It is common for high school students to not even start to narrow down potential choices of university courses until right before the application deadline. This is a bad idea for a number of reasons. The main one is that it potentially leaves them in the difficult situation of not having taken the right high school subjects. Some degrees restrict entry only to those who have studied certain subjects. For instance, New Zealand universities typically won’t let you start an engineering degree without having studied calculus and physics. Without these subjects, you will be forced to spend an extra year doing some sort of foundation course. Similarly, universities in Victoria Australia may require a certain minimum score in VCE Mathematical Methods or Specialist mathematics. Equivalent rules apply in other states.

Even if you can enrol in a particular degree without doing a subject at high school, sometimes a certain level of knowledge is assumed. Not having this level of knowledge makes things more difficult and adds to your stress levels. One common scenario for New Zealand students is that entry to medical school is based on the best performing candidates from one year of university health science study which includes a course in organic chemistry. Students who didn’t study chemistry at high school are disadvantaged relative to other students who have a stronger background. It’s not possible to take a more introductory chemistry course, even if offered, because there is a fixed set of courses that must be completed in the first year. (Selection for undergraduate medicine works differently in Australia so don’t get confused. Note that increasingly Australian medical schools are focused on graduate entry)

Too many students end up not being able to start their desired course because they simply didn’t do the required high school subjects due to misunderstanding the requirements or not researching them. Even if you are able to start a degree, it may be tough to catchup especially with more complex / technical subjects. The other obvious issue with leaving thinking about degrees to the last minute is that there simply isn’t enough time to give the decision the amount of research and thought it deserves.

For some degrees this isn’t necessary, but if you are enrolled in a competitive or technical course and haven’t done the corresponding subject at high school, it is recommended to spend some time studying prior to the start of university. This also applies if you have done the subject but are relatively weak at it. University courses move quickly and those without an adequate foundation may find themselves struggling to keep up. Likewise, those studying a course that involves a lot of essay writing should spend time on their writing skills. Some useful resources include:

Often students worry about buying textbooks for all their classes before university starts, but this is seldom necessary. A common scenario is not using the textbook and relying solely on the course materials provided by the university. There could be a specific coursebook written by the university, and available in printed or digital format, that contains all the essential information.

If students do need a textbook, it could be available in digital format through the university library. Note though the university library is not a textbook service. It won’t normally be able to provide physical or digital copies in sufficient quantities to let every student use the book over the entire semester. Sometimes students complain when they can’t check out a book and keep it for the whole semester.

If you do want a printed textbook, sometimes second-hand copies are available cheaply, and in many cases earlier editions will be satisfactory depending on the class. Unless you need a textbook for some preparatory study, it is better to wait before purchasing the textbook until you are sure that you will find it useful.

In addition to preparatory study, there are some other items it is a good idea to prepare before starting university. Engaging in this kind of preparation will make the first semester at university a smoother and less stressful experience.

Even simple things like planning your commute to university are worth thinking about. Some students may plan to drive and then realise that the traffic congestion and parking situation is a nightmare. Most universities don’t have adequate parking, and what is available is expensive.

Thinking about time management is another important step. Adding all non-university commitments to a weekly planner is a good starting point. Also think ahead regarding how much time in total university is going to require.

Inevitably, some students will get into trouble by saving all their university work locally on their laptop without making a backup. Then, when the inevitable happens and there is a problem with the laptop, they lose all their work. For this reason, learning basic technology skills around operating your computer and using popular applications is important. Asking your lecturer for an extension because you have a laptop problem is the modern day equivalent of the "dog ate my homework", even if true expect a sceptical reaction.

It’s fairly common for students to not understand the structure of their degree properly even after a couple of years at university. This can lead to all sorts of problems such as not having completed necessary courses for their major. Even though the regulations can be complex, it’s important to try to understand them to avoid potential problems.

Sometimes students start university and then suddenly realise that they have insufficient money to pay all their bills. Remember, there are always unexpected expenses, and it is not always easy to find a part-time job. Coursework can often be very demanding, which means not being able to work as many part-time hours as planned. Be realistic when budgeting.

The first few weeks may be overwhelming as you try to adapt to the new environment. Keep in mind that as the semester progresses, the workload will often increase as assessments become due. Some students mistakenly believe that the first few weeks are representative of the whole semester and take on too many other commitments like part-time work. Some things to consider during the first few weeks include:

As the first semester progresses start thinking about what classes you might take the next semester. Also consider whether to continue with your current degree / major. It’s very normal to have doubts, but if you are 100% sure the major isn’t for you, it isn’t wrong to start considering alternatives. Investigate any rules the university may have around changing majors / degrees. Changing major within a degree is probably easy, but changing to a different degree may first require the completion of a whole year of your existing programme with certain minimum grades.

An important goal in your first semester is to network with other students. A network can provide support through your studies and even help with your career post graduation. Don’t worry if you get off to a slow start, the university environment makes it hard to network for a variety of reasons.