Succeeding in University Part 2: Defining Your Plan and What Matters to You

Succeeding in university is rather like succeeding in life. It’s really much more about you than it is about the university. So the most important place to start is to consider why you’re there, what matters to you, and what you expect to get out it. Even if you have already thought about these questions, it’s good to reaffirm your commitment to your plan as we begin to consider what’s really involved in being a university student.

What’s Your Plan?

Take a few minutes and write down short answers to the questions below. Be honest with yourself, and write down what you really feel. You are not writing for a lecturer here—not what you think someone expects to hear—and you are not being graded on your answers!

How long do you anticipate being in university?
How many courses will you need to take per semester to finish university in your planned time period?
What do you anticipate will be the most difficult part of completing university?
Are you confident you will be able to overcome any possible difficulties in completing your university education?

Were you able to easily answer the questions above? How confident do you feel about your plan?

These are important questions to think about for the simple reason that students who have a clear plan and who are prepared to overcome possible obstacles that may arise along the way are much more likely to succeed in university. In other words, just thinking in a positive way about your future can help that future come true!

What Matters to You?

The word values refers to things that matter to a person. What makes you feel good or happy? What things would you be doing if you had all the time, money, and opportunities in the world? Questions like these help us define our own values. Every individual has his or her own values.

Thinking about your own values can help you know what you want from life and from the university. Take a moment and consider the list of things below that are valued by some people. For each value, rate how important that thing is to you. You can rate the importance on a scale of 0 to 5:

Making a good income
Having good friends
Learning new things about your interests
Having a nice car
Having intelligent conversations
Staying current with the news
Playing sports
Hanging out with friends
Playing computer or video games
Cooking
Online social networking
Sleeping
Reading a good book
Traveling to new places
Shopping
Being liked by others
Studying and reading textbooks
Having nice clothing
Watching television
Enjoying time alone
Getting out in nature
Working your job
Looking good, personal hygiene
Meeting new people
Going to movies or entertainments
Eating nice meals out
Exercising, being physically active
Being your own boss
Having a positive romantic relationship
Engaging in your hobbies
Setting your own schedule
Volunteering your time for a good cause
Cleaning house
Attending classes
Going to religious services
Talking on the telephone, texting, e-mail
Going to parties
Participating in clubs, organized activities
Other: __________________________

Look back at the values you rated highly (4 or 5) in the list above, which probably give a good indication of how you enjoy spending your time. But now look at these things you value in a different way. Think about how each relates to how you think you need to manage your time effectively while in university. Most university students feel they don’t have enough time for everything they like to do. Do some of the activities you value most contribute to your university experience, or will they distract you from being a good student?

Students who enter university with their eyes open and who think about their own values and motivations will be more successful. If you have a good idea of what you want from life, the rest of it can be learned. We’ll start right away in a couple of other articles by helping you stay motivated and manage your time well. The next set of articles will then lead you through learning how to study well and everything else.