Top tips for a successful transition to university!

The transition to university is a big step forward to adulthood, and may seem intimidating, however here are 4 things that will provide a helping hand in tackling this new stage of your life. Via note taking, study methods, time, and stress management.

Don’t know how to take notes? Don’t worry!

Whilst at university, it may be thought that concise note taking is most appropriate for lectures, however, better exam performance is correlated with lengthier note taking (Nye et al. 1984). This suggests that for a more successful transition to university, your notes should be as detailed as possible, so pay attention and get better grades! 

 

It is suggested to students that you choose the note taking style (electronic based notes or handwritten) which suits you best, as there is no retention advantage to either (Wiechmann, et al. 2022). 

• Using a laptop for note taking gives students benefits like communication and internet access (Campbell & Pargas, 2003). This might make using a laptop in your lectures the more appealing option. 

• However, Palacios & Simons (2021) suggests we are influenced by our peers in this choice, imitating their chosen note taking styles. 

So, if you see every other student on a laptop, don’t feel pressured to join in! Remember to do what’s best for you, whether that’s using a laptop or handwriting your notes. 

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So, you’ve made your notes… Now what? Understanding and remembering the information from your reading and lectures is important for tests and assignments. Unsure on how to go about studying? We’ve got you covered. 

Test yourself! According to Dunlosky et al. (2013), this is one of the most effective methods of reviewing information. Testing yourself allows information in your memory to be retrieved and attended to, which aids long-term learning (Karpicke, 2012). Some ways in which you could apply this are:

-    Making and using flashcards with a question on one side and the answer on another.

-    Blurting – which is writing down as much as you can remember about a topic, then seeing what you have missed or gotten wrong.

-    Doing practice questions.

Space out and repeat. It is important that you recap everything you’ve gone to the trouble of learning so you don’t forget it. Spaced repetition and the rehearsal of information will help keep your knowledge fresh and accurate (Tabibian et al., 2019) and repeated testing is even better (Butler, 2010).

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Studying methods are vital in learning, but knowing when to study is as important for your academics and well being!

Joining university can be daunting, as there is a lot of responsibility on you. To help with this, time management is said to be crucial in allowing the transition to be smooth and healthy (Macan et al.1990). 

• Macan et al in 1990 found correlations that college students in America who had strong time management also maintained greater performance with their work, and had an overall better sense of well being. 

• Acquiring strong time management is said to be a multidimensional process that consists of setting goals, short term & long term planning, and allocating time (Wolters & Brady, 2020). 

The Eisenhower Matrix is an example of a time management method that focuses on which upcoming task is the more urgent/important (Jyothi & Parkavi, 2016). This allows you to not be overwhelmed with your workload, as it can be made clear which task needs to be done now and which can be left for afterwards.

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Stressed about university? Don’t fret; you’re not the only one.

Experiencing stress when transitioning to university is a universal experience. As a matter of fact, at least 85% of students in various universities experience moderate to high levels of stress (Akram et al., 2023).  

So, what can you do to manage all this stress?

• Sleep! 

• Poor sleep quality corresponds to high levels of stress amongst students (Zochil & Thorsteinsson, 2018). Therefore, getting a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every night is one of the best ways to reduce stress levels.

• Get Active.

• Whether it be a 5k run or a walk around campus, students who are more physically active generally tend to experience less stress during stressful periods (Wunsch et al., 2017). 

• Pursue a hobby.

• Reis et al. (2021) found hobbies such as reading, listening to music, doing arts and crafts are some of the most common de-stressing activities amongst university students. 

Why not try some of these methods and discover a relaxation technique that works for you?

Source:https://stethoscopemagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/college-students-coping-with-anxiety.jpg

Now that you’ve learnt the best transition methods, hopefully you should have a seamless and successful transition into the university lifestyle!