6 things no one will tell you about university

What exactly is University like? We’ve all heard the rumours and stereotypes and rumours about university (e.g.  crazy parties, roommate problems, etc.). Some of what you hear is true and some aren’t, and first years can’t help believe them all until proven wrong. As you begin your first few months at UJ, here are some things to keep in mind that you may or may not have been told about, and hopefully they help you navigate and understand varsity life a little better.

    1. IT’S OKAY TO FEEL INSECURE

During my first term (a million years ago,) life was pretty difficult. I was surrounded by extremely intelligent and talented individuals who had accomplished so many things before university. It made me feel incompetent. I started questioning my own abilities, and often thought I wasn’t good enough. I can tell you now, you are not alone! If you’re feeling a bit insecure, don’t feel bad! You will soon get over it and you will realise your potential. It might take time, but you’ll find what you love and what’s important to you. That’s all that really matters in the end.

     2.  WEIGHT GAIN

Weight gain during your first year is actually pretty accurate. Not for everyone, but it’s true.

When you have a meal plan and a university with student centre that feels like you have just walked into a buffet style dining hall, it’s difficult not to get carried away. I gained 5 KG during first year. See…it’s normal. What isn't common knowledge is that students can actually lose weight during their first year too. I had a friend who lost a lot of weight during her first year. She wanted to avoid spending money, so she would hardly buy food. In other words, she was always hungry, and that’s not good either. Her advice? “Do not starve yourself. You’ll eventually figure out what meal plan is right for you, hold back on overeating, or maybe fit workouts into your weekly schedule, and joint the UJ Gym available on all 4 campuses. “

I couldn't have said it better myself.

 3. DON’T BUY ALL YOUR BOOKS AT THE UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE

It’s more convenient, yes. But don’t if you can get the book from somewhere else. Like the hundreds of senior students selling their used text book at discounted prices. But always check what books you’ll need for a class ahead of time and if the textbooks they are selling are still being used. I did this on my first year and trust me textbooks I needed for classes were always cheaper there than at my university bookstore.

 

4. YOUR FREEDOM IS BOTH A CURSE AND A BLESSING

I’m sure you have heard this a couple of times before…in case you are wondering it’s the truth. At university you can do whatever you want. Wake up any time you want, sleep all you want, eat whenever, hang out all day every day, study all day every day. Varsity is way different from high school because you have the chance to schedule your day (besides classes’ schedules). Awesome right? What they don’t tell you is that it can be extremely difficult at times to prioritize and manage your time properly. The amount of freedom you have can be overwhelming. Too much fun or too much studying isn’t good either. You might not find the perfect balance between responsibilities and fun until much later on. But one thing I have learnt there can never be a balance between your academic and social life, one has to take priority and if you want that degree or diploma your academics will take charge.

5. MAKING FRIENDS MAY TAKE SOME TIME

As a first year, your roommate can be your first friends in varsity, but truth is not everyone becomes best friends with their roomie, and it’s common. Sometimes it takes time making friends and finding the people you want to hang out with. Where do you start? Try out for the UJ Choir, join a day house, join a club. Do things you have a passion for. You’re bound to meet someone who has the same interests as you, and you’ll build better friendships that way.

6. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FUTURE FIGURED OUT

Yes, You don’t. During my first year I met people  who knew from day one what they wanted to do with their lives. I, on the other hand, had no idea. You’ll meet both kinds of people and others who fall in-between the “career” spectrum. University gives you the chance to explore and learn about what you like, what you don’t like, the type of people you want to surround yourself with, and most importantly, university gives you the opportunity to networking. Taking full advantage of these opportunities is one of the best things you can do during your time in UJ.

What are some things you've learned within these few weeks, that you wish you knew sooner? 

Let’s help you make friends in UJ

Avoid letting the unfamiliarity of the place scare you out of meeting new people because there are plenty of effortless ways to make friends in university even if you are a natural introvert. You may not be one of the most social individuals on the planet but your stay in UJ is the time to make connections and get to know others whether you like it or not. It’s better to establish relationships before everyone forms their own little circle of friends and you end up on the outs. If you are worried about socializing and need a few tips, here are a few easy ways to make friends at UJ.

Attend events
What’s so great about our university is that there is always something going on, especially during the first couple of weeks of school starting. So attend the socials and mingle because as of now everyone is on the same boat. Everyone is trying to make friends and find their place on campus! Attend the RAG Week activities,  who knows?  you could be a social butterfly in a matter of hours.

Initiate contact
Whether you are sitting next to someone in class, standing in line for food or just passing by, introduce yourself to others with a friendly face! Trust me, in the first few weeks, this is not weird at all. Everyone will reciprocate your attempt at friendship, so the more effort you put into your social game, the better off you will be.

Take advantage of the First Year Seminar (FYS)

The university hold Orientation Week before the  first week of school and usually it is filled with fun events, shows and information sessions so that you get the feel of the campus, learn more about the school, find guidance from seniors and make meaningful connections with other first years . Use this as your time to be great.

Join a club

There are lots of societies that you can join that will appeal to your interests. It’s a great way to pursue your hobbies and meet other people who are passionate about the same thing you are. Plus having meetings will only strengthen your connections and assure some growth in your social scene.

Exchange numbers

No matter how many people you meet in one day, chances are that you will probably never see them again. And this is very typical on big campuses so unless you are okay with one-time introductions, exchange numbers! This is the only way you can guarantee further contact.

Making friends in varsity is harder for some than it is for others, but in reality it is up to how much effort you are willing to put into using your social skills, Yes, it might require some change in attitude, but you wont regret it, You may meet some of the best people during your varsity years! How do you usually make friends in a new environment?

Study Tips: Part 1

We all think that it gets better with time but there is no getting used to the anxiety one gets when it’s that time of the year and that is…
SECOND SEMESTER EXAMS!!!

First and foremost there are those who are still crossing their fingers that they got exam entry and after receiving your fate you found that you made it… Now it’s the rush of putting all the notes together and asking friend’s notes in case you bunked some classes. If you are really desperate you will even attempt to email your lecturer or tutor at 1 am and expect them to reply. When that rush is over its somehow finding time to actually start with the studying. There are those who are internally motivated and already start making notes well off before the time. Then there is our old friend called Procrastination. It seems like you not really wasting time but deep down you know you better start with your work because days just go by faster lately…then before you know it ,its towards end of October and UJ is making you begin with exams on a Saturday and if they really love your presence they make you write two papers in one day.

This is the period where you ignore the fact that you have to buy data bundles or renew your BIS. The period where all of a sudden you remember that energy drinks actually do exist. 

Its the study week and for the next days we will hook you up on study tips to help pass your exam and dodge the monster “F7” .

So there you....

Study Tip #1

Understand your study topics in your own words: Your lecturer can explain something to you, you can learn it from a text book, your friends can study with you, even your own notes can explain it to you but all these explanations are of little use if, by the end, you can’t explain what you have learned to yourself. If you don’t understand a study concept that you need to illustrate in an exam to get top exam results, then you won’t be happy with your end exam result. To combat this, get into the habit of explaining w

hatever it is you are studying, in your own words, so you understand your study notes. The key to help improve your memory is to understand what you've learned when you are studying it. So don’t just memorise and tick off the list – make sure you understand your theory.

Don't be too trusting

Joburg comes with flashing lights and everything under the sun, don’t be fooled by it, this place is a jungle at its best, they don’t call it GP (Gangsters Paradise) for nothing,crime features strongly as one of the themes of Johannesburg. I’m currently doing my Btech at DFC, and I wish someone would have cautioned me during my first year about the real life dangers that students face on a daily basis. Yes, the university cautions us about consequences of not meeting academic requirement as well as taking care of our wellbeing, but I feel as though no one cautions us about the real life dangers we might encounter during our studies.

During my first year I was looking for promotional part time job to earn an extra buck ,  a guy approached us saying he needed promo girls at that time, I though “whoop whoop” just my luck. He took us to Melrose Arch to brief us about this particular event and insisted that we have a drink before we go because he didn't want any shy girls, he later span us a story about a Government event  that we would be working for that particular night, the event paid quite well and we would be required to be data captures for that event. He asked that we give our phones to one of our friends as no phones are allowed to enter the venue because of security precautions, we didn't think much of it because we just wanted the job as it paid very well. We were also required to bring our own laptops to capture the data. The girl that was chosen to take our phones left with the man to take our belongings to “Safe Keeping”. At this point, our friend was robbed by this man, he took all our phones and laptops and rapped our friend and dumped her by the Sandton Convention Center.  Moral of the story please be warned, DON’T BE TOO TRUSTING OF ANYONE! More especially when your safety is concerned.

Tips for students

•  Make sure you work for promotion companies that are well known and legitimate, do research on them if necessary
•   Avoid walking alone at night
•  Don’t talk on your  phone while walking, earphones also draw a lot of unnecessary attention to thieves
• Sugar daddies can bring you more than money, they rob you of your innocence and might leave you with AIDS
• Always carry cab money with you when going out
•   Don’t over indulge in alcohol , don’t do drugs, practice safe sex
•   Learn to take care of yourself
•   Don’t take lifts from strangers 

Forming relationships in varsity

Your undergraduate years are labeled as “the best of your life” for many reasons. You meet some of your closest friends, you try juggling your school work with your social life and you build new relationships.

Dating at university appears to be a war zone we work through. During my second year at varsity I met this guy who was doing his honours degree, we started dating for a while and he  evidently  finished his studies before me. Our relationship was great because he understood that we both had to manage our time effectively in order for me to balance our relationship with my studies. If your partner is not studying, make sure he/she understands your school schedule and supports your studies, you need to find a partner who recognizes the temporary nature of your schooling, who sees the potential in you that your education is helping you realize, and is willing to be flexible and supportive, even if you’re pulling an all-nighter on a Friday.In the end, it’s about the two of you coming together and agreeing to make the relationship work despite the sacrifices you both have to make. Make use of the UJ health clinic, it offers Reproductive Health Care (Family Planning) and HIV/Aids Counseling and Testing (VCT). If you’re sexually active, remember to practice safe sex at all times.

Another exciting part of your undergraduate is meeting some of your closest friends. I’m sure you've heard the saying; a rotten apple can spoil the whole bag. Let’s say you happen to have a basket of delicious ripe apples and there’s one spoiled apple amongst the bunch, you can rest assured within days all the apples in the basket will start rotting.  Friendship takes on the same approach, bad company can ruin good character; choose your friends accordingly because they will affect what you become. With that being said, have fun and build meaningful relationships.

Exam coping strategies

Throughout your school career you have been writing exams, and currently at the university you are again required to sit for exams as they are an important and non-negotiable part of education. Because exams are used as progression guides, it is essential to thoroughly prepare for them.  Let’s look at some exam taking strategies:

•  Revise your work well in advance
• Organise your study material well. Test yourself
• Form study groups
• Finish your preparation at least three days before the exam
• Organise the material you will need for the examination a night before
•  Plan your time, eat healthy and drink a lot of water

Remember that the University offers supportive structures that can help you prepare for exams. Visit the AcademicDevelopment Center and find out more about the Learning Development Unit, this unit assists students with a series of workshops/trainings aimed at maximizing student learning experience and capacity. The Writing Center will assist any student who wants to write better, areas such as structuring an essay, expressing ideas clearly and coherently, and developing self-monitoring skills are focused on. Make use of consultation times with lecturers and tutors .

Some of you might feel stressed or overwhelmed prior your exams, WORRY NOT! PsyCaD assists students with their emotional well-being. Good Luck with your exams, REMEMBER IT’S OK NOT TO KNOW EVERYTHING, some questions are designed to challenge the limits of your knowledge at a grade level above your current grade.

Student societies: It’s not just about making friends…

A student society is a group of students that come together for a particular purpose; these individuals usually share the same interests. The University offers a vast number of extra-curricular activities that exceed what most first years could hope for,  from political societies to religious societies, academic societies and social societies,

The obvious benefit of joining a student society is the impact it will have on your social life. Coming into university as a first year and entering a newly presented environment you may feel alone at first, joining a society is a great way to meet people and feel part of a community.Societies are real advantages in terms of CV boosters as well. The skills you acquire, qualities and knowledge society’s offer may give your future employee the insight that you can successfully adapt to life as a graduate in the workplace. Employers want more than just a “Brainy” they want someone who also knows how to have fun by being part of a society, this may separate you from someone who has the exact same Degree as you when apply for a job. Student societies also provide you with fun; they keep you fit and healthy and increase your socialising.


Mpho a 3^rd year Public Relations student says her curiosity swayed her to venture out and meet new people who shared the same love for PR as she did, through her journey she become a member of (Student’s Public Relations Associations “SPRA”) . “Such societies that the University offers pave the way for students to explore their own unique interests while mounting their potential” she said. “I am now doing my internship and all the voluntary work I did for SPRA contributed incredibly to my CV, the public speaking, organising events, and writing articles really helped."Thabo a law student who usually volunteers at RAG during his spare time explained how this society broadened his experience as a UJ student while helping a good cause.

Usually there is a small joining free for some of these societies but I believe this is irrelevant considering the benefits you are getting in return. University is a place where you meet your life time friends, form relationships and find your inner being. I encourage all of you to join a society and participate in student life activities, TODAY!