The Transition from High School to Uni Might Seem Scary, But Here's How You Can Slay It

Queue you living your best uni life.

So you’re just about to start uni and the ol’ nerves are getting the better of you, huh? 

We get it – making your uni debut can be daunting, especially after it feels like you only just got the hang of high school.

It’s totally normal to feel a little overwhelmed by the butterflies in your stomach, which is why we've put together a go-to guide to help you slay your first semester. Buckle up.

high school teachers vs. college professors pic.twitter.com/bB9odnMUEN

— Serial Entreprenuer 🐐 (@taelorjayy27) August 30, 2019

Take a second to celebrate!

Stop scrolling for a second and give yourself a damn high five for making it this far!

Seriously, getting into uni is no easy feat and you deserve to be proud of yourself. 

So, lift your chin a little higher, let yourself wear your biggest smile and take that newfound confidence straight to campus!

And if you are feeling a little on edge, we’ve got all the tips you need to beat the back-to-school blues right here. Remember, go easy on yourself–you’re not alone and you’ve absolutely got this!

Take the time to get to know your uni grounds.

Starting uni is stressful enough so let’s not throw in getting lost on campus too because that just ain’t it.

It always pays to get to your classes a little early or stay a little later one day, to suss out where everything is. 

Some key spots to locate will be your classes (ofc), cute spots to study and where to find the best coffee, ahem, we mean the library?

Bust out your best Excel spreadsheeting skills and make yourself a budget. 

Uni costs can come as a bit of a shock so you'll wanna be prepared.

There’s adjusting to living out of home, the cost of textbooks and new uni tings, plus the money you’ll need for all the extra time you have to socialise.

Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways you can save cash, which we’ve gone into detail about in this article.

Then, of course, there are all the student discounts on offer at Student Edge to take advantage of, with deals on everything from laptops to bubble tea!

And if you’re in need of full-time or part-time work, don’t forget about the Student Edge Jobs Board where you can find all kinds of gigs that will help you line that wallet.

@studentedge was it really your first day if you didn't get lost on campus? 😳 @thestudenthustle shares their top back-to-uni tips. #firstyearuni #firstyearstudent #university #uni #unilife #studentlife #unilifecheck ♬ Daydreams - Gentle State

Learn a little about yourself. 

Starting uni can give off some mad chaotic energy, so it'll come in handy knowing what works best for you in any situation. 

How do you stay focused while studying? What helps you relax the most? Perhaps when it comes to studying, you like to recap with a buddy or draw up digital notes?

If you’re unsure, we’ve got a bunch of different techniques you can try here. Be sure to trial a few to see what works for you, then make them a part of your routine.

One thing you will have to keep in mind at uni is that you’re about to have a whooole lotta freedom. And while we agree it’s pretty great not having anyone telling you what to do, it can make it easier to fall behind.

Find whatever study techniques work for you, but make sure to stay organised by writing due dates into your diary and staying on top of course content ahead of exams.

If you need some extra help planning your study time out, download our FREE revision checklist. It's got everything you need to keep track of what you've revised for each class. 

A previous version of this article was published on 02 March 2023.