Making the move from high school to university

First, it was grade-schoolers turn and now students at the University of Regina are headed back to class.

Wednesday marked the first day for students at the U of R and for some, it’s their first time in a university setting.

Some make the transition from high school to post-secondary seamlessly but for others, the move can be difficult.

“They find that the writing at university is more challenging,” pointed out Naomi Deren, the associate director of student success at the U of R.

She said the expectations of professors might not be clear with new students either. For example, Deren said high school teachers might remind students of deadlines or be more flexible on granting assignment extensions.

In university, she said students are expected to be adults. That means things tend to be stricter.

Deren said some can find it tricky to find the right balance of studying and being social.

“It seems like there’s a lot of free time available but, in reality, they should be spending that time working independently and that takes some adjusting for sure.”

Figuring out how much time is needed to study and how to study efficiently can be a stumbling block for first-timers. Being a part of the university in some social aspect shouldn’t be discounted totally either, said Deren, indicating there’s research to suggest being involved with the university outside of class promotes success.

While students might have to seek them out for themselves, Deren said there are a range of support programs available on campus, including the UR Guarantee program, for those who need the help.