15 Tips for Anyone Starting University or College
September is the beginning of the academic year for students across the UK and many people will embark on this new journey with many hopes, expectations and fears as to what it really entails. We decided to ask the Built By Us Network for their thoughts on the question “What do you wish you knew when starting university?” We share the following tips from individuals who at one stage in their lives stood where you are.
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1. “I wish during the start of university that I had better direction and career planning on what alternative options I could branch out to using my degree, so that I could tailor and gauge my interests and studies accordingly.”
2. “I wish I had known how hard it would be to find a job as a woman in construction after finishing university.”
3. “Embrace asking for feedback and criticism on your work, viewing them as opportunities to improve.”
4. “I wish I knew that there were communities, events or other networks at university that I can tap into. Networks from university have really helped me to expand my reach and I continue to tap into this as I develop my business.”
5. “University is the best time to experiment and meet people from all corners of the world. Work hard and enjoy it.”
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“School is like a military marching band. It is rigid in structure with every action planned in advance. University is like free form jazz. There is a beginning and an end, and stuff happens in the middle. But if you want the end result to be fulfilling you have to take control, you have to commit and you have to be authentic.”
6. “I guess looking back, the thing I'd like to have known is that what one learns at university are methods to find answers, rather than the answer itself. Because of this, to anyone starting their university experience, I would advise to keep an open mind and use the time to look beyond their specialist subject, to find connections with other disciplines and prepare for the future of their profession, not its past or present.
And as a bonus, I would suggest they use the opportunity to learn about themselves at the same time as they expand their specialist knowledge. Getting to know people who have lived different experiences, seeing oneself through their eyes, inviting them to teach you about their culture and sharing yours with them will be a personal upgrade that will last a lifetime.”
7. “My advice would be that there are lots of opportunities at university but keep the phrase 'quality rather than quantity' in mind.”
8. “School is like a military marching band. It is rigid in structure with every action planned in advance. University is like free form jazz. There is a beginning and an end, and stuff happens in the middle. But if you want the end result to be fulfilling you have to take control, you have to commit and you have to be authentic.”
9. “Architecture and design are hugely collaborative fields, so it's important to build your teamwork skills and network with your professors and peers by actively engaging in group projects and workshops; this can enhance your abilities, and create future opportunities.”
10. “Make the most of and enjoy all of the university clubs and facilities as much as possible, they are likely to be the best you will ever get!”
11. “Consistency and discipline take you places that passion lets you dream about.”
12. “Don't be afraid to occupy spaces with your voice and presence, you belong there and if you do it enough times, you'll start to believe it.”
13. “Believe in yourself! While it may sound cliche it still amazes me that a lot of the topics that I was passionate about as a student, which were seen as odd, have now become mainstream. You can find your ideas not being taken seriously because you are exploring new territory. Just because it is not the biggest conversation today, doesn't mean it is irrelevant.”
14. “I wish I knew how to market yourself if you want to start an architecture practice.”
15. “University is the best time to experiment and meet people from all corners of the world. Work hard and enjoy it.”
Thank you to everyone who shared their wisdom with us! Best of luck to everyone starting a new course (including the lecturers :))
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Fun Fact - Why does the academic year start in September?
If you ever wondered why the academic year in the UK starts in September, here is a bit of history. It is rooted in the region’s agricultural background and its requirements to work in harmony with nature’s cycles.
In 1880, the English government made education compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 to 10. This was made possible by the Sandon Act of 1876 which imposed a legal duty on parents to ensure that their children received a certain level of education. Until this legislation was passed, children were expected to help their families with agricultural and other duties. With children a prime resource of manual labour, losing children to education was met with a little resistance as labour took up most of people’s time and agriculture was not as advanced as it is today.
The government’s willingness to start the school year at a time that suited the country’s mostly farming communities and schedule, enabled education’s rise to prominence as farming was vital to the livelihoods of many families.
