As you prepare to enter your first year of university, it's essential to prepare your mind. Try not to come in with any preconceived notions because they usually end up false or may leave you disappointed.

Life at university is a new journey to figure out, and you may even have to figure yourself out too—but that's ok! Keep reading to learn about some common first-year myths and misconceptions so you can head into your first term with an open mind. 

1. Friends

You may hear that people meet their lifelong friends on the first day of university, but this is not the case for everyone, which is completely normal!

You don't have to make all your friends during your first week; take that pressure off of yourself. Friendships and bonds can be formed anywhere, at any time.

While at university, you'll most definitely find people around you who share your interests—in lectures, workshops, clubs and sports teams. So if you feel someone will make a great friend or they just give off good vibes, don't be afraid to take the first step and introduce yourself.

No matter the kind of person you are—shy, outgoing, reserved or cheerful, rest assured that you are not going to be lonely. Just be yourself and your personality will naturally attract people to you.

2. Bring everything with you

Bad idea.

Before you buy/pack things, make sure you know the type of space you’ll be moving into. Otherwise, this may leave you with a bunch of clutter that you eventually have to get rid of.

Save yourself the hassle of packing all of your belongings, because the aches at the end of the day are totally not worth it.

Sometimes, the things you buy may already be waiting for you at your new home! So it may be worth it to hold off on major purchases until you see what is already available to you at your new place. 

If you are still unsure about what you should bring, check out this list of packing do's and don'ts.

3. First-year doesn't really matter

If you’ve heard this or were told this—you've been lied to.

Just like every other year you spend at university, your first year is important. This is when you gain foundational knowledge, so it's important that you take it as seriously as you would your final year. 

Not only will you require all the knowledge from your first year in your upper years, but these grades will also contribute to your cumulative GPA. First-year is an opportunity to familiarize yourself with everything around you, discover which study methods work for you and get a grasp of university life.

4. It's all work and no play

University requires a lot of work and dedication, but that doesn't mean you'll never have time for rest and fun. Sure, you’ll be spending a good chunk of time grinding through assignments and preparing for midterms, but there will still be time to relax—doing whatever you find to be enjoyable. The key to a great university experience is learning how to organize your time effectively.

Find a way to balance your personal, academic and work life so that one aspect doesn't significantly affect the other. There will surely be times to let loose, hang out with friends and have time to yourself. But there will also be times when you have to focus on your studies more. Knowing how to make schedules that meet those needs is a skill every university student can benefit from.

5. You can skip classes all the time

You can technically do this, but should you?

While you do have all the freedom and independence to do what you want while at university, the choices you make always have outcomes and consequences associated with them. So be prepared to take full responsibility for your actions.

There may be times when certain circumstances prevent you from attending class, and that’s okay. Life happens.

On the other hand, skipping classes just because you can or because your friends are doing it, is a bad idea. Cramming for your exam(s) at the end of the semester because you have no clue what’s going on is so not worth the stress.

Also, you pay for every lecture, so why waste your money?

6. Life will be a constant party

Sure there might be a few parties where you can unwind and relax, but there won’t be one every single night, and you don’t have to attend all of them.

Remember that your peers are students just like you, with responsibilities, papers and sometimes bills to pay. While it can be fun to attend a few parties, you want to make sure you are using your time effectively. So, if you have to skip a few here and there so you have time to review your course material, it will certainly be worth it. 

No two people have the same university experience. It's really what you make of it. I encourage you to let go of the ideas other people have shared with you and make your experience what you want it to be.

Live life, make friends, study hard and take a moment to breathe.

Cheers!

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