next year. I'm not saying don't treat yourself occasionally... Just be reasonable. (If you are in high school and are preparing for college or university, check out this great Personal Finance course on Udemy)

15. Most importantly - Lean on each other.

University and College can be challenging. You are going to need your family or friends to lean on for support. Sometimes to kick your butt to class or sometimes a shoulder to cry on. Be kind to one another, look out for one another, and be the best version of you that you possibly can.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I really hope it helps with getting started. Good luck!