Uni

[Hephzibah]

Hey all! I was wondering if you could pray for me, cause I start uni next week (eep!) and I'm feeling rather nervous about it. Everyone is saying that its going to be alot harder than school, that the workload will be alot more and that you need to have an effective time-managing strategy. I'm not the best at those, hence the stress.

Could you pray that God will give me peace about it, as well as provide me with a small group of Christian friends at uni... cause there are some strange things in Uni's O_o
Thanks!

[TrigunX89]

Sure, though I'm not sure what uni is... (feels a little stupid) I will pray though, and I'm sure He will help you through.

[Hephzibah]

uni = university.... or, I guess you would call it college in the States.
thanks for the prayers

[Saint Kevin]

Although the difference between a college and university is that a university has a graduate studies program, while a college does not.

I'm not trying to scare you, but the things that you've heard about the workload and need for organization are true. At least you know what you're up against. Just do your best to be organized from the very beginning (whether that's getting a day planner, having separate folders for each class, etc.) and you will do fine.

Not to mention, you have our prayers.

[V8Tsunami]

Keep in mind that college is a huge step, requiring alot of dedication. To be succcessful, you'll have to sacrifice alot of free time and work hard. Good luck Talame!

[shadowblade]

Yeah, college can be tough sometimes, but it's also a lot of fun. ^_^ Lots of hard work, but lots of freedom too, just gotta be careful and such. You'll be all right though. I was scared bout going to college too, but it's not as bad as it sounds. I'll pray for ya! ^_^

[Ashley]

Of course I'll be praying too, Talame. This is my first year at uni too (I actually do go to a university so I can say that XD )

Anyway, a few helpful tips:
1- FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES ARE SCARY. And they're meant to be so. Proffs like to scare away all the lazy ones out of their class first by making themselves seem very strict, ultra hard, lots of assignments, etc. I promise if you stick through it, 90% of the time the teacher isn't nearly that bad. They get a lot nicer.I've walked out of more than one class crying and ready to drop; but my parents wouldn't let me and I stuck with it. Now it's not nearly as bad as I thought!

2- Sit up front, and don't be afraid to answer questions. It's not like high school anymore; everyone pays to go to school now so you all WANT to be there for one reason or another. Lots of proffs grade on participation; and I've found that if you get in a jam, proffs that know you and know you participate are much more likely to help you.

3- Learn their office hours; lots of my proffs were willing to read my drafts or answer questions if I made an appointment to talk to them. They were delighted I cared.

4- Stay organized. Get calendars, write down due dates the first day, keep everything in folders if you need to. I color code my spirals and folders for each class so I can keep up with all the papers.

5-Are you in an honors program? Or some sort of student-mentor program? You might consider it--at my university we have the honors college where you have your own set of advisors and counsellors and such there to help you as well as a student lounge--and a "scholar's community" which is there to help you write your papers, do your homework, etc. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it!

6- Stay focused! Do your homework when you can, don't try to juggle it all the last minute. Turn down social activities if you have too; school is far more important than making frat buddies.

Lastly, just be yourself. I know college is really REALLY scary--there's so many things you have to do now that you're not used to thinking about. But if you want to be there, if you want to make good grades, if you care about graduating well, then you'll be just fine. You'll learn the rythem soon, cross my heart. The hardest challenge for me was the isolation factor--I commute, so I don't stay to party or hang out with anyone, and it gets very lonesome. However, my grades are way more important to me and I'm sure they are to you too.

AND DON'T FORGET THIS!--God loves you. He put you there for a reason, He believes in you no matter what and He'll always be there for you. Try to relax and trust (easier said than done, I know; Mave reminds me all the time )

And if you ever need someone to just vent at or talk to or ask questions of, I'll try to my very best ability to be there for you, ok?

[Fsiphskilm]

Remember in

[Rogie]

Everyone has given you so much great advice, I can't add anything to it, other than re-stressing Ashley's point of sitting up front. It really is a huge help, although I tend to pick the second row to allow a little bit of comfort!

Anyway, I thought that nothing could ever beat high school and how much fun and how wonderful that was. I figured college would be harder and kind of drab. I was completely wrong, and high school now just seems so trivial and drab in comparison to college/uni. If you stick in there (and I'm sure you will ), you'll enjoy it. And Christian friends will help, too!

I'll pray for you, Talame, and that your experience is a good one that allows for growth and (responsible) excitement.

[Hephzibah]

thanks guys
Though... I dont know if I'm more nervous after reading what you had to say
O well... in a few weeks it should be better. Thanks so much for the prayers

[Sephiroth]

lol, university can be tough at times with assignments and stuff, but is alot m,ore enjoyable than school, and i much prefer the approach that what you put into work at uni is what you get out, not being chased up by school teachers, to do work for a class you only picked because you had too, etc. but setting you own pace etc. and your own meathods of learning stuff, it seems a bit daunting at first but once ya get into the swing of things it'll be fine, i'll pray for ya, too

[Zane]

Talame mate,

Don't worry! It's fun, it's fairly easy if you go to all the lectures and tuts and do some reading, and start your essays with time to spare, (a friend of mine started a 30% of the unit essay, 4 hours before it was due it was so funny, he was like "okay what did you write about Zane?").

What Uni are you going to? And what course? BA or BSc or Education, med, law, music?
Now if there is a Christian Union on campus; JOIN IT!!! Get involved with the AFES (australian fellowship of evangelical students) unions. You will learn heaps, make great friends who may also be in the upper years and can help you out with stuff. not only will you be trained in your degree but also in the bible studies, you'll grow to become more like christ. They should have a little stall up on O-Day (orientation day), or posters around.

Dont' worry about it, give it 3 weeks and you'll feel at home, its awesome!!! Have a blast.

[Hephzibah]

[quote="Zane"]Talame mate,

Don't worry! It's fun, it's fairly easy if you go to all the lectures and tuts and do some reading, and start your essays with time to spare, (a friend of mine started a 30% of the unit essay, 4 hours before it was due it was so funny, he was like "okay what did you write about Zane?").

What Uni are you going to? And what course? BA or BSc or Education, med, law, music?
Now if there is a Christian Union on campus]
Is it true that you enrol in tutes only after the first lectures? If so, things are going to be rather hectic after that first lecture... everyone running to a computer 0_o

Anyway, I am going to the ANU, Australian National University. Apparently its one of the most well known of Aussie uni's... I'm doing a Bachelor of Commerce.

They do have a Christian group, called FOCUS, Fellowship of Christian Uni Students. There might be more, but I will know for sure in a few hours cause today is Market Day!!! HUZZAH! I have been looking forwardto this day for ages

So I shall leave you know cause I have to leave in...*looks at watch*
Eep!

[Spiritsword]

I will pray.

[harina]

"Uni" means "a dream" in Finnish.. X3

I'll pray for you.

[Zane]

Is it true that you enrol in tutes only after the first lectures? If so, things are going to be rather hectic after that first lecture... everyone running to a computer 0_o

Anyway, I am going to the ANU, Australian National University. Apparently its one of the most well known of Aussie uni's... I'm doing a Bachelor of Commerce.

They do have a Christian group, called FOCUS, Fellowship of Christian Uni Students. There might be more, but I will know for sure in a few hours cause today is Market Day!!! HUZZAH! I have been looking forwardto this day for ages

So I shall leave you know cause I have to leave in...*looks at watch*
Eep!

ANU!!! Thats awesome. It was where the national training event by AFES was held, I spend a week there on campus just 2 months ago, in December.

You can enrole in tutes before and after the 1st lecture, it depends wether or not everything is online or theres alittle piece of paper on a pin-up board outside the unit co-ordinators office where you scribble down your name.
Just do it asap, but don't worry about it, lots of ppl forget and do it later in the week.

Join FOCUS, I've meet a couple of its members and i know one of the head letcures at ANU called Bob... can't remember his last name though... we stayed at his house while we where over there.
Some christian groups are affiliated with churchs and arn't true student groups as such, you might come arose ones called passion, joshualife, and various others, but im not entirley sure what they're all about or if their doctrine is sound.

But do join FOCUS, it will encourage and build you up throughout your uni life.
Hope that helps, and enjoy your first week.

[Hephzibah]

ANU!!! Thats awesome. It was where the national training event by AFES was held, I spend a week there on campus just 2 months ago, in December.

You can enrole in tutes before and after the 1st lecture, it depends wether or not everything is online or theres alittle piece of paper on a pin-up board outside the unit co-ordinators office where you scribble down your name.
Just do it asap, but don't worry about it, lots of ppl forget and do it later in the week.

Join FOCUS, I've meet a couple of its members and i know one of the head letcures at ANU called Bob... can't remember his last name though... we stayed at his house while we where over there.
Some christian groups are affiliated with churchs and arn't true student groups as such, you might come arose ones called passion, joshualife, and various others, but im not entirley sure what they're all about or if their doctrine is sound.

But do join FOCUS, it will encourage and build you up throughout your uni life.
Hope that helps, and enjoy your first week.

I moved down in December!! We could have met each other!!
Anyway, I have joined a few Christian groups, but have only attended one so far. However, I am planning to check out FOCUS soon, perhaps after the first week or two.

[Hephzibah]

Ok, I think I might give a little update here.. I am just about to finish my first semester and have found out the following things:

1) the workload is nowhere near what the lecturers said it would be
2) getting cheap tickets (bus, movie, etc) rocks
3)I love my uni bag
and 4) Uni = cigarette smoke

On the more serious side, I've applied for a transfer out of my degree into a more mathsy one (i love maths), which if approved will start next semester. I didnt end up joining FOCUS, because I just felt really out of place for some reason. However, I did join a nice little Christian group that only has around 6 or 7 members. It is really lovely and the people in it a beautiful. In this group, the purpose is to train the members to be leaders and effective/available for God.