Entering a university is a milestone in one’s life, not to mention a bit overwhelming- from housing to academics and roommates to finances, all of these can affect your ability to focus on schoolwork and perform well on your studies.
But as you navigate this new chapter in your life, there are a few tips and tricks you’d get to learn along the way. One way or another, you’ll get the hang of it and be able to manage such issues and enjoy university life.
With that, here are the top 10 problems that students usually experience:
Finding perfect accommodation near your university can be a daunting problem. You may find one near the university, but the price may be too high. And if you find an affordable one, it may be too far. While you may think of living in a hostel or dorm to keep up with your budget, you still need to consider many other factors.
For instance, you should factor in the safety and amenities of the accommodation so that it can cater to your needs as a student. You can check facilities like Vintage at Tabernacle and others within your university’s area as a good start in finding the best housing solution to accommodate you.
One of the best ways to decrease the cost of housing is to share the rent with a roommate or roommates. However, this can also be a problem, especially if you’re not fond of living with a stranger. It’d be more challenging if you had a roommate with whom you’d be having frequent misunderstandings, which can make you miserable sometimes. As a result, you’re unlikely to feel comfortable and at home in your new place because of this.
As such, you must choose a roommate wisely. Try to find someone with the same ‘home living’ principles to avoid clashes. Or perhaps, invite a friend to share a dorm or apartment with.
Sometimes, students will encounter problems related to home and family. One of which is being visited by family unexpectedly.
The issue with this is when you’re in a rush to finish your requirements, or you’re studying for exams, making your schedule a bit hectic. You may not have the time to entertain your parents when they visit during this time. The remedy is to talk to them about visits by informing them of your schedules and when they can visit you.
Moreover, in some cases, your parents may also be expecting you to be home for holidays or vacations. However, there’ll be times when you can’t do so because of distance, cost, deadlines, or other commitments like invites from friends.
If you’re worried about causing a rift or misunderstanding with your family, it would help to communicate with and advise them of your plans. Explain why you’ll be missing a vacation with them, so they’ll know where you’re coming from.
While this can be a solution to have a more productive time at university, time management can also become an issue. Sometimes you may feel too overwhelmed and burned out with university activities that you no longer can’t manage your time or juggle tasks efficiently. However, being good at managing your time is a skill you should learn to survive university days.
You can do this by using a physical planner, online calendar, or time management applications. That way, you can keep track of events or activities, from coffee dates, gym sessions, study time, classes, and other extracurricular activities, while preventing the chances of saying yes to activities on the same day or time. Ultimately, doing so can help you be on top of your schedule.
Assignments and courses can no doubt stress you. In fact, university life can put you under immense pressure because of the demand for academics, even when you think you’re doing well in high school. As a result, it’s common to feel overwhelmed by the change of pattern in college academics.
On top of that, you are also expected to abide by the strict university standards and meet your family’s expectations and demands for good scores. And so, aside from learning how to manage your time, surrounding yourself with supportive people can also go a long way. You can be more equipped and ready to handle the pressure since you know that you have like-minded people supporting you; that you’re not alone.
Aside from academic pressure, students also encounter problems with education costs, especially working students. The increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees in higher education institutions can add to the student’s mental anxiety. Some even have to change majors because they can’t keep up with the costs of finishing such; most of them choose majors that could fit their budget.
With that, if possible, consider applying for a scholarship. This way, you can have financial means to support your studies. Furthermore, you can also be more mindful of your spending and ensure you stick to a budget. Or be a freelancer, get a part-time job, and do other side hustles to earn extra money for your expenses.
It’s no secret that the stress and pressure university students endure can take a toll on their health- physical and mental well-being. On top of that, your lifestyle, such as your eating habits and irregular sleep, could also change. This may negatively affect your overall health and result in poor physical and psychological health symptoms.
You can avoid these by considering the following:
While partying is a social activity and an excellent outlet to blow off steam, it can become a problem if it gets in the way of your studies. Especially if partying is accompanied by alcohol, drugs, and other illegal activities, your health could be at risk and affect other areas of your life.
With that, be mindful of the parties you choose to attend. As much as possible, think about your actions and how they’ll affect not just your studies but your well-being too. Having fun is not a crime; you can still enjoy university life while being responsible at the same time.
Finding college necessities like electronics, cheap furniture, and second-hand books is also a struggle for many university students. That’s because you want to save on expenses since education costs are already expensive.
One of the best solutions is to find students who may have finished their school year ahead of you, as they may not need their old books. And perhaps, some of them are also selling necessities to save on their space, grab the chance to buy from them as some tend to sell it cheaper than the original price.
Last but not least is choosing or staying in your chosen major. This can be difficult if you no longer enjoy the original course you’ve enrolled in or if you don’t see yourself in that career anymore.
To avoid shifting from one major to another, take the time to know what other students have to say about the course based on their experience to gauge if you’re up to it.
A lot of things can change once you start your university life. While this can be an exciting milestone, there may be setbacks you may encounter along the way. The list above enumerates the common problems one may face in university and how they can be remedied.
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