How to Succeed at University Without Trying Harder Than You Already Are

What makes some students successful at University whilst others struggle?

As a University lecturer and tutor I see a lot of students, a lot of successful students and a lot of students who are struggling to cope with the work load and pressure of University life. I've found that the differences between these two groups has nothing to do intelligence or ability but instead the successful students tend to have better strategies and approaches to University. Over the past couple of years I've been interested in these few key differences that make students excel at higher education, and I've been trying to teach them. The results of this are a series of notes that I've tried, without the benefit of any great skill in English, to turn into this and a few other articles. So without further ado or preamble....

How to succeed at University without really trying much harder than you already are

First semester at any University or college is not a hell of a lot of fun. If it is you're probably on your way to failing because you're at the bar too much and not at the library enough. First semester is hard for a number of reasons but there are simple ways to make it better.

Be honest, everyone loved you at highschool. You had friends, many close acquaintances and you generally knew where everything was and how it was supposed to work (if you came to University from a work environment substitute work for highschool). You were confident you knew the system and your place in it. University isn't like that. At first it's overwhelming, you have classes in dozens of buildings with literally thousands of different people, none of whom you know. Lecturers race through learning material and tutors tend to assume you know how to do everything unless you tell them otherwise. Typically you feel like you're the only one struggling, but you're not!

Most people struggle with first semester because they have no social support network at University. We are essentially social animals, and the lack of a support network is as traumatic to us as any injury. However, there is a couple of things you can do to help. Firstly, talk to everyone. About 90% of students are having this problem and all of them are too self-conscious to build a support network, be smarter than that. Pretend you're five and it's the first day of school, talk to everyone sitting next to you in lecturers, ask them where the good places to have lunch are, what they are planning on majoring in and what they have found challenging so far. Go to coffee a lot (warning, some University coffee is terrible), sign up to all of the student clubs that match your interests.... and then go to the meetings.... and then talk to people there. Some of the friends I made in undergrad are still in my closest circle today, these are people who share a lot of your interests and with whom you have a lot in common with. And then use the biggest hidden resource of any University...

Look around your lecturer room, find the older people. They typically sit near the front, have incredibly organized notebooks and ask a few thousand questions per lecturer. These are mature age students and you will need to get to know them. Mature age students are typically returning to study after a period in the workforce in order to change careers, they are lean, mean, organized study machines and it is your job to befriend them. The benefits of befriending mature age students are more than just having someone highly dedicated in your study group, their life experience is different to yours, they are more focused and worldlier, and typically they have more contacts in industry and a broader skill set. In short, they are interesting people and not the type of folks you usually hang around, which means they'll broaden your horizons. And you did go to University to expand your mind, right? Don't expect that mature age students will approach you, if anything they are more self-conscious than other students so you are going to have to be the one to seek them out.

Secondly, you need to make yourself known to the academic staff. Universities are a big place, and we have a lot of students. That means in all probability I won't remember your name, what subjects I taught you in or why you are special. Please don't take it to heart. I remember the names of two types of students, the ones who are deliberately obstinate and annoying (this isn't a good group to be in) and the ones that are keen. Enthusiastic students are the reason that we teach, remember I'm pretty much the biggest nerd in the world at what I do, and what I do is teach. If you are interested in something a lecturer is talking about, ask them about it after class, email them for additional readings and then drop past their office to discuss their readings. If you find a professors journal articles, read through them and go in during office hours and ask questions about them (even if they are only partially related to the course you are studying), you'll stand out. Personally, the term I'd use is diamond in the rough. And the keener I know you are the more time I willing to spend helping you, whether it be by explaining lecture content in a different way, providing additional guidance or feedback or discussing options for internships and summer scholarships. This kind of help is incredibly useful for growing both your knowledge and career prospects.

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