I had the opportunity to study EEE at Obafemi Awolowo University (then University of Ife - you can guess my vintage). The secret to surviving the first year could not have changed much. Hence I’ll share some tips.
Get access to good source of additional/alternative knowledge. Do not depend on lectures alone. I used to buy books (I had a state scholarship and University Bookshop was very good during my days at Ife). These days you do not need to buy many books. The World Wide Web should be your library and bookshop. Surf the Net and get/download as many lecture notes and books as you can fit on your portable hard drive. Read varaciously. Possibly, sign up for a MOOC (online course).
Form or join a study group. We used to form study groups where we solve problems and challenge each others understanding of concepts. It did not stop us from competing. We “cooperated to compete”. Everyone’s take-home from the study group will always be different. So there is room for independence of thought.
Get accurate information on how your GP is calculated and keep a spreadsheet of the subjects/course in your degree and, track your marks and progress. Apart from gaining knowledge through your studies, you should try to optimize your effort so as to be on the GP that suits your ability and future plan. For example, gain insight into what marks you need in a test or assignment to maintain a particular average GP. I used to do this. Be organised!
Get into sports. You will need this to keep your mind and body fit. It is a beautiful campus - going for walks is cheap and safe. If it is affordable pick up a sport that allows you to mix with students from other faculties. This broadens your mind and outlook on life. You will also form life-long friends.
It is not a bad idea to start thinking about what you will do with the knowledge you are gaining. This frame of mind could make a difference to the way you learn. It will change the way yo ask questions and dirrect your learning.
Most importantly, enjoy the campus, classmates, friends and professors. Take time to also know the town. It has developed a lot since I was there.
Have a good attitude to learning - by this I mean a first year student should take his/her study serious. Do not skip class or tutorial unnecessarily. Do not procrastinate. Revise your class note as soon as possible after the class and also do your assignments on time. Trying to “crash read" your note a day to your exam does not always produce the best results, so prepare ahead. Always try to take the continuous assessment very serious because it is the easiest way to earn cheap marks before the main exams.
Set an attainable goal at the beginning of the semester - Not setting an attainable goal at the beginning of the semester means you are planning to fail even before you start or take any grade that comes your way. It means you have no measurable objectives to gauge your performance. When you set a goal at the beginning it prompts you to plan very well so as to see the goal through. Don't settle for less, aim higher.
Learn the trick to score A's in all your courses - Most fresh students in OAU read all night long, perhaps because of the rigour of their programmes or because their colleagues are doing the same, but their grades at the end are woeful. But why?! They failed to learn the tricks to excel. If you want to score an A in a course ask your senior colleagues who also scored an A in the course (whether or not it is the same lecturer that is taking the course now was the same one that took it during their time) about the course, the lecturer and his/her approach to the course. Ask about the area of concentration, ask for past questions. Form a group to discuss the course and also solve past questions. Even if your programme demands that you study for a very long hours, breaking that long hours down into sizeable bits with intervals in between to relax, reflect, recollect and review all that you have read will do you a lot of good.
Have a good time management habit - OAU students are known for bringing up good but time wasting debates and arguments, mostly in their hostels. Learn to know which one to be involved in and for how long. Try to have a time log of your daily activities on campus and try to pitch these activities with your objectives and goals. Any activity that is taking much of your time but contributing less to your objectives and goals should be cut down.
Make sure you stay on campus as a fresh student. Try to be focus, discipline and diligent. Avoid distraction of any form. Also, learn to eat well, sleep well and exercise your body. You can't afford to fall sick during the exam period.
Always remember that God is above all things.
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