Top tips guide

Challenges of the first teaching session

Everyone feels more or less overwhelmed in the first few months at uni. This is sometimes called the ‘invisible subject’- trying to understand how everything works at uni while, at the same time taking on the academic requirements of your study load.

Some students limit their first teaching session study load to two or three subjects to give themselves time to settle in.

5 Top Tips

• Check your student email account every day – even during your session breaks. It’s the official communication channel between you and the University. Don’t miss emails with important information about things like your enrolment, exams, results and graduation.
  
  

• Keep a filing folder for all university correspondence and keep it in a safe place. Never throw any of the correspondence away even if it seems unimportant at the time – you may need to refer to it at a later date.
  
  

• Try to be on time for everything. Don’t be late for class, assignment deadlines, or returning library books. You could miss out on important information, lose marks or incur hefty library fines if you get into the habit of being late or not turning up.
  
  

• Read (and re-read) your subject outlines and learning guides. These are the ‘road maps’ for each subject. If you get bogged down with an assignment go back to the subject outline and check the ‘learning outcomes’ to give you direction.
  
  

• Learn the ‘jargon’. Check out the glossary of terms  which explains important University terms.

Balancing your workload and social life 

If you're the first in your family to go to university you may not have seen how others balance their workload, commitments and social life. Here are suggestions from students who have achieved success through their time management.

Juggling New Experiences

Managing new experiences and responsibilities as well as existing commitments can be a challenge. It helps to know how other students have managed similar situations.

1. Devise a flexible schedule allowing time for study, extracurricular and social activities and any of your other commitments or interests. A good balance will mean you have enough time to study, get a good night’s sleep and it may even help you save money.
   
   

2. Focus on one thing at a time and prioritise your tasks. Don’t overwhelm yourself by worrying about everything. When you’re studying give all your attention to your work. When you’re at work or out having fun, forget about study.
   
   

3. Devise some time saving strategies. If you catch public transport, do your readings on the way to uni. Try pre-preparing meals and freezing them so you spend less time cooking dinner and you have something for lunch the next day.

Balance Your Workload

• Be a little more flexible with your normal routines. Don’t let a messy house or overgrown lawn make you feel stressed. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, ask your family or friends to pitch in and help you out.
  
  

• Consider taking on just two or three subjects per session as uni work can be more challenging than you expect. You can increase or decrease subjects quite easily before each census date. You need to check the details about how to add or drop subjects and what deadlines apply.
  
  

• Appreciate your time at uni because it’s a unique experience. Make your study/life balance work so you can enjoy the fun side of uni without letting your grades slip.
  
  

• Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. The session is a short 13 weeks so stay focused. Remember, you can only do so much, so it’s okay to say ‘no’ sometimes.
  
  

• Help is available. Give yourself time to develop the necessary academic skills and to settle in. Have realistic goals for this period and don’t set the bar too high!

Communicate with Family and Friends

• Keep your family and friends in the loop about your university workload. That way they can be involved in your life without overloading you during your busiest times. It’s also a good idea to use them as a sounding board for ideas and issues with your work and assignments.
  
  

• Celebrate your successes with your family. Sharing your achievements with them gives them a chance to congratulate you and have a better appreciation of your goals and aspirations.
  
  

• Let your friends and family know your schedule and routine. Having a good understanding of your schedule and the expectations on you may also help them be more supportive and encouraging.
  
  

• Make sure to make time for family and friends. When you are most stressed, and you just want to hide or cram for an exam, some time with people you care about will do you good. In the end it’s people and relationships that matter most.

Tips for Assignments and Exams

1. Read over your assessments or essays on paper before submitting them. It’s often easier to pick up typos, formatting errors and parts that don’t read as well. A fresh pair of eyes is often really useful for editing so ask a friend or family member to read it before you submit it.
   
   

2. Getting your referencing style correct – check your subject outline or talk to your lecturer to confirm the correct style of referencing for each subject. The librarians can help and the University Store sells small guides to referencing.
   
   

3. Be properly prepared for exams. It’s not a good idea to try and fluke your exams, so revise regularly. That way you’ll be able to walk into your exams confident that you’re prepared.
   
   

4. Read the exam question/instructions carefully and then read them again. It sounds obvious but it could save you from trying to write twelve little essays instead of the three required; like I did, because I did not take the time to understand the instructions properly.

Lectures, Tutorials and Taking it all in

• Attend all your lectures even if the subject outline says they’re not compulsory. This is where the majority of the program content is covered. You’ll also get all the important information about expectations, assessments, due dates and exams.

• Print out your lecture slides or outline to take to the lecture. That way you can focus on getting the important details of each point, rather than trying to write down everything the lecturer says.

• Make sure you go to all your lectures and tutorials. This is where you’ll have a chance to explore the program content in more detail and ask questions. If you miss a tutorial, it’s important to make the time to catch up later. Most subjects have a compulsory attendance component, so if you miss too many tutorials, it may affect your grade or ability to pass the subject.
  
  

• Participate fully in your lectures and tutorials. Don’t be shy or think your point of view is not important. Tutorials are about sharing ideas and discussing all the views on a subject.
  
  

• Keep up with your readings. Find reading techniques that help get the most out of your texts. Put in the effort to stay up to date as it can take away some of the pressure during exams.
  
  

• Develop a study and revision schedule that works for you. Everyone works differently and it’s important to do what’s best for you whether it’s shorter study blocks, listening to music or discussing information with a friend. Remember, it’s crucial to have regular breaks when you study.
  
  

• Try studying with flashcards – visual reminders can help you learn and remember information and concepts better than reading.
  
  

• Find an ideal place to study that is quiet, well-lit and well-ventilated. It might be in the library, somewhere at home or even at the park.
  
  

• Revise whenever you have some spare time. Take your notes with you when you’re waiting for an appointment or to pick up the kids. Every little bit counts.
  
  

• Stick your revision notes up where you’re most likely to see them at home. Some good places are on the fridge, in the bathroom, on the mirror, or even on the ceiling.
  
  

• Pace yourself. Make sure you’ve got plenty of time to complete your assessments and essays. About two weeks for research and one week for writing and editing is a good place to start.
  
  

• Focus on starting your tasks and assessments rather than focusing on completing them. This will make the task seem more manageable and may help you avoid procrastination.
  
  

• Don’t cut corners. Procrastinating, cramming and only doing the bare minimum will only take away from your time at uni.
  
  

• Put together a to-do list of your tasks regularly. Keep track of which tasks you’ve completed. Being able to see what you’ve achieved is a great way to stay motivated.
  
  

• Make sure you don’t just rely on the internet for your research. Learn how to use the library. The librarians are friendly and very helpful. They can give you a hand with books, journal searches, data bases and even referencing.

Staying on track

Like athletes, most students have those times when they ‘hit the wall’ – that sudden loss of energy or motivation in a long race. Do you ever wonder how other students have made it past the challenges and roadblocks?

Finding Help and Support

• Check out the library website and the relevant library resources for your discipline – main journals, books and databases for your area.

• Accept constructive criticism. When a tutor marks your work, they are giving you tips on how to improve next time. Read their comments carefully and use them to improve your next assignment.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed by everything. Try having a chat with your lecturer or tutor or you can drop in to see a counsellor or welfare officer. They can offer support and advice and point you in the right direction.

• Ask for extra feedback from your lecturers when your assessments or essays are returned to you. This will give you an opportunity to get some in-depth feedback so you’ll know if you’re on the right track and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

• Don’t give up! If you’re thinking about dropping out, talk – to your family, friends, Subject Coordinators or a counsellor for advice. There are a range of options available that can make your uni experience easier. Make sure you know all your options before you make your final decision.
  
  

• Be assertive and take the initiative. Ask questions, investigate and follow up with your tutors and lecturers if you’re unsure of information.

Staying Positive

• Don’t be intimidated by the idea of university study. Remember that you have demonstrated the abilities and qualities needed to get you into university and you will feel more confident with time.
  
  

• Be open minded to different views and cultures. Western Sydney University is diverse and everyone has something unique to offer.
  
  

• Be positive and stay enthusiastic. Be sure of your abilities and opinions and remember that you’ll get more confident over time.

• Give yourself time to adjust. It may take a few weeks or even months before uni starts to feel comfortable. Don’t feel like you have to hit the ground running and do everything perfectly right from the start. Slowly but surely is the key.
  
  

• Learn from your mistakes and don’t give up if you fail along the way – learning what doesn’t work is just as important as learning what does and it means you can try again with more experience.
  
  

• Start some good habits. It’s easier to get into new habits if you associate them with existing ones. For example, if you normally drink tea or coffee in the morning, use that first cup as the time to write down a to-do list for the day.
  
  

• Don’t sell yourself short because sometimes it’s hard to believe in your own abilities. You can succeed at university, if you couldn’t you wouldn’t be here. Work hard and you’ll achieve good results.

Taking Care of Yourself and Your Wellbeing

• University is not just about careers, assignments, exams and stress. It’s also about discovering yourself as a person, your place in the world, and about having a great ride along the way.

• Talk with one of the University’s counsellors. It can really help.

• Changing even the simplest things can reduce stress. Set realistic goals. Reduce the number of events or commitments in your life, Try relaxation exercises or oil burners with lavender, chamomile or peppermint are for stress relief, relaxation and focus.
  
  

• When you have achieved your goals, reward yourself! Make a list of the activities you can’t fit into your schedule while you’re studying and use the session break to do one or all of them. You may like to go for a massage, see a band, play some sport, take a holiday or organise a night out with your friends.
  
  

• Learn to recognise stress. Signs can include exhaustion, loss or increase of appetite, increase or decrease in sleeping, irritability, an increase in crying or headaches.
  
  

• Stay active. Find out about sporting activities and sporting facilities available on each campus in the ‘On campus services’ section of the services and facilities webpage.
  
  

• Balance your workload and activities so you can get adequate sleep. If you are well rested, you’ll be able to concentrate better and be more productive.
  
  

• Exercise increases your ability to think and it also de-stresses you. If you live close to the uni, get a bike and cycle there. It’ll help you feel fitter, smarter, and better. You’ll be reducing your carbon footprint too.
  
  

• A balanced diet that avoids too much sugar can prevent the foggy brain that comes from sugar crashes.
  
  

• Boost your immune system. Having lots of assignments and readings and staying up late can take a toll on the immune system. This is an important time to look after yourself with good nutrition. A good multivitamin, omega 3 and garlic are all great for the immune system, energy levels and concentration.
  
  

• Get into yoga or Pilates. They’re both great stress relievers for the body and mind and a great way to stay healthy.
  
  

• Keep your supplies well stocked. Keep a bottle of water and a small packet of nuts or dried fruit in your bag at all times as they’re a great energy boost. A tin of tuna makes a great brainboosting snack.