• 3-minute read
• 4th September 2016

Back to School! (5 Tips for Second Years at University)

It’s September, so the new academic year will soon be upon us. But while freshers stumble about getting lost on campus and third-year students panic about how soon they’ll be graduating, what should second years be doing?

The second year at university is a crucial time, so you need to be prepared for a few changes. Here’s a quick overview of some things to expect…

1. Time to Knuckle Down!

To quote Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys 2 (Michael Bay’s undoubted career high), this **** just got real. While many universities don’t count the marks you earn in your first year towards your overall degree, how well you do in your second year will make a big difference.

This doesn’t mean you should slack off in the first year, incidentally, but if you don’t work hard during the second year, you’ll struggle to make up for it by the time you graduate.

2. Lectures vs. Partying

Nobody is saying you can’t have a good time in your second year, but you know all those mornings when you skipped a lecture because you’d had too much fun the night before? Don’t do that.

For second years, attending lectures and seminars is more important than ever, since you’ll miss out on vital information and discussion if you don’t make it along. And this will mean you have more work to do when it comes to writing essays.

3. Prepare to Prioritise

It’s not just the partying you might have to cut back in your second year. If your workload increases, you might also have to take a look at the clubs you joined in the first year.

It’s not that extracurricular activities aren’t important (quite the opposite). It’s just that they shouldn’t come at the expense of your work! Thus, if you’re short of time already, maybe you could skip that Thursday evening Cocktail Society meeting.

4. House Share Situations

While you probably lived on campus during your first year, most second years live off campus with friends. However, this brings with it a whole new bunch of challenges.

As well as making sure you have a fair system in place for sharing bills and chores, try to be considerate of your housemates (and, likewise, stand up for yourself if you think a housemate is being inconsiderate towards you). It’s the only way you’ll stay friends in the long term.

5. Look to the Horizon!

It might only be the second year, but this is a great time to start thinking about your future after university. If you research what your options are for after graduation early on, whether work, travel or further studies, it can save a lot of stress during the third year!