What will your first day of university look like?

Making the transition from high school to university? Uni Notes can help with resources and reviews!

Starting university can be a really exciting time, but it can also be daunting! That’s no big surprise - after 10+ years of school, uni is something new and different. But what can you actually expect on your first day?

There’ll probably be lots of people

As a general rule, uni campuses tend to be busier toward the start of the semester. As time goes on, some students drop off because they’re working on assignments or for other reasons. What that means is that the first couple of weeks are usually pretty busy, with students (new and old) trying to find their new classes, catch up with friends, and get the semester off to a good start.

If you like being in a bustling environment and meeting new people, that’s probably great news! The start of the semester presents opportunities to make uni friends, and there’s no reason that can’t be on your first day. Given a lot of people will be brand new to uni, there’s no harm in making conversation or introducing yourself.

If you’re not such a fan of busyness, don’t fret - campus will probably quieten down over the next few weeks, and you’ll have more space to spread out and relax.

There’ll be excitement, but also confusion

And if you get lost, don’t worry - you won’t be the only one. To try to avoid general issues like campus navigation, it might be a good idea to check out the campus before your first day if possible (through orientation week, for example). You will usually have your class timetable in advance, so O-Week is a great time to suss everything out to make your first day a little easier.

But even with the best preparation, trying to navigate a new place can be confusing. We’ve all been there, though, and people are usually pleased to help. If you can, get your intended location up on your phone, show it to another friendly student, and you’ll get there in the end.

Navigation aside, there might be a bit of a buzz around campus on your first day. Depending on your campus, there might be things like food giveaways, and opportunities to join clubs and societies. Weary third and fourth years have had a refreshing break, too, so spirits tend to be high.

There’ll be first class nerves

Assuming you have a class on your first day, it’s pretty likely to be quite introductory-focused. Everybody is coming from a different background, and your lecturers and tutors will be aware of this. Chances are there’ll be a bit of housekeeping, an introduction to some content, and, if you’re lucky, some ice-breakers!

If nothing else, your first class will be a good opportunity to see if you’re sorted for the rest of the semester. If you get halfway through the class and realise you probably should have brought a notebook or laptop, then that’s a good lesson to take away from your first day.

Getting used to uni life and being a uni student can take a little bit of time, so try not to feel too disheartened if you feel a bit behind the curve on day one.

There’ll be an opportunity to take it all in

You’re a uni student now! All those hours studying through high school have resulted in this, and perhaps on your first day you might like to reflect a little on where you’ve been, and where you are now.

I hope that your first day is enjoyable, and your whole university experience follows that same trajectory. Remember that Uni Notes is here to help as much as possible! We have things like: