Making the most out of your first year (from second years)

There’s no one-size-fits-all guide for how to do uni right. We know there are times when it can be challenging and there’s so much change you have to adjust to! But sometimes it helps to get advice from people who’ve been in the exact same position as you, so that you can make the most of your time at UTS.  

We chatted to six second-year students about their takeaways from their first year of uni, what they found hard and how they got through it, to hearing about their favourite study spots on campus (no gatekeeping here).

What’s one thing that surprised you most about your first year of uni? 

Drew: That everyone is so different. And I love it! I came from a small suburb where you know the exact same people from the moment you start school, all the way until you leave. And then at uni, you meet so many different people from all parts of Sydney. And the things I’ve learnt from those people are probably the best things that I got out of last year. Getting to be among 40,000 or so students and knowing that by walking another ten metres, I can meet whoever I want and know someone who wants to be a nurse, or an architect or a fashion designer. That’s probably my favourite part and what shocked me most about my first year.

Shruti: In high school, you’re hand-fed a lot of things, but at uni you need to be a lot more independent. If you’re not as engaged with your studies, no one will really be there to follow up on you which puts the pressure on you and is good in some ways, but it was definitely a huge transition for me and something I found really challenging. But I think it also inspired my love for learning and understanding that uni is also what you make of it.

Best piece of advice you’d give to your post high school or first-year uni self (or anyone in their first year)? 

Laura: That you’ll make friends if you just get out of your own head about it. Everyone is living their own lives and it’s okay to relax because things don’t always have to be that serious. Say hi to people! And remember that everyone else is most likely in the exact same position as you and is searching for friendship too.

Jess: Probably to sit in this feeling of the in-between, because you’ve finished school, but you haven't started uni. It's this really weird time when some of your friends are packing up to move away and everything is changing. I think it's a good time to rest, do fun things and enjoy sitting in it because it’s rare that you’ll have that break again.

Amelia: Put the effort in for social stuff! Uni and studying obviously matters but enjoy your first year because it's fun and you don’t need to take it too seriously.

What's something that you did in your first year that you would encourage others to do more of (and do less of)? 

Drew: More of – Join a society! Especially if you're struggling to make friends, which I was at the start. I’d be in classes, sitting at the back, and be thinking ‘Everyone's so different to me. I don't know where I fit in and l don't know how to find my right group’. So, I went to the UTSoC welcome drinks and I'm standing there drinking by myself and I thought, ‘wow, this was a bad idea’. I saw one of the people I met at the O’day UTSoC stall that encouraged me to go to the event and I said, ‘Hey, could you introduce me to someone you think I might have something in common with?’, and they came back with Froy 30 seconds later. And Froy and I spent the rest of the night talking about music. And then, we both joined the society as executives, which is another thing I would highly recommend, and we’ve brought back a new society now called UTS Reverb!  

Less of – Not getting hung up on a bad result. That one result won’t define you for the rest of the year. You’ve got two or three or more assignments per subjects to come back from. If you fail one, you’ve got the second one. Take on feedback and know that it's not the end of the world. It's a lot easier said than done, but if you get a bad result, don’t give up and keep on fighting. 

Shruti: More of – Find family in community (like The Big Lift!), join a club, work on the friendships you make.  

Less of – Work less (if you can).  I had a part time job and I tried to make it work while doing uni, but I realised that I was sacrificing my uni life for it, whereas this year I took a step back and have been embracing uni more. I guess your priority should be to learn and make the most out of the experience you have here rather than trying to make money. In uni, you have so much support, especially UTS Counselling. It's important to open up that conversation and make people feel like it's okay to want to seek support, because I tried it, and it really helped.  

Froy: More of – I’d love to talk about detaching. People get too hung up sometimes when they don't get the right grades, or don't do well in one aspect of their life. But detaching is actually like ‘goated’. Just acceptance generally. It's up to you to kind of move on from what happened, that's the mindset I’ve taken.  

Favourite hangout spot/cafe and food item on campus? 

Laura: Under the trees outside, I'm always in the labs so I just love to be outdoors! And Little Roaster. I also love Cornerstone. They used to have the best orange muffins ever (please bring them back!). 

Drew and Froy: Can we say a list? Building 10, level 5, at the back of the building. No one goes there. The rooftop terrace in the Library, it’s sublime. And lastly, The Hideout. It’s got the perfect amount of white noise from people playing ping pong or pool in the background. And, the Alumni Green in winter, because I (Drew) burn easily. But when it’s cloudy like today and it’s a brisk 20 degrees, it’s a vibe.  

Froy: I get a pide from Uni Bros. $8. It’s cheap and it’s filling, that’s all I need. 

Drew: If you want good drinks go to Café 10. I have two recommendations that I’ve been hooked on since I started uni. Vietnamese iced coffee and iced matcha. The best iced matcha on campus is at Café 10, I’ve tried them all. $6.50 for either (or $7 if you want alternative milk).  

Jess: I love the reading room in the Library, I find it really peaceful and light. I really like the chicken sandwich at Cornerstone, and I love the iced chocolate at Little Roaster. 

Shruti: The Little Roaster, they have the best matcha. And I really love studying in the reading room, because everybody else is studying so if I'm watching Netflix, I feel really guilty. I have to set up the pressure for myself. 

Amelia: I really love Cornerstone with their $2 coffee happy hour. Their chairs are really comfy too. And Mrs&George (Penny Lane) in between Building 10 and 11. That’s pretty groovy.

(P.S.: Cornerstone’s happy hour is between 2-3pm everyday).