Tips for First-Year University Students

1. Work hard – Many first-year students are surprised by how much more work is required with university coursework. While some can get good grades with just a little effort in high school, university is a place where hard work is rewarded. Success in university requires a lot more effort than at the high school level.
2. Practice Good Time Management – Managing your time goes hand-in-hand with working hard, but it’s the key to working efficiently. Face it, there are probably a lot of things you’d rather do than study. Effective time management will help you complete your work and enjoy downtime. Have clear goals to help you focus on tasks, use a schedule to allocate your time, keep on track with work and assignments, and ask for help from fellow students, professors, or counsellors when you run into difficulty.
3. Keep an Open Mind – Don’t know what you want to do once you finish university? Don’t worry! University offers lots of new experiences that can provide direction. Take a range of different courses and you’ll likely discover new interests and possibilities. If a course doesn’t work out as planned, take it in stride and keep an open mind.
4. Know Your Professors – Professors can become your best resources, and most are happy to respond to your questions before or after class. Make an appointment to more deeply discuss subject matter, assignments, or specific problems you may encounter.

    

   Canadian Mennonite University offers first-year students very favourable professor/student ratios (18:1) in a collaborative setting as well as a wide range of student services to help students make the most of their university experience. Visit cmu.ca to find out more.