The How-To Series: Part 2

The How-To Series is a collection of blog posts designed to help you navigate through different stages of academia. In Part 2, we explore eight useful tips to keep in mind as you move through your undergraduate degree.

How to Succeed in University

Written By: Flor Angela Diaz

Concepts: Bienaventurado Dela Cruz

Number One: Stay Organized

Deadlines are final in university. Unlike high school, you might not get a last minute extension or make-up homework. Here are some tips to keep track of things:

• Google Calendar: From day one, record all important dates from the syllabus. Make sure you regularly check your schedule to see what's ahead.

• Keep Neat Folders: Keep all your folders in one place and organize them by course and term. This way, you'll find all your papers easily.

• To Do Lists: Use the notes app to write down small & achievable tasks for the day.

  
  

Number Two: Adapt Your Learning Style

Not every class will share the same studying method. Feel free to mix and match, but in general, this is the pattern that works consistently:

• Active Recall: For high-memorization courses (e.g., biology)

• Practice Questions: For numerical or application-based courses (e.g., statistics)

• Reading and Summarizing: For writing-based courses (e.g., history)

  
  

Number Three: Start Assignments Early

When midterm season starts rolling around, students often find themselves scrambling to complete many courses' homework & studying. Stay ahead by following these steps:

• Start Right Away: When an assignment is posted, read through the instructions, understand the requirements, and begin brainstorming ideas.

• Be Consistent: Break down the workload into smaller, lighter tasks & work through them each day.

• Submit 2-3 Days Before: Submit the assignment a few days before the deadline or sooner! The earlier it's submitted, the less likely you'll encounter technical difficulties last minute, or worse, forget about it. It's also one less task to think about!

Number Four: Use Office Hours

In large courses, professors may not have the time to check in on every student's understanding. If you've reviewed the material and are still confused, office hours are the best place to get help. Make sure to:

• Come Prepared: Know where you got lost, and have specific questions in mind!

• Be Respectful: Treat the professor well. One day, you might need them for a reference letter.

• Optional - Bring a Friend: If you feel intimidated, bring another confused friend to office hours. Professors are happy to explain to both of you, or more!

Number Five: Get Enough Sleep

A lack of sleep can compromise your learning and academic performance. If you're regularly staying up until 2 AM to finish assignments, try these tips:

• Avoid Evening Naps: This makes it easier to fall asleep at a reasonable time.

• Revisit Your Schedule: Build your course schedule around the times you're most productive. Let down time be down time.

• Consider Your Courses: If you're a night owl, avoid scheduling courses at 8 AM. It'll be worth it to get another 2 hours of sleep for that 10 AM class.

  
  

Number Six: Collaborate With Peers

Working with the right people can improve your understanding of the material and help you complete assignments more efficiently. Remember to:

• Talk to Your Classmates: Start conversations with the people next to you & get their contact. If you miss a class, you have someone to help you catch up.

• Download Discord: Many courses have Discord servers where students discuss concepts and help each other study. You can also start the server if none exists!

• Join Study Groups: Certain clubs may provide past exams or practice questions, and they’re a great way to review difficult concepts with other students.

  
  

Number Seven: Get Involved

Your undergraduate years go by quick. Maximize your experience by:

• Finding Campus Opportunities: Check your university’s website for jobs, clubs, and volunteer roles to build experience and meet new people.

• Joining Initiatives Early: Starting clubs/volunteering sooner helps you gain long-term experience. You might be qualified for leadership roles later on!

• Making Diverse Friendships: University is the one time in your life where you'll meet so many different backgrounds around your age range. Connect with these individuals, and maybe you'll meet again in a career setting!

Number Eight: Find Your Balance

It’s a myth that you can’t have enough sleep, good grades, and a social life in university. Balancing all three is often best for your mental health and academic performance. Here are some tips to help with that:

• Establish Boundaries: Be honest with your family & friends about your schedule so you can plan events that work for you! There are days to party, and days to lock in.

• Take Breaks: Don’t feel guilty about resting when you need it. Sometimes we need to take a step back to become more productive.

• Be Accountable: Consider the long-term impact and consequences of your actions, whether its study/homework-related or personal life choices. Not to leave this on an ominous note, but you never know what will follow you to your future career.

  
  

Conclusion

There it is. Eight tips that can help first-year university students succeed. It seems easy, but I know that it's hard when you actually try it. From personal experience, I can tell you that with consistent practice, these tips get easier over time. It'll help you lots later on.

Thanks for reading!