From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Universities are beginning to open their campuses for new students who were successful in the last admission exercise for the commencement of 2023/2024 academic session.
Expectedly, the lucky ones are beginning to arrive various campuses for documentation and study of the environment ahead commencement of lectures.
As usual, it’s always a moment of excitement for a student once his or her name is included in the list of admitted undergraduates. Parents, friends, neighbours and even “enemies” are informed about the positive development.
In some cases, a “little party” is organized for the student to celebrate and appreciate him or her for passing through the rigorous internal and external examinations, notably, SSCE, UTME and post-UTME, to be shortlisted for admission into the university.
But while all these are going on, many of the students lose track of the reason for being admitted into university at the first place. For the privileged ones, a lot of purchases are done. Phones are upgraded, laptops, tablets, clothes, shoes and several other items are procured as may be requested by the student.
With so much pleasure and comfort, many students forget the reason for being in school. Knowingly or otherwise, many fall into several pitfalls already established for perceived “unserious” students.
So, as new students arrive different campuses for the commencement of a new academic journey that might redefine their lives and destinies, there is need to get acquainted with pitfalls to avoid to have a successful academic programme, and below are some of them.
Admission Euphoria
This might be the first pitfall that several new students face in their first few weeks in university. Many students spend a long time basking in the euphoria of being regarded as university student, they get carried away.
Before some of such students realize their mistakes, 101 courses have gone far, and, in some cases, tests and other classwork with huge marks are done and dusted. The affected students would be forced activate recovery mode to catch up with low points.
So, as a new student, it’s important that you hit the ground running from day one. This will help you to have a good grade from day one and avoid what could lead to delay as a result of carryover or any other academic challenge.
Truancy
Truancy is the action of staying away from school without good reason. In simple terms, truancy means absenteeism. This is a growing challenge in schools these days because of several other non-academic engagements competing for the attention of the students. Truancy is very offensive to lecturers and management of the school.
But unknown to many new students, lecturers take note of student’s participation in class activities, and those with poor attendance in class and other academic activities are punished in one way or the other.
The consequences of truancy often show up towards the end of the academic programme when lecturers would be calculating grades, which are often boosted by student’s participation in class activities.
Time management
Many students, because of where they are coming from, are used to “African time”. That has to change as quickly as possible. There’s timetable for academic and non-academic engagements in the school.
So, new students must urgently unlearn the culture of “African time” and replace it with the culture of time management. It’s expected that students are settled in class a few minutes before the commencement of lectures or any other engagement in school. It speaks a lot about the student and there are lots of benefits for that.
Not seeking assistance
New students should know that school environment, particularly university is a totally and difficult environment different from what they are used to. So, there’s need to ask questions so as to be properly guided, academically and otherwise.
While at various campuses, endeavour to identify the right set of people to ask questions, and even seek for assistance if the need arises. Be courageous enough to ask questions. It may be at the point of documentation, payment of relevant fees, hostel accommodation, lecture locations, and several other things as the need arises.
That final year student you are admiring today was once a new student that never knew his or her way around the campus. So, it’s important to ask questions to avoid unnecessary mistakes that could lead to punishment. Ignorance is not excuse!.
Financial discipline
This is very important. Being a university student living outside the care of parents is an opportunity to develop basic financial management skills which is expected to guide you long after you graduate.
As a student, you must know the difference between NEEDS and WANTS, and also study the principle of SCALE OF PREFERENCE. As a new student, if you discover that you have a problem in managing finances, then it’s advised that you make more friends among Economics students who forced into practical and theoretical knowledge of Economics
Good knowledge of these principles will help you avoid being broke quickly, and becoming a financial burden to fellow students, and perhaps, end up demanding for money from parents every now and then.
Off-camp accommodation
It has been suggested that, as a fresh student, accommodation within the campus is better than off-campus accommodation for several reasons. You need to be around fellow students so you can bond and interact together, and possibly study together.
Living off-campus, though, with its own benefits particularly privacy, might give the new student some level of unlimited exposure and influence which he or she might not be able to control or resist. The negative effect is reflected in the academic record and performance of the student.
Friendship/Relationships
Immediately documentations are over and classes start, students would begin to pitch tent with people they like and perhaps share same aspirations and attribute with. People they are more free with.
In doing this, please choose wisely. Take your time and study fellow students, within and outside your department, before tilting towards them. These sayings “show me your friends and I will tell you who you are; and the company you keep will make or mar you” are real.
So, it’s also important that you define your relationships with the opposite sex so that would be boundaries and everyone will know where he or she belongs.
But in all, ensure you enjoy yourself in school because you won’t have the opportunity to return there again to repeat whatsoever you might have missed.
Avoid distraction
Endeavour to avoid unnecessary distraction that might take away from the main aim of being in school. There should be limit to non-academic engagements particularly social activities.
University environment is a great place of exposure. Life and experience in university is very important in shaping the student, leaving him or her with lifelong experience.
Avoid cultism and report bullying
In institutions, engaging in cultism is the fastest way to expulsion. Stay away from any thing that can expose you to cultic activities.
Similarly, bullying is another crime in schools that could result in severe punishment. Some institutions frown at such things. So, it’s advisable that you study the students’ book and know what can do and what you cannot do.
