The transition from IB life to university is one that can be both challenging and exhilarating. If you are struggling with things such as adopting a positive mindset for university and dealing with this life-changing shift, this article is perfect for you! From managing academic expectations to fostering a healthy university-life balance, I delve into practical advice that helped me successfully get through my first semester of university.
Understanding the Differences
IB is, no doubt, as rigorous as high school can get. Oftentimes, students go into university with the pressure that comes from IB as their thinking is that university will only be like IB but exponentially more difficult. However, it is important to understand that, although university may be like the IB, there are notable differences:
- The IB is much stricter in requiring all students to fulfill all the different subject requirements. In university, for the most part, you will be studying your major of choice with subjects you are passionate about. Additionally, there are also instances where you can take free electives and classes outside of your major that you may have a passing interest in.
- Independence is another thing that differs between IB and university life. The IB fosters independent thinking but also provides students substantial guidance such as teachers following up with deadlines. But in university, you will have to actively seek out your TA and professor for guidance. Professors are not as direct in university as compared to teachers in the IB as they will often have hundreds of students and other responsibilities outside of teaching. In other words, there is a greater emphasis on self-studying and personal time management.
- Assessment methods are also vastly different in universities. When deciding on which classes to take, make sure you consider what type of assessments you do better in. Some classes have midterms and final exams while others are only assignment-based. Knowing what assessments you prefer for different subjects can help you excel in your courses. Many classes also have different professors, so you have the flexibility to decide which professor you want to study under based on their class evaluations, feedback from students, and the differences in assessment methods that they offer.
Cultivating a Healthy Mindset
Embracing Change
Transitioning from IB to university life was rather difficult for me. I struggled with the fast pace and the fact that if you do not actively seek academic help, it will not be offered to you. Acknowledging that things are different in university was essential in my personal development as a university student.
Something that particularly helped me cultivate a positive mindset was reframing my way of thinking. Instead of worrying about the various challenges that stood before me, I actively viewed every challenge as an opportunity. One way I practiced this was by overcoming my fear of presentations. Presentations in front of large classes particularly scared me, but I found that talking about this with my peers helped immensely. For one, they were all also new to university life, which is why relating to them made the experience less daunting. This allowed me to benefit from giving presentations which not only boosted my grades and helped make good impressions on my instructors and peers, but also gave me new-found confidence.
Welcoming New Opportunities
In university, it may take a while to find people that you are compatible with. During this time, you can feel rather lonely and confused. I know that this is something my friends and I individually struggled with a lot before we got to know each other.
Universities try their best to hold events to allow new students to socialize and interact with one another. I tried attending these, but it does not always go the way you want. I found it extremely difficult to connect with people in such a fast-paced manner, especially if they already knew people from high school. Conversations were lacking and I did not relate to most people. When you feel this way, it is important to consider that some people do not click as fast as others. It is also important to not feel discouraged by this.
Over time, I started applying to various societies and clubs that interested me and I found like-minded people that I did click with. You must try every new experience that university life has to offer. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it does not. But the important thing is that you tried. Having this open approach to university helps in building meaningful and long-lasting social connections.
Finding a hobby is something that also makes the university experience easier. University is the perfect time to take on new hobbies and experiences as you are exposed to so many new people with a diversity of backgrounds and skills. I tried out various sports and found that I enjoy meditation and swimming the most. Talking about these interests in group settings allowed me to connect with other individuals who enjoy like-minded activities as well. University is difficult at times because you are away from your friends and family. But finding people that have similar interests does wonders for your mental health. It helps you build a support system which is particularly important when you are in a foreign setting.
Cultivating Social Connections
Having discussed embracing change and welcoming new opportunities, I think the most helpful thing for me after settling in was the importance of cultivating social connections. Once you have taken a stroll along the various opportunities university has to offer and you have settled into what you are comfortable with, I believe the most important thing to do is network and make meaningful connections. Whether that is through visiting your professor and discussing topics of interest, taking initiative in clubs and societies that you are a part of, or participating in campus-wide activities. These kinds of pursuits allow you to grow and learn more about the things that you are interested in.
I often feared that if I visited my professors, I would not have anything interesting to talk about with them. However, I once heard my literature professor professing his love for classical Indian music, something that I have spent years learning and performing. I took that as a chance to go up to him and discuss the topic, to help cultivate a better relationship with him. It was a great prompt to start our conversation and made communication much easier. Many new students feel that they can only talk about work with their professors, but that is not the case! Most of the time, they are open to discussing any number of things and this allows you to present yourself through something other than the academic lens. This also helps professors get to know you personally, which is great for developing social connections inside and outside the realm of academics.
Conclusion
As you embark on this new journey, it is important to remember that you must embrace change and actively seek new opportunities. Let your mindset guide you through this exciting new chapter. Allow yourself the opportunity to grow and allow yourself the space to openly explore any new experiences that are offered to you. University is a new chapter in our lives that is full of boundless possibilities, so do your best to make the most of it.
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