8 Things I Wish I knew Before Starting University

If you're about to start university, you're probably excited—but what's the best way to get ready?

University is an exciting time in your life. You're on the brink of adulthood, making your own decisions, and starting to work toward your dreams! But you may be nervous about what lies ahead—who wouldn't be?

You're probably still trying to figure out what the heck is going on. Don't worry, I've been there.

As someone who has been there and is still there, I've put together this list of things I wish I knew when I first came here. They range from how to choose friends to tips for studying, and if you take these things to heart, you'll be able to get the most out of your experience here. So read on!

1). Choose Friends Well

You have a lot of freedom in college, but you don't have much freedom with your time. If you're choosing friends simply for their charisma, you'll be missing out on the people that can provide the most value to you and your life. University is a time of growth and change, and while it's fun to meet new people and make new connections, it's important to remember that the people you surround yourself with can have a big impact on how well you do in school. Make sure the crowd you run with wants you to succeed.

2). Study Early

This is something that took me a while to learn, but it really helps if you start studying right when you get your materials instead of waiting until the last minute. This can help reduce stress and give you more time to focus on other things—like having fun!

Learn where your learning skills lie. Everyone learns differently—some people are auditory learners and some are visual learners. Find out which kind of learner works for you.

3). Seek out senior colleagues

They can give you a fresh perspective on your studies and maybe even teach you some great life skills that they've picked up along the way. Make sure they're not too busy and don't hole yourself up with them—it's important to make friends among peers as well—but take advantage of the opportunity to learn from people who have been where you are now.

Learn from other students' mistakes—talk with them about how they prepared for exams and what worked for them (and what didn't).

4). Time management

It's easy to get distracted—especially when you're suddenly surrounded by new people, new opportunities, and new adventures! But if you want to succeed, you'll need to learn how to focus on what matters, make the most of your time and not spread yourself too thin.

5). Have goals

It's important to know where you want to go in life and what you want to do with it. Having goals can help you keep your priorities straight. Having a goal in mind helps you stay focused and motivated. It's a good idea to sit down at the beginning of each semester and create a list of things you want to accomplish by the end of the year.

6). Work smart, not only hard

Work smart, not hard. Everyone gets that advice at one point or another, but it's especially important in university. If you can find clever ways to get the job done faster or more efficiently, you'll have more time for everything else!

When I first started school, I wanted to do everything on my own because I thought that was the only way I'd be able to prove myself as a student and professional. I soon realized that asking for help from my peers and senior colleagues made me more efficient at accomplishing tasks instead of wasting time trying to figure things out by myself!

7). Learn new skills

Don't be afraid of learning new skills! The world is changing fast, so we must keep up with technology and current trends if we want our careers to thrive in this competitive economy.

University is the best place where you can learn new skills and plan for a successful future.

Embrace opportunities when they come along. You don't have to wait until graduation—or even until you're hired—to start building your expertise and gaining experience in your field of interest!

8). Plan ahead

It's easy to get caught up in lectures and readings and not think about long-term goals. But those are important, too. What do you want to do after graduating? Where do you want to live? What kind of people do you want to meet? Thinking about these questions will help you navigate your time at university more effectively so that when you graduate, you're ready for the next step in your life.