What You Need To Know BEFORE Starting University

Starting university can be overwhelming. Here’s everything you need to know before starting your degree:

1. Plan Your Entire Degree

The first thing you want to do is plan out your entire degree – not just each semester or year as you go. Why? Because some second- or third-year subjects have prerequisites that you need to finish earlier. If you don’t complete those prerequisites in time, you can find yourself stuck in your second or third year unable to take the subjects you need. That could mean adding extra years to your degree, and no one wants to be at university longer than they have to.

Here’s how to plan:

• Grab your course handbook from your university website.
• Start with your mandatory subjects – the core ones you have to take – and map them out.
• Fill in the gaps with electives (make sure these electives count towards your degree)
• Double-check when each subject is available (some might only be offered in semester two, for example).

If you sit down and take the time to plan your degree now, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches later.

2. Enrol Early and Review Your Subject Outlines

Once you’ve planned your degree, you want to enrol in your first semester’s subjects. Don’t wait – enrol as soon as you can. While most universities have plenty of spots, it’s better to be safe than sorry. The last thing you want is to miss out and have to add an entire year to your degree simply because you enrolled a little late.

Once you’re enrolled, you’ll get a subject outline (or syllabus, depending on your university). These are important. They tell you everything you need to know about each subject, including:

• What assessments you have, when they’re due, and how much they’re worth.
• The type of assessments (essays, reports, quizzes, etc.).
• Any required readings or textbooks.
• Whether you have midterms or a final exam (or both).

Read your subject outlines carefully so you’re not caught off guard by assessments or deadlines.

3. Create an Assessment Planner

This step is a game-changer. Once you have your subject outlines, go through each one and write down:

• All the assessment due dates.
• How much each one is worth (e.g., 10%, 20%).
• The type of assessment (essay, report, quiz, etc.).
• Any exams, tests, or quizzes.

Put it all into a calendar or planner. This way, you’ll know exactly what’s coming up each week and can stay on top of everything. Having all your deadlines in one place takes the guesswork out of uni life and makes it easier to manage your time.

4. Go to Every Session

Whether it’s lectures, tutorials, or practicals, make sure you attend every session you can. Even if lectures are recorded, being there in person helps you stay focused and gives you the chance to ask questions. Plus, it’s much harder to fall behind if you’re showing up to class regularly.

Missing classes is one of the fastest ways to make university harder for yourself. Even if you’re busy, try your best to attend, because your lecturers and tutors are there to help you. They want you to succeed, but they can’t do that if you’re not showing up.

5. Don’t Waste Money on Textbooks

Textbooks can be ridiculously expensive, and most of the time, you don’t need to buy them. Before you spend a cent, check if:

• The book is available at the library (physical or digital).
• You can buy a secondhand copy.

Here’s my rule of thumb: only buy a textbook if you’ll use it in your career after university. Otherwise, you’re better off borrowing it or finding a secondhand copy. Most people buy textbooks, barely use them, and then struggle to sell them later.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t do the required reading—you should. But be smart about how you get your hands on the material.

6. Attend Orientation (But Don’t Overcommit)

Lastly, if there’s an orientation day or week at your university, make sure you go. Orientation is a great way to:

• Find your classrooms and get comfortable navigating campus.
• Discover clubs, societies, and other opportunities you might be interested in.

However, be careful not to overcommit. University life is demanding—your assessments, reading, and exam prep will take up most of your time. If your calendar is overloaded with club events or society commitments, it can quickly become overwhelming.

The same goes for volunteering. My recommendation is to avoid unpaid volunteering unless it’s something that truly aligns with your goals. Your time is valuable, even when you’re just starting out. If you want to help your lecturers or professors, that’s great, but remember that your time is worth something, too.

TL:DR

If you take away anything from this post, let it be this:

1. Plan your entire degree before you start.
2. Stay organized with an assessment planner.
3. Show up to every session—it’s your golden ticket to success.
4. Be savvy about textbooks to save money.
5. Attend orientation but prioritize your time wisely.

These steps will help you hit the ground running and make your time at university as smooth as possible. For tips on taking effective notes and preparing for lectures, check out this post here.