Making the most of university

This article will help you advise your students on how to make the most of university. It looks at three key themes: social, academic, and professional. It was provided for the UniTasterDays' Teachers' Guide to University, by Ross Neale, when in post with the University of York.

The social element of university can be one of the newest and most unnerving for your students. It’s also an aspect of university (and broader personal development) which will develop naturally, and for which there is lots of pastoral support available.

As teachers and careers colleagues, you can support your students by encouraging them to recognise the value in what they bring to conversations. This will help them feel more confident when engaging with people in new environments. Equally, it’s important for your students to experience networking, to get comfortable with small talk, and to learn to be interested in other people.

You can also advise your students to get involved with sports and societies, reminding them that bursaries and financial support exists for membership costs.

Most students understand that university requires hard work and time management, but only a handful will understand what these look like.

Your students will receive lots of academic support, but they may not be prompted to actively reflect on their understanding of hard work and time management. In this way, you can play a pivotal role in helping your students reflect on how they use their time.

Additionally, you can:

• signpost to maths and writing skills centres
• encourage students to seriously consider studying a language through elective modules
• recommend the Turing Scheme and the British Council.
• advise them to consider a year abroad, and dismiss doubts about logistics or practicalities, such as "all my friends will have graduated" and "I don’t speak the language."

Professional development is a critical aspect of university, yet often belatedly acknowledged by students.

To that end, making your students aware of the professional opportunities available in the second or third term of their first year – once they’ve socially acclimatised – will have a significant impact on supporting them to realise their potential.

You could encourage your students to:

• become course representatives to practice public speaking - further tips from Vinh Giang on YouTube!
• do a year in industry - reassure them that they will find housemates and housing
• attend jobs fairs
• make the most of their summer holidays by getting involved with vacation or volunteer schemes.

Your students have the rest of their lives for their career. For now, it is more important to support them in developing the skills which will serve them well when building towards it, such as effective networking and building self-confidence.

University will be transformative for many of your students. Their social, academic, and professional development should be about embracing opportunities and nurturing their passion.

These are some of the hallmarks of university. They offer a solid foundation on which your students can map their careers. As teachers and careers advisers, your support plays a critical role in helping them feel confident and prepared to take their next step.