The mistakes of freshmen and how to avoid them

Being a freshman is not easy: many things are completely new to you, it may be scary at first. Adapting to a new environment is a difficult task, which often leads to confusion in actions. Also, the organization of the educational process and assignments themselves are completely different from the ones from High School. Academic writing is especially challenging for most students, so they prefer to pay to write essay online.

In this article, we have collected the most common mistakes of first-year students. Take note to properly integrate into the training regime from the very beginning, and not after a year of classes.

"I'll manage everything"

Many first-year students are interested in social life and sports, often at the expense of their studies. If you stop attending classes, it will be difficult to catch up. Every new topic in any discipline is related to the previous one: if you skip several important lectures, you will get confused about the subject.

How to avoid it?

Try to build your schedule so that leisure and study are harmoniously combined. At the same time, if there is a choice between attending a lecture or a gym, choose the first: you can do push-ups and squats in the morning / before going to bed and not skip the lectures.

Check the schedule every evening so as not to come to the wrong class by mistake. With a busy schedule, it's easy to confuse days, classes, and even homework.

If you still missed some seminars, talk to the teacher about it as soon as possible. Request materials that students have been introduced to in the classroom to quickly integrate into the learning process.

Lack of planning

The academic load at the university is much higher than at school. At the same time, schoolchildren write homework in a diary, and students keep it in their heads (why?).

If you constantly memorize tasks, you can quickly get bogged down in numerous unfinished assignments and ruin academic performance. Few people have a memory that allows you to build whole schedules in your head.

How to avoid it?

Do not try to manage the deadlines for completing tasks in your mind. Instead, use a written planner or app to know about all the tasks and deadlines. Like skipping classes, not doing homework spoils a reputation. Restoring it is much more difficult than buying a notebook and making a schedule of tasks.

You should also set aside time to do your homework (or contact qualified professionals if you feel that the load is too high).

Waste of energy

Freshmen often go all-in, try to keep up with everything, and be in multiple places at the same time. They sign up for several extracurricular activities, join the student government and participate in every university party. Such students are burning with enthusiasm, but they burn out very soon.

Trying to keep up with a few hares deprives you of a good rest, and this negatively affects your studies. It is important to take breaks in activities.

How to avoid it?

Although you should be active, don't take on more tasks than you can handle. Try to find a healthy balance between being active and spending time alone with yourself to make up for the energy spent. Finally, never let social life or other pursuits deprive you of rest and academic duties.

Lack of sleep

Along with burnout, lack of sleep is another mistake that most students make. Anyone who graduated from university can remember "night training marathons", cramming before a difficult exam. This lifestyle prevents you from having a full rest, which can affect your mood, health, and memory. 

In fact, night studying does not contribute to good academic performance. If you come to the exam tired and stressed, you risk passing it much worse than those who slept at night.

How to avoid it?

Do not underestimate the importance of a night's rest: try to sleep at least 7-8 hours a day. You should also stick to a stable schedule — go to bed and wake up at about the same time. Discipline will keep the nervous system healthy, will allow you to fully restore energy resources. This way you will be more productive in your studies and other daily activities.

Poor budgeting skills

The first year of study at the university is difficult financially. At this time, most first-year students realize that now they are responsible for the costs, and not their parents. Many fall into the trap of spending more than they can afford.

How to avoid it?

The best way to avoid financial problems is to make a spending plan and stick to it. Determine how much money you will have on hand each month, and then mark all monthly and other expenses. Being proactive about finances will help you avoid money problems and focus on your studies.

Missed opportunities

Many first-year students in the first year of study are inactive and miss a lot of opportunities:

• make new friends;

• go abroad for a seminar or Minor Abroad;

• take part in extra curriculum projects;

etc.

Shyness prevents students from becoming a volunteer or raising their hands once again in class. Unfortunately, this problem is very common, but it can be avoided.

How to avoid it? 

Do not deny yourself the pleasure of going to extracurricular activities if you want to. Answer in class, if you know the answer to the teacher's question, do not give this opportunity to classmates! You will have to spend only 4-5 years at the university, you need to squeeze the maximum out of this period.

Imagine for a second that you have already received a diploma and have been working in an office for several years. What would you regret thinking about being a student? If you are tormented by thoughts about missed opportunities, now is the time to deal with them.

Summarize the results of our tips and make sure that you have started your first year of study correctly. Good luck in preparing for a new academic adventure!

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