University can be daunting. That first transition phase from high school, where you've spent the last 6 years with your friends, is one of the toughest you'll have to face. Not only is uni much bigger with wayyy more people, but the learning style is completely different to the way high school worked. Some of you will be happy about that, and others a bit anxious. 

But don't fear, in this article I'll go through everything I learnt while I studied Engineering!

#1 Got great marks in your first assignment? Okay great, but don’t be too self-congratulatory and take your studies too lightly 😏

This is something I am super guilty of. I thought university would be the same as high school but I was so wrong. The difficulty level takes such a big jump, so to assume that just because you did well in high school you will also ace uni, is dangerous.

Don’t take your studies lightly here, it literally determines your future. A humble mindset is much more important than it may seem.

#2 Missed a lecture or two? It’s not to late to catch up on them now! Don’t let your work accumulate ✍️

It is so easy to fall behind. Once you miss a class and don’t catch up asap, you can get so unmotivated to attend future classes for that course. Each lecture is at least 2 hours long and they introduce fundamental concepts. If you miss a week’s worth of lectures, that is 4-hours worth of your free-time gone.

Catch up asap! It doesn’t matter if you have to sacrifice a tiny bit of sleep. You may not think that you’re absorbing information from all your lectures but it’s surprising how much comes back to you when you start revising, the little that goes in your ears is at some point returned to your brain.

#3 There are many effective study resources, don’t just rely on textbooks and lectures 🤖

Keeping in mind the previous point, for some courses, tutorials and workshops may be more useful than lectures. You don’t have to attend every single lecture for some courses. If a lecture does not add any value for you personally, just skip it. You can better use the time to do some revision on other topics or meet up with your learning group!

Go to the first few lectures to meet new people and build a study group with them. I found that studying with others is the best way to learn at uni.

I also highly recommend attending every single lab and tutorial. I had to repeat a course because I didn't attend any classes, so when I had to re do it, I have learnt how useful labs are, and how I could’ve avoided failing if only I went to those!

I have also had lecturers that ramble on and on about things that are irrelevant to the course, so I found that I learnt much more in a 1 hour weekly tute than I could’ve in 2 lectures. Tutors are also around the same age as most uni students so they are better at communicating in a more understandable way. 

Something else to keep in mind is that you don’t necessarily need engineering textbooks. I’m in my 3rd year and I’ve only purchased 1 textbook so far, and I only got that one because apparently it’s handy once you’re in a professional firm too. The resources you are provided with (tute questions, weekly quizzes, practice papers, past exams, etc.) are more than enough and structured in a way to take up all your time. Trust me, you won’t have time to even look at a textbook.

#4 Throw that ego aside and don’t be afraid to ask for help 🙋‍♀️

Struggling to get an assignment done? Or struggling with a homework question? Ask for help on the class forum or search for similar questions. Ask during classes, no one is going to think you’re dumb for asking even the most basic question. No one at uni even cares about anyone else’s progress. Maybe someone else is also struggling with the same thing and you just helped them out too, and maybeee made a new friend, who knows?

Join course discord groups and ask for help there. Most engineering courses, at least at my uni, constantly have consultation and help sessions so attend those! 

Take responsibility for your own studies! One of the biggest changes between university and high school will be the way that you work. At high school, I was best friends with some of my teachers, but at uni, they won’t even know you unless you keep reaching out to them for help. You will have to take your own initiative and work on given feedback since nobody will chase you up for late essays or bad coursework. If no feedback has been given, go and ask for it. 

#5 Partying may be cool but don’t let that become your priority 🎊

Honestly I don’t even understand the craze behind partying and drinking. You could spend that time doing wholesome activities with your friends instead or even better, finishing off overdue work. I’m not saying you should never go to parties but they’re not always worth it. It’s important to sort out your priorities and find the right balance between social life and studies.

Manage your time well. Even if you do choose to go to uni parties, don’t drink! I have friends who have a long period of hangover and therefore can’t do anything productive.

Often the people who seem to be hitting the library for 12 hours or partying all the time are not the happiest, and those students who appear to be mastering everything immediately are not actually doing so, — Dr Ewan Jones, director of studies in English at Downing College, Cambridge.

#6 Don’t go to uni just for studying, be an opportunist! 🏀

Join societies! Especially those relevant to your course. Join volunteering events! Attend social events. Those are the best ways to meet new people, and teach and learn from others.

Participate in sports, coding competitions, industry nights, and many more that the uni may have to offer. You’ll look back and regret not getting involved. The skills you build from such opportunities come in handy when looking for a job too, employers love this! You can have a fun and relaxing time while studying your degree.

Find internships and part-time jobs that could contribute positively to helping you learn relevant skills for your actual profession. But don’t keep working just for money! Your studies should be your priority.

#7 Failed a subject? It’s completely alright! Don’t let that lower your standards 📈

Don’t expect to excel at everything because you simply won’t unless you're burning yourself out. Discover your strengths and weaknesses and use that experience to do better next time. Failing subjects made me think that engineering is too hard (which it is) and that I only have to do the bare minimum and just pass. Don’t carry my mindset. It’s never too late to fix up your grades and become a top student once again.

Don’t panic if your grades are not what you expect them to be, but don’t just stay there. Develop an action plan to improve your grades. Seek help from academic advisors if necessary. It’s okay if you’re not the most qualified. Find gaps, work on them in every way possible and move on.

#8 Be friends with everyone, but don’t choose the wrong company 💌

A bad company corrupts a good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33

At uni, you’ll come across so many different types of people. Stick to your values. Don’t be a people pleaser. Even when finding study groups, make sure you have a learning group that matches your goals and doesn't distract you too much.

Be kind and friendly and respect everyone’s opinions. But don’t choose people who influence you negatively. Don’t give in to peer pressure. Don’t try to be cool or fake yourself, just to fit in. People are in search of those with a genuine personality, be natural! Learn social skills so that talking to others just flows out without you having to be a tryhard.

#9 It is okay to say ‘no’, don’t agree to every plan ❌

Again, don’t be a people pleaser. You’re not there to make everyone happy, you’re there to build a life. If you have something due the next day that you’re super behind on, don’t go to that friend’s 21st tonight.

#10 Don't compete just to be the best 🥇

You’re all there sharing your lives with each other for a short time. Be competitive but only with yourself, don’t get so competitive that you stop helping others with their studies.

Engineering is all about working together, sharing visions and ideas, and coming together to accomplish a common goal. Work with others, fellow engineers aren't competition, they could be a resource. You might even end up working in the same firm in the same team. Don’t ruin your professional relationships. Ask help and help others, you learn by teaching. Don’t compare your journey to others. You have to beat your personal best and keep beating it till the very end of this phase. You don’t have to beat others around you. Trust me, there are geniuses at university and if you focus on how others are doing and how you can do better than them, then you’ll just be disappointed because that’s how smart some people are.

Set your own, realistic, personal goals. Don’t study to be the best and super successful, study to be capable and have the skills required to make the world a better place.

#11 Don’t tolerate anyone’s irresponsibility when it comes to group projects 🙅‍♂️

Please don’t. It could harm your entire academic result. Talk to a tutor or an equivalent before it’s too late and you’re too far into your project. Discuss group roles and expectations at the very start. Communicate about every little thing when working with others to avoid conflicts.  

#12 From personal experience, please don’t overspend 💰

As an engineering student, days at uni could be long and food could be tempting. Bring lunch from home most of the time. Save money. I was an impulse buyer and literally at times I didn’t have enough money to buy a Maccas soft serve or get through the public transport tap on/off machine.

Remember you will have to end up paying your fees and that number could be enormously large so learn how to save up for things that matter from now on. Create weekly budgets, set up a savings account and actually utilise it, don’t buy luxury items. Some things can wait.

 Some other useful tips:

• Don’t be late to classes

• Don’t compromise your physical health – get enough sleep and exercise. They work hand-in-hand with your studies!

• Find a study space at your uni where you work most efficiently, this will literally become your second home. This doesn’t have to be the engineering buildings. I find I work best in the law and education buildings at my uni lol.

• The more you know and learn, the more you know what you don't know! Don’t get impressed by those who think they know it and have it all, don’t think that you can ever know everything! There’s always space to improve and become better. 

This link also has some other interesting points.

I had lots of fun putting this article together since it really made me reflect on my own university experience as an engineering student. I hope you found it useful! All the very best for starting a new journey and please, please, please make good use of every resource and advice that has ever been given to you.