Listen to your seniors and open the correct mode for your new university life!

For new students about to enter the University of Wollongong (UOW), it's very normal to feel curious and uncertain when first encountering a new environment and learning mode. To alleviate these uncertainties, we've specially interviewed four current UOW students. We believe their experiences will provide very useful inspiration and reference for our new students.

Jake Bradley

Major:

Double Degree in Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of International Studies (Sophomore)

Learning Experience:

Before starting university, Jake felt anxious about the transition from high school to university."University life was a huge change for me, requiring more independence, which made me feel intimidated.I was also unsure about the social network at university and how everything actually works."

The uncertainty Jake felt also extended to his outlook on post-graduation prospects. "What worried me the most was how my studies and degree would translate into future job opportunities."

But the reality of university was a pleasant surprise. "I thought it would be more challenging and daunting. But in reality, university doesn't necessarily have a nine-to-five, five-day-a-week class schedule. There's a lot of flexibility in attending classes at specific times on specific days. Jake also said, "You can still maintain all the fun activities and social habits without affecting your studies."

A big change from high school to university is the expectations for learning and assignments."You no longer just review and rely on memory as you did in high school.Assignments mostly involve research, finding factual literature to better support your ideas."

Jake Bradley

Jake's Tips:

Perseverance: Do a little every week, whether it's sticking to exercise or completing assignments on time. Perseverance is the most important thing.
Keep an open mind:Be open to the changes that are coming.
Stay grounded:Maintain a humble learning attitude.You may encounter challenging new ideas and different opinions, but keep a learning mindset and continuously enrich yourself.

Megan Coulson-Knight

Major:

Bachelor of Primary Education (Senior)

Learning Experience:

Megan recalls her emotions when preparing for university were like a roller coaster:"This transition period made me both anxious and excited, I was looking forward to the new academic and social environment that pursuing a university degree would bring."

"I found the autonomy and self-management required by university to be the most surprising aspects. University demands a higher level of personal responsibility and self-discipline, but I had to adapt."

The social aspect of university was easier to navigate. "I didn't need to worry about making connections with classmates and academics, because my peers were going through the same anxiety and nervousness when starting their first year."

For Megan, the highlights of her university experience so far have been two overseas study trips to Thailand and Tanzania. These were surprises she hadn't anticipated when she first started university.

"The humanitarian trip to East Africa in June 2024 was an unexpected surprise I never anticipated. This trip encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and further develop my potential in project management, collaboration, and leadership skills, as I led a team of university students to complete a project at a boarding school in Manyara Primary School, Tanzania."

Megan's study trip in Africa

Megan's Tips:

Step out of your comfort zone: "Step out of your comfort zone and seize any opportunities university offers! This can be as simple as volunteering on campus or joining a student leadership organization."
Embrace all aspects of life: "Ensure a healthy work-life balance."
Time management: "Set a schedule for yourself."

Max Arnold

Major:

Bachelor of Communication and Media (Journalism) (Sophomore)

Learning Experience:

Looking back, Max initially wanted to live with other students from his hometown, so he could have familiar faces around while adapting to the new environment.However, after giving himself time to adapt and accept the new environment, Max began to connect with other students and made friends with many different classmates.

For Max, the academic workload at university was much better than expected. "I thought university studies would be much more difficult. If you're doing what you love, or if you've chosen the right degree, or if you can find the right subjects within your degree, then everything becomes much easier. I don't see assignments as tasks. I enjoy them."

Max Arnold

Max's Tips:

Create a sense of home: "Put yourself in an environment from the start and make friends there. You'll spend a lot of time with them, even longer. This will make the place you live feel like home."

Believe in your resilience: "Get through tough times."

Focus: "Don't leave assignments until the last minute."

Yukari Dunn

Major:

Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts and Design) (Freshman)

Learning Experience:

Before entering UOW, Yukari remembers always worrying about where to go, which room to be in, getting lost, and of course other aspects...Yukari also worried about how strong her classmates in the same major would be, but the reality was completely different.

"I thought there would be competition, with everyone wanting to be better than others.I really thought everyone would have different attitudes and want to be the best art student, etc.But in reality, there's no competition or jealousy among classmates—it's completely different from what I imagined."

Yukari's university experience has been very positive overall. "From the community atmosphere of the university, the independence of the courses, to the fact that most students share similar views on studying, stress, etc., it's very comfortable and happy."

Yukari's Tips:

Day by day, persevere: "I stick to my schedule. I attend classes, then study after that class. I might study for an hour or five hours… but if I don't want to study or want to rest, then I rest, provided I make up the study time another day."

You're all the same: "I realized that everyone around me feels the same—worried about getting lost, not knowing where to go..."

Integrate study and life: "Find a good balance between university and life outside of studying."

We hope that the real experiences and insights of the above four seniors can provide more encouragement to our new students. In fact, the key to quickly adapting to a new environment is to be bold and willing to try, after all, university life is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.