10 Must-Know tips

Are you considering attending university? Consider these tips, from Scott Duguay, past student union president and current student recruitment team leader for the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton!

Find your motivation
If you’re interested in what you’re studying, you’ll be far more likely to be successful than if you’re in school for something only your parents, girlfriend or boyfriend want you to follow.

Follow your interests; there is a millionaire in every discipline! Don’t let the fear of a lower starting salary keep you from the career field in which you’re interested. Go into university with an open mind. If your interests change, you can shift your career path, choose a different major or transfer schools.

Start now
Start preparing for university early! University requirements often consider grade 11 courses in their admissions decisions. Choose grade 12 courses that match both your interests and your intended university’s requirements. You can find recommended classes, marks and admissions tips online, or request them from the institution.

Choose well
When picking a college or university, consider the following selection criteria:
Program offerings
Exchange opportunities
Tuition costs and other financial implications (i.e. residence cost, meal plans, travel, books, entertainment and compulsory fees)
Class size
Reputation of faculty and programs
Scholarship and financial aid opportunities
Student services
Learning environment
Residences, campus and community

Consider living in residence
Residence will be your home away from home! Make sure that your intended school will have room for you. Ask what services are available in residence, such as Internet, cable TV and phone. While on a campus tour, note how convenient the residences are to your classes. Ask current students how campus life differs for those who live in residence versus those who don’t. And, of course, ask what the residence costs will be so that you can plan accordingly.

Register for classes
Create your course schedule around your personal habits. Can’t wake up before 9 a.m., no matter how hard you try? Don’t schedule an 8 a.m. French class. When you’re registering for classes, check the size of each section. Use online registration services if applicable, and use the faculty advisors and peer mentors available.

Don’t skip classes
You’ll have as few as 15 hours of class time each week. Don’t miss them! You will have plenty of time to study on your own time, so don’t skip a lecture to prepare for an exam you should’ve studied for earlier. Plan to have three hours of homework or studying for every hour of class you attend! But don’t let studying be your only purpose. It’s important to find a balance between your academic career and your other hobbies.

Manage your time well
Keep a planner for help on this one. Use it to schedule studying around your class and relaxation time. Completing assignments ahead of time allows you to relax later. 

Learn to eat well
Be aware of what your meal-plan options are on campus, and how a meal plan would compare to buying your own groceries. What kind of plan will offer you the flexibility you need? Will your meal-plan choice give you limited selection, or is it all-you-can-eat? What are the pay options and dining hall hours of operation? Learn all this info so you’re not eating fast food 24/7! One way to make the most of your meal plan is to eat well at breakfast. Eating a full, well-balanced meal at the start of the day will allow you to listen, think and analyze information much more efficiently.

Stay fit
Keep your physical and mental health in line by taking time out to tend to both throughout your day. Get involved in extracurricular activities to give your academic side a rest, and keep a well-rounded lifestyle. Staying relaxed and happy will help you concentrate when you do study.

Enjoy yourself
Expect and demand a high level of service from your college or university. Always ask questions. And don’t forget: Your experience will be what you make of it. So make it count!

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