5 mistakes every freshman should avoid
Have you just enrolled in university or are you waiting to pass your first admission tests so you can kick off this new study experience? As a freshman you probably feel concern and you will surely want to get some advice on how to best approach your first year at university.
In this article, we try to show you an overview of the most common mistakes made by freshmen, mistakes that every student should avoid in order to face this new beginning in the best possible way.
Are you ready? Let’s get started.
1. Criticizing the course of study only after the first few months
One of the typical mistakes of freshmen is to judge their study plan after only a few months after the beginning of the first year at university. Very often, in fact, students in the most difficult faculties such as Medicine, Law or Engineering tend to get discouraged easily and abandon their course of study too soon.
Our advice is to give yourself time and not get discouraged at the first failures. Don’t immediately think you don’t have aptitude, especially if that is the faculty you have always wanted to attend. You are going through a new phase in your life where change is very evident. With time you will learn from your mistakes and you will be able to find the right balance that will allow you to cope the best you can, all the way to the end.
2. Taking only favorite courses
Another very common mistake freshmen make is not taking the more “boring” or “difficult” courses, preferring instead the more enjoyable and easy ones. The risk is to find oneself, at the time of exams, completely disoriented. Very often, in fact, exams are propaedeutic and, in order take them, it is necessary to pass other exams.
Always follow the syllabus and take all courses, especially the more complex ones!
3. Thinking about being free
“School is over, I’m finally free!”
This is precisely one of the most common thoughts among freshmen: believing themselves free from any kind of responsibility or commitment. Sorry to disappoint you, but this is not how university should be approached. Even if you no longer have mandatory attendance, next-day homework or pop quizzes, it does not mean that university should be taken lightly.
It is precisely when this happens that things start to take a turn for the worse.
As a freshman, you will have to learn how to manage your time to get results right away. University requires commitment, sacrifice and a lot of responsibility: remember that the choices you make will impact your course of study. Avoid neglecting your academic responsibilities, especially if you are an off-campus student away from parental control.
4. Being overwhelmed by fears and insecurities
Failing an exam has happened to everyone, especially to those who have chosen to attend very complex faculties. In such cases, it is important to remain clear-headed and not be overwhelmed by the fear of failing or feeling unfit. What is important is to master your state of mind and stay focused on your goals at all times. Flunking out or getting a very low grade is normal but, if approached in the wrong way, it can block you to such an extent that you become so insecure that you will always procrastinate in order not to take an exam.
5. Preparing for the exam in a few days
The lack of organization typical of freshmen leads to precisely these kinds of mishaps. There are many freshmen who cut down to the last minute, finding themselves a few days before the exam swamped with books, notes, summaries and handouts studying in the middle of the night with gallons of coffee on hand to keep themselves awake. To get good results, you must learn to plan your days and find the study method that best suits your needs.
Conclusions
Having an overview of the most common mistakes made by freshmen gives you a great advantage: learning how to take action even before you start university, so that you can face your first year in the best possible way and set yourself on a surely successful academic path.
If you are an off-campus student, you will have many more responsibilities and different issues to take care of. You will have to organize your student life as best you can between study, administration of finances, chores, and social life.
If you want to make managing this new chapter of your life as easy as possible, we recommend our In-Domus campuses in Milan: In-Domus Milano Olympia, Milano Monneret and Milano Internazionale.
Our campuses, from which you can easily reach the city center, are the ideal solution for those who are looking for a facilitated and privileged stay: room cleaning, bills included in the rent, 24-hour reception, gym, music room and much more.
What are you waiting for? Book your In-Domus room now.
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