Top Mistakes First-Year Students Make

“I’ll skip just one lecture….” mentality — lead you tend to miss another classes later the leads to missing important discussions, tips for assignment or exam and even an important detail that don’t appear in the lecture slides.

How to avoid it:

• Treat attendance as non-negotiable unless you’re truly unwell.
• If you’re truly sick, review slides or ask for your friend’s notes ASAP.
• Sit near the front in the classroom to stay more engaged.

💬 Quick Tip: Classes build the foundation — don’t break the chain!

How to avoid it: 

• Start using a planner, calendar app, or bullet journal from the first week.
• Break big projects into smaller tasks with mini deadlines.
• Prioritize what’s urgent and important.
• Review your schedule weekly so nothing catches you off guard.

💡 Quick Tip: Sundays are great for a quick weekly planning session!

Another common mistake? students are too shy to approach their lecturer or counsellors. Whether it’s academic struggles, personal matters or even mental health problems, staying silent not solving anything but makes thing harder!

How to avoid it:

• Don’t hesitate to reach out to your lecture during office hours — pretty sure they are open to
• Reach out to academic support as early as possible — not when it’s already a crisis!
• Try to join study group or even form one — learning is more fun together!

💡 Quick Tip: Universities expect you to ask for help — you’re not burden anyone!

Academics are important, but so is your health! Students often neglecting their mental and physical health. Sleeping lates for study sessions, skipping meals or surviving on instant noodles because of a busy schedule or saving money, only affect their performance in the future.

Try to:

• Prioritizing healthy lifestyle: enough sleep, exercises, proper meals.
• Aware for a sign of stress: Burnout doesn’t happen overnight.
• Reach out mental health support when you’re needed.

💬 Quick Tip: Rest is productive too — tired mind can’t learn anything!

Procrastination is a huge enemy for everyone especially for a first-year students!New students enjoying feeling too freedom until they tend to put of studying or assignments because of “there’s still time” attitude — then suddenly tomorrow becomes next week. Next thing you know, you’re struggling all-nighter before your assignment deadline!

How to avoid it:

• Try to start even if you’re only survive for a few minutes — even 5 minutes of work is better than nothing.
• Set a personal “early” deadlines — a few days before the real ones.
• Use Pomodoro Techniques: 25 minutes study, 5 minutes break.

💡 Quick Tip: Action beats anxiety. Start messy, polish later.

Money is another area where students often struggle with. It’s easy to overspend many with unnecessary things such as food deliveries, online shopping or even a café or food hunting with friends. Before you aware, your bank account is already crying.

Try this:

• Create a detailed budget that cover all your expenses: food, essentials and entertainment.
• Keep track of your spending — even a simple note on your phone helps.
• Take advantage of student discounts, public transportation and free events.

💬 Quick Tip: Learn to save now — future you will thank you!