Yesterday, there was a hashtag circulating on Twitter: #unitips. I’ve just finished my second year at York, and feel I’ve learned a few things so far that I’d like to proffer up as advice. So, if you’re heading to university for the first time in a few months, or just looking to get more out of university life, take note. If you’re heading out the door, make sure you leave a comment or tweet @wannabehacks and pass your hard-earned sage advice along. Here’s mine:
1) Do as much as possible
In my first year, I took on a whole host of student media opportunities. Newspapers devoured my weekends, and I was also running various other things. Then I took on Wannabe Hacks, and started a business in my second year. When you then factor in things like a degree, interning, and having a social life, things get rather busy.
But that’s the idea. My degree has very few contact hours (highs of 10 hours/week), and this left with a void to fill with things I wanted to do. It’s not all about employability either; it’s about making university that time of your life that you’ll always remember fondly. Getting involved in lots of things, and with lots of people will ensure that – being an interesting and employable person is just a positive upshot of that.
2) Be prepared to step back
This year, I’ve got a 2:2 in my degree, thanks to one poor performance in a module I hated. I’m aiming for a 2:1 overall, and getting 34/100 in Syntax has made that harder to achieve. Next year I’m going to be stepping back from a few things, and ensuring that I have the time necessary to bump my degree grade up. Despite all the other things I’ve chosen to do, and seemingly prioritise above my degree, I do care about it, and it has to be the primary reason for why I’m here and why I’m paying so much.
As such, my next tip is knowing when to step back from things and making time for other things. To take on Hacks, I took steps back from student media, which was tough but it’s been well worthwhile. Sometimes it is the right time to walk away from things, and I’ve always felt committing to a variety of things for shorter periods is preferable to spending all your time doing just one society, for example.
3) Do the reading
Doing an English Literature based degree, I have a small library of books to get through. Often I don’t spend nearly enough time reading as I should. Just do the reading. Get into the habit of chewing through a large amount of literature on whatever you’re studying and your life will be so much easier. You’ll feel prepared and well-versed in a range of topics, and revision for exams will be all the easier.
Academics aren’t teachers, for better or worse, and sometimes they will be awful at explaining things. Find a book with an author who can in a way you understand, and suddenly everything will be easier. Books have all the answers; do the reading.
So, those are just 3 of my top #unitips. What are yours? Comment, or tweet @wannabehacks!
Image courtesy of Jeffery Beall.
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The more I've traveled, the more I have wondered if "journalism school" really gives someone the necessary experience. I spent a few years taking all sorts of classes and all I found was a lot of bureaucracy and budget cuts.
What do you guys think? Is success in this world without schooling/debt possible?
#3: YES. I hate it when students boast about how they can pass a class without doing any of the reading. What do they gain from doing that? Just do the darn reading. And if you're majoring in Engllish/writing/art history/etc., you're going to HAVE to do the reading...no questions asked.
I agree, #1 and #2 are somewhat contradictory, but such is life. You don't want to study too much, and you don't want to be parting every night or consumed by sports teams, either. I was picky about what I wanted to be involved in, so when one of my extracurriculars escalated into taking a lot of my time (and cutting into my time for schoolwork in the process), I was able to handle it without dropping 10 other extracurricular activities. In the end, though, while an extracurricular might spark some interest in an interview, I do think grades are more important. Yes, it's smart to do something besides study and get good grades to keep yourself sane, but at the end of the day, you're paying to be a student. Don't waste your money -- get good grades! That's my philosophy, anyway.
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@annedreshfield You're right, sorry I should have been clearer. I would encourage all first years to do as much as possible, but you should always be prepared to step back when it becomes necessary. Be aware of your priorities and make sure you respond when things get out of hand!
I worked like a dog and still got a 2:2 and was greeted by a friend (on hearing this news) with 'Don't kill yourself or anything!' He's doing a second Masters, I'm on my second job. Success is relative.
@wannabehacks remember you're at uni to do your degree... Extra curricular is fun and looks great on CV but you don't want to fail! #unitips
@wannabehacks Don't do journalism undergrad - do a proper degree. And don't get a 2:2 - it will destroy your employability #unitips
@0zelsays Nope. I'm like almost all journalists in that regard. Never bothered with post-grad course either.
@DeadinBalham Good for you :) What would be your advice be to be successful in journalism/getting your foot in the door?
@DeadinBalham Erm, it won't. It'll just make it harder. Don't scare the poor undergrads.
@RedHeadFashion It's not me scaring them, more the £30k debt & the worst job market in generations.
@DeadinBalham True. But aside from those awful box-tick grad schemes, is a 2:1 holder really more employable than a 2:2 one?
@DeadinBalham @wannabehacks there is nothing wrong with doing a journalism undergraduate degree as long as it is at a good university.
@sophierose233 @deadinbalham @wannabehacks depends what you mean by 'good university' really...
@DeadinBalham @wannabehacks Simply not true - I got a Desmond and got a job at a news agency. So there.
@DeadinBalham @wannabehacks NOT true. 2.2 makes it harder but not impossible to be employed. 'Destroy your employability' is bad advice
@mr_nugent @DeadinBalham @wannabehacks Exactly. In fact getting stuck into student media can be just as beneficial in the long run.
@mr_nugent @wannabehacks Agreed. 2:2 is not the end of the world, just do the best you can and get as much experience as possible!
@wannabehacks In case this is reassuring to anyone: I didn't join a single society or extra curricular activity at uni. And I turned out ok.
@wannabehacks also: if u do want to take extra commitments, try and go local not student press. You'll learn more and the perks are better!
@wannabehacks don't feel you have to get stuck in to extracurriculars right away. Try to acclimatise to your course and have a good time.
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