Top 10 tips for new students

1. Give yourself time to settle in

Give yourself time to settle in and find your feet. Don't feel like you have to hit the ground running and be able to manage everything perfectly right from the very first moment. Starting uni is probably not the only new thing you'll be thinking about.

2. Make friends

Starting to establish connections on campus can help you feel more settled and that you belong. The perception of many first years is that everyone else already has friends on campus and that they are the ONLY person who doesn't know anyone. Get to know people in your course. This can help you feel more socially connected and enable you to chat with other students about assignments or set up study groups. There are lots of different clubs and societies that you can join to get to know other students with similar interests to yours.

3. Turn up to classes

Unlike high school, no one will follow you up if you don't go to class. However, it is easy to fall behind quickly if you're not attending lectures, and your grades may be affected. Some courses have compulsory attendance requirements, or a participation component to the final grade. Even if you are not feeling great, just being in a lecture and listening is a good idea.

4. Keep up

Lecturers pack a lot of information into a semester-long course. It's easy to get behind quickly. Keeping up with weekly readings, problem sheets or computer labs will help keep your study load manageable. BUT even if you haven't completed all of the readings for a lecture or a tutorial, go along anyway. You'll pick up more information than if you stay away.

5. Be positive

Many students feel shy, anxious or awkward when attending new classes. If you have come from a small school, you may have been a big fish in a little pond and now you may feel like a very small fish! Be positive about yourself and your abilities. Remember that you have demonstrated the abilities and qualities needed to get you in to university and you will feel more confident with time.

6. Don't be afraid to ask for help

Flinders is a big campus and it's not always easy to find your way around. Ask for help if you are lost or unsure of anything. Every other student on campus will either be a first year, or have been a first year and will know what you are going through!

7. Keep a balance

While your study is important, it is essential that you keep a balance in your life. This means eating well, getting enough sleep, going out and having fun, as well as making time for your assignments. Many students have a part-time job. Studies have shown that students who work 10-15 hours per week can manage full time study and their work. However, students who work more than this may find that their stress levels start to increase and their study begins to suffer.

8. Use the services that are there to help you

When you enrol at Flinders, you become eligible to access a wide range of services. The staff will be able to answer questions and provide support. If you are having difficulties, ask for help sooner rather than later (smaller problems are much easier to deal with).

9. Plan ahead

The first few weeks of uni can seem pretty manageable - then the first few assignments are due in the same week! In the first week of lectures you will be given a course outline for each subject which will list all of your assignments and their due dates. Write these in your diary and on a wall calendar so you can see clearly where they fall and plan ahead to ensure that you can meet all the deadlines.

10. Reward yourself

At uni it can be hard to tell how well you're going. Standards are high and your grades may be a bit lower than what you are used to, or you may not have many assignments from which to gauge your performance. This is why it is important that you recognise the achievements you make and reward yourself. Celebrate finishing an assignment, getting to all of your classes, doing a presentation or just keeping a balance in your life and feeling like you are managing.