4 Tips for Success: Things I Wish I Knew as a First-Year Student

Check out these four big factors that could help you make a splash in your first year of university or college.

Starting a new semester at a new school can be intense. Here's a little guidance from folks who have been in your shoes. Having a great first year is within your grasp!

Here's how to take advantage of everything your school has to offer to make your first year the best it can be:

1. Career support

It's never too early to talk about potential career paths. Utilize your school's career counselling and supports: they're invaluable resources you should definitely explore.

Here at King's, in addition to career counselling, we also have a career readiness program that guarantees employment within six months of graduation. You can learn more about the King's Promise if you're interested!

Being a forward thinker and preparing yourself for your future goals is something I wish I knew in my undergrad degree. I encourage incoming students to take advantage of these supports at whichever institution you choose.

2. Personal counselling services

Taking care of your mental health and personal wellbeing at university is so important. One of the first steps you should take as you arrive onto campus is checking out your wellness, accessibility, and personal counselling services.

Most schools offer de-stressing events throughout the year: I'd encourage you to take part! Here's a few popular ideas:

• support animal events
• yoga sessions
• workouts in the on-campus gym
• just chatting with a friend
• speaking with a personal counsellor on campus

Transitioning to university can look different for everyone. It's important to take care of yourself throughout the many stages of your undergraduate degree. At King's, you can access all of our support services here!

3. Get involved on campus

Arriving to campus is always an exciting time for students: it's the beginning of a new era. I would strongly encourage any and all incoming students to get involved as soon as they can as it will make the transition feel seamless.

There's a variety of ways in which students can get active within the campus community at King's. Here's a few examples:

• orientation week
• camps and clubs
• sports and intramurals
• student council
• study groups

All of these options have great benefits for not only your personal happiness but your schooling success. Being more involved on-campus makes your post-secondary education more enjoyable.

4. On-campus employment opportunities

If you are interested in gaining employment during your undergraduate studies to offset education costs, then you should look into student employment positions offered on campus.

Most students want to be able to work during undergraduate studies; working on campus can also be quite beneficial for you as you can build flexible schedule with your employer to fit around your schooling needs. After all, being a student employee means that your employer needs to take your education into consideration when building your hours.

There's an abundance of positions offered that will give students valuable professional training for their eventual entrance into the workforce.

Check out this link if you're interested in finding employment at King's.

Hopefully this list of tips for success will be helpful to you in your first year, whether at King's or another campus. Wishing you all the best this September!