Counsellor resource: transitioning to university life

Transitioning to university is often overlooked at high schools, which tend to see their main purpose as supporting students through exams. As college counsellors, however, we measure our success beyond results, and hope to direct our students towards career satisfaction and happy university lives. So, facilitating the transition from school to university is a vital part of our role.

Our Uni-Ready sessions walk students through some key insights and practical tips to help navigate this transition smoothly and confidently.

With the help of presentations, short films, quizzes and interactive activities, we piloted two 90-minute sessions with our graduating students. The first session concentrated on practical advice and the second looked at the socio-emotional challenges that might be faced when making the move from school to university. 

We started with a brainstorming session, where we allocated areas we would each present and discussed ways to make the sessions interactive.

We sent a letter to parents, outlining the sessions and ensuring they were aware of the inclusion of some sensitive topics. Students were then asked if they had any specific matters they would like addressed. They were also told that they could ask questions confidentially and anonymously.

We also agreed that we would we implement some “rules of engagement” at the start of each session, including:

• This is a safe space
• Right to pass
• No names
• Respect
• Confidentiality
• Ask any questions

First session

• Practical advice for university transition: from visas to campus life
• Day-to-day skills: from meal prep to mock budgeting
• Avoiding trouble and communicating well: from peer pressure to substance abuse 

We began the session with two simple icebreakers, asking students to tell us one word that comes to mind when they think about university. This helped the group bonding as students realised they were not alone in feeling nervous, anxious or excited.

We played a light-hearted video on the differences between high school and university and then had a more serious conversation about some of those differences and what to expect. 

This included a discussion on the importance of self-management at university and the fact that students need to rely on themselves for academic, social and emotional success. The session continued with practical advice and examples, including how to choose and furnish student accommodation, cost of living, budgeting, meal prep, courteous communication, and understanding what substance abuse is. Students were encouraged to engage and ask questions. 

Second session

• Leaving well, new friends and settling in
• Culture, culture shocks and open-mindedness
• Depression and mental, emotional and physical well-being
• Political correctness and avoiding offence

The second session started off like the first one, reminding students of our rules of engagement. The aim of this session was to empower students with the knowledge and tools to support the emotional and social transition on which they will be embarking. 

We then asked them to visit their first-choice university website and think about which club/society they would like to join. We moved on to talking about how we can leave home well, meet new friends and settle at university.

For all students, there is a sense of culture shock when leaving home. We dedicated time to understanding what culture shock is and its prevalence. We  emphasised that students are not alone and outlined several proactive steps they can take to mitigate the initial feelings of possible isolation and uncertainty. These included introducing oneself to neighbours, creating a WhatsApp group with flatmates and/or signing up for events during freshers’ week or orientation week. 

Being able to identify signs of depression and/or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) was shared with students, as well as the sensitive topic of suicide. The focus was on the support that universities offer so that students know how to access it. 

Understanding their rights on campus and going through what consent is and how it is defined in university by-laws was another part of this session, as well understanding the changing political climate on campuses today and how to navigate it with sensitivity.  

We finished the session with a quiz for students to gauge how much they understood about the prevailing political and cultural environment.

At the end of each session, an information sheet with useful links and guidance was shared with parents and students.

We also sent out a survey to students and received very positive feedback and some good suggestions for next year. They all appreciated the practical advice session and felt more confident overall about their upcoming transition to campus life. They also appreciated the interactivity, the political correctness section and the focus on mental and emotional well-being. 

Some suggestions included asking current university students to share their advice in the workshop, and allowing more time for discussion in general. 

Transitioning to university life can be challenging, but with the right tools and mindset, it’s also an incredible opportunity for growth and self-discovery.