When your child is weighing up their uni options, it’s natural to have questions. Starting uni can be an exciting, life-changing experience. But for some, not knowing where to begin can be stressful. To help your child get started, we’ve provided some top tips for success at university.

Tip 1: Attend Orientation Week

Orientation (or O Week) is held the week before classes start. This is a great chance for your child to ask any questions they might have about their program and meet other students in their study area. There are dedicated program sessions, as well as study skills sessions to get your child ready for assessment success. There’s heaps of entertainment and freebies to look out for, too.

Tip 2: Go to class

Sounds simple, but it can be easy to lose steam to go to class or complete the readings each week, but putting in the work can really pay off. Students that attend all classes and complete weekly activities tend to receive higher grades than those that don’t. Your child’s lecturers and tutors are their connection to their chosen industry, so encourage your child to get to know them as this will be the key in setting up a future career path.

Tip 3: Get support

University can be an exciting and sometimes unfamiliar journey but remind your child they will be supported throughout the entire process. When they start, they’ll be emailed a Starting at USC Toolkit –they will need to fill this out to receive customised support and tips. They can also access study resources online via Blackboard and the Student Hub, and chat online with a librarian.

Tip 4: Find a balance

Uni life gives your child the freedom to choose how they approach their study. You can start classes later in the day, or study around your work commitments. Using a diary or a planner can help your child to keep track of assessment, classes, work commitments, and their social life. As a guide, a full-time student could expect to fit in around 15 hours of work per week – but this might decrease when assessments are due. It’s important to find a balance between working hard and having fun.

Tip 5: Get involved

The best part of uni life is meeting like-minded people, and getting involved in a study area you’re passionate about. There are plenty of social activities, campus events, peer leadership opportunities, clubs, societies, sports teams, and overseas study opportunities to get involved in. You can also stay connected through USC’s social media channels, and join student managed pages and groups. Orientation will introduce your child to many of these exciting opportunities, but they can also keep an eye out for them throughout their studies.