Your first week in a new college or any college can be very overwhelming. New faces, places and all in-between are thrown at you. You’re expected to handle things calmly, however, we know it is not that simple.

You get caught up with module selections or finding your way around.. next thing you know it’s week three and you’ve yet to get your student card! To ensure that person is never you, have a read through our top 5 tips to survive your first week.

1. Do the Basics

During your first week at college, you will probably be faced with a long list of things to do. It is important you do these in good time to avoid unnecessary stress later on.

Getting your student ID card, setting up your student email account and meeting your advisor are just a few basics worth ticking off the to do list during fresher’s week. (Tip: Most email accounts have a mobile-friendly app you can download for free. You can then set them to notify you every time you get an important email so that you don’t miss out on anything important).

The International Office will set up a certain time and place for you to receive your student ID card so make sure to read emails carefully throughout the semester and pre-arrival.

2. Get your Books

Getting your books as soon as you can is very important as college moves a lot faster than you realise. It is important to keep up with all your readings to avoid unnecessary stress later on in the semester.

In saying that, you don’t necessarily have to fork out 50 odd euro for a brand new book, as many of the texts you will need should be available to buy second hand from UL Student Life or in the library. (Tip: If you have an idea of which module you will be taking you can look up your prescribed texts on https://bookofmodules.ul.ie/).

3. Join Clubs and Societies

Clubs and societies are a big part of college life. Its a great way to make new friends and meet people with similar interests to you. Students have the opportunity to join any clubs or societies and many of them can help you with your studies, or look well on your CV.

At the beginning of each semester the University Concert Hall hosts a Clubs and Socs Recruitment Drive, this is the best way to join a club or just find out some information.

4. Schedule

Make note of any important dates early on in the semester. Mark your calendar with the due dates for assignments and the times of any exams you may have. (Tip: most calendar apps on smart phones allow you to set a reminder notification be it a week, day, or an hour before things are due. This is a handy way to make sure you stay on top of things). 

It is also important to keep track of when your holidays and days off are (especially if you plan to travel while you are here).

5. Give Yourself Time

In literal terms, make sure you allow yourself enough time to get to class each day. It will take a while to get used to your new timetable and find all the rooms and buildings you need to be in.

On the other hand, give yourself time to adapt to this new college life, your not going to figure everything out on the first week but hopefully these few tips will help you along your way.

By UL International Student Ambassador