Seven Steps to Have an Amazing First Term

1. Societies: Do’s and Don’ts

You may be one of many bright-eyed new recruits here at UNSW who were pulled in by the expansive society culture. And rightfully so, as the university boasts an impressive 300+ (and growing) clubs of various niches, big and small. It’s very tempting to join as many as possible. I should know, I joined a whopping 25 in my first year! I soon realised, however, that being an active member of every single one was going to be near impossible. If there weren’t clashes with my timetable, there were clashes with other society events, and worst of all, committing to all of it would interfere with my commute and sleep. So, as you shop around for whatever cliques you want to make your whole personality for the rest of your university career, choose wisely. There are lovely people and fantastic marketing tactics at almost every single stall you go to, but you only have so many hours in a week, so don’t let yourself feel pressured to join everything. I would highly recommend joining TTGSoc!*

If you belong to any minority groups, whether you’re an international student, a person of colour, or a queer student, do not fear! There are collectives across every type of identity, so you can find and join a community of students who share your experience.

*This editor is a subcom member, and this is absolutely a conflict of interest.

2. It's a big world out there…

…and it would be a shame not to explore it. UNSW is huge! The Kensington campus is practically its own little town. When you get to your campus, whether you’re in Kensington, Paddington, or any of the various regional campuses, take the time during O-Week to get to know your way around. Nothing is worse than showing up on campus before your first day of class and not knowing where anything is. Having spent pretty much all of the last two years at Kensington, I can confidently say I still have no clue where half the buildings are. Even more important than classrooms, however, is learning the fastest way to get from Upper Campus to Lower Campus, especially between classes when there’s a huge rush, and people are blocking off the main walkways. You should also get to know some of the locations of vendors and facilities on campus, especially where to find your favourite cup of coffee to perk you up in between long lectures. 

3. Managing your study workload

Seriously, this is a huge one. University, for many, is the first time in their lives where they get to have total freedom over how they handle their academic progression. The biggest factor in this is that so many lectures are recorded and available online, or some classes are ‘optional’ in the sense that attendance isn’t mandatory. Do not let this fool you into thinking that university is easy. It might seem crazy, but getting qualifications as an experienced academic actually means you have to put in effort. If you let your lectures pile up, soon it’ll be midterms or finals, and you’ll realise you have to cram in an entire syllabus in one night to pass. So, watch your lectures and do your readings, kids. 

4. Extensions, extensions, extensions!

Sometimes, life happens. Maybe your pet rock had a sudden fall and broke its leg, or you just happened to be a bit under the weather right before an assessment. Whatever the case, the university has plenty of resources to help you stay afloat even in the face of adversity. If you're lucky, your assessment will allow you to take what’s known as a ‘Short Extension,’ which basically gives you three extra days to hit your deadline. Especially helpful if you didn’t follow tip three and remembered you have an essay worth 20% of your course mark due tomorrow morning at 9 am. Short extensions are explanation-free, meaning no doctor’s notes or needing to fake a limp to sell to your professor that you really did get shot trying to save an endangered squirrel.

The next kind is your standard ‘Special Consideration.’ You’ll need some supporting documents, but they have a lenient 3-business-day policy for most assessments, allowing you to submit a claim up to three days after the missed class or assessment. Not every assessment follows this rule, however, so make sure to double-check what the case is, even if you feel there’s only a chance you might need to apply. Generally, though, you’ll hear back on your submitted application within a few days, with a big, happy ‘Approved’ comment, so long as you gave them some proof.

If you struggle with regular disruptions to your studies, particularly due to physical or mental health issues, the Equitable Learning Services (ELS) programme is your go-to, and they’ll hook you up with an Equitable Learning Plan (ELP) to make sure you have a fair shot at getting your degree to hang on your wall forever. To register for an ELP, you’ll have to provide some documentation and have a chat with some of the resident Equitable Learning Facilitators (ELFs), who will then help you formulate a plan that works for you, giving you adjustments like extended deadlines for certain assessments and being able to sit exams in a smaller room with fewer people (and distractions).

5. Work hard, play hard, rest well

Pretty much what it says on the can. We know that being a force of academic weaponry means pulling a lot of long days to study, study, and study. What often gets brushed under the rug when people “lock in” is a good balance between work and play. Your brain is a supercomputer-in-jelly, and it is not designed to work this much, though that’s a problem with our capitalist society, not yours. What you can do to keep it from burning out is to make sure you have a life outside of your academics, which, if you’ve followed the rest of my advice, you should be taking very seriously by now. Meet friends, take walks, touch grass, do a push-up. It doesn’t matter what it is, so long as you have something to keep you refreshed.

The big thing here is Sleep. That’s with a capital to show you how important it is. I’m not your mother, so I can’t get mad at you (though I will be disappointed) if you don’t get an adequate rest each night. Without proper rest, you run the risk of being a zombie on campus. Worse, you could end up one of those annoying people bragging about how they’ve “barely slept” and are still here.

So, sleep and touch grass.

6. WAM-Bam Thank You, Ma’am

Some people will tell you that your first year is for getting your WAM (that’s Weighted Average Mark for you uninitiated folks) all the way up, because your scores will get worse over the course of your degree. These people are lying…mostly. Yes, your life will probably get more complex over the years, that’s just math, but there’s no need to be a defeatist about it (especially if you follow tip three rigorously).

Don’t feel as if you have to get high distinctions in every assessment, because then you’re taking on undue stress, and that sets you up to break, and I just covered in the last point about how you don’t want that. Do your best, keep working hard, and set yourself reasonable goals as you work your way up to a better version of yourself.

7. Mission Failed, We’ll Get ‘Em Next Time

You’re an adult now (probably). You need to get comfortable with failure. We don’t win every battle we pick, and sometimes we crash and burn spectacularly. It’s okay. The world won’t end, I promise you. Sometimes, you’ll do worse on an assessment than you had hoped for. Maybe you’ll miss a deadline because you were wrapped up in life problems. You might even fail a course. The fact is that this is common. There are very few people who make it through their university life without failing something.

Breathe deep breaths. It’s not the end of the world. You’ll be okay.

In the scenario that you do fail a course, or have to drop it way after the census date (causing an automatic fail), yes, it’ll suck, but don’t you worry. You can redo a course up to 3 times on failures.

Keep your chin up, and try again. You got this.