Making the transition into university is exciting but can also be daunting. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and panicky. You will need to make new friends and perhaps look after yourself for the first time.

Unlike school, it’s not always clear what to do and you will not get the checking in, reminders, help with looking after yourself or good old-fashioned nagging you might have relied on before. Everything will feel different.

University Expectations

The expectations the university will have of you are also very different because you are an adult and no one will check that you are attending, keeping up with the work or coping emotionally.

You will be expected to:

All of this requires you to do a lot of independent study, without someone looking over your shoulder and helping. No one will tell you when to do this or how long you should spend doing it: that’s why there are big blanks of time on your timetable. This time might be called Study Time or Independent Study, but it is some of the most important time you have as a student. Some students at first regard it as ‘free time’ and do very little work but then panic when ‘unexpected’ assessments pop up. This time needs planning for and organising, or you might very quickly fall behind.

Other students work very hard, try their absolute best but get disappointing marks, not understanding why. Others can feel very depressed and lonely, overwhelmed and fearful of failing and some students just give up and leave university.

Universities vary in their ability and willingness to offer support and guidance to transitioning students and far too many students are left to either ‘sink or swim’. Even the best universities do not have enough time or lecturers to offer one to one help. This is why we started Academic Futures, to help students navigate times like these.

For help with this and more, contact Academic Futures.

1. We can help you become an independent learner by getting to know you and helping you devise a timetable that suits you, your life and commitments.
2. We can help you see the ‘big picture’, so you understand the process of reading and effective notetaking and know how to go about producing quality academic work confidently.
3. We can show you how to utilise your notes when you are planning and writing an assignment, so you spend your valuable time thinking, rather than repetitively drafting and redrafting without progressing.
4. We can show you how to undertake analytical critical thinking and understand how to find, evaluate, compare, contrast and apply reference sources.
5. Most importantly, we can help you develop tailormade strategies that suit your preferred way of learning, so work is done quickly, effectively and you feel confident and in control.

Engaging with us will give you the ability to:

• Feel more in control of how you spend your time
• Ensure you make the most of independent study
• Make usable notes when you are in lectures
• Find your own reliable research information
• Apply critical thinking
• Understand group work and giving presentations
• Produce quality work and hand it in on time
• Improve your confidence and sense of control

Remember: work smarter, not harder.

For 1:1 support with any of these issues contact Academic Futures