After years of hard work, nervous sit-throughs in exam halls, and exhausting nights of study and worry, many will get the chance to study at their dream campus. And fueled with such a sense of accomplishment, it is easy to make some of the most typical ‘fresher’ mistakes.

This article is based on real experiences of people who graduated from university and their advice to freshers.

Do not take your grades casually

In your early university days, it is a challenge for many to get serious about their studies.

There are just so many engagements to keep and so many adventures to have. Many do exactly that. They take their studies too casually and focus on the new experience of campus life. It’s a mistake that has long-lasting consequences.

“Your overall results are an average of your grades. So, if you do poorly in your first two semesters, it is really difficult to recover that grade later on,” said Iftakher Mahmud, who made the exact same mistake.

“I managed to do some damage control in my final year, but it was still a very challenging task,” he added.

Do not limit your network

This is a mistake that is usually made by introverts. Extroverts often have a blast during their campus days, but for introverts, it can be a toil just to say hello to fellow students in their class.

It is even more daunting to reach out to new people. But this is something that should be taken seriously.

We spoke to Meraz about his experience and regrets regarding his limited networking attempts in the early years.

“After I graduated, I realised that compared to my friends, I knew very few people. It wasn’t a big deal at first, but the more time I spent in the real world, the more I realised that a little networking would have made everything a lot easier for me,” said Meraz Ahmed, a self-proclaimed introvert who graduated in 2022.

Do not dismiss extracurricular activities

Many see extracurricular activities as a waste of time and deem them irrelevant. But they are wrong. Extracurricular activities not only develop different kinds of skills, they also offer opportunities for networking.

In addition, through extracurricular activities, many students reach significant achievements, such as winning national-level competitions and even competing in international events.

Besides, extracurricular activities are often an important part of applications for higher education.

“I was not part of any clubs in my first three years. By the end of my Bachelor’s, I started making a professional CV and realised that I had nothing to show besides my academic skills. I realised it too late,” said Meraz Ahmed, explaining that it might have been because he was an introvert.

Mehzabin Raeen, a private university teacher, shared a similar experience from her student days.

“You don’t realise how important extracurricular activities are in your early days. But as you enter the competitive real world, you realise that there are many people with a similar background. It’s the little things, like these additional activities, that can set you apart from them and give you an edge.”

Do not be disengaged from your department

Many people have a hard time adapting in their first year. With all the new faces, new places, and new environments, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and many take the easy way out.

They hide away unless it is absolutely necessary to attend class. This is a mistake that might cost you in the long run.

Every student should try to stay engaged with their department as much as possible, especially in the first year. This is the time to make a lasting impression. Your engagement with the department can pave the way for future research opportunities, scholarships, and, of course, recommendation letters when you need them.

Do not go overboard with new friends

Yes, friendships are important, and you will make a lot of new friends once you arrive on campus. But be careful. First, you don’t know them very well yet; your relationships are still in their adolescence. Second, do not engage in dubious activities just because you want to be accepted.

What you should do instead is take it slow and spend time with your new friends for a few weeks to figure out which of them can be real friends and which will be nothing more than classmates.

There is a reason seniors make fun of ‘large group of friends forever’ gatherings, and you will find out soon enough yourself. In the meantime, choose your friends carefully. University friendships are usually the best kind.