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Succeeding in University Part 5: Liking Yourself as a Student and Why That Matters Of all the factors that affect how well one does in university, attitude is probably the single most important. A positive attitude leads to motivation, and someone who is strongly motivated to succeed can overcome obstacles that may occur. In other …

In Nigeria, we often like to pretend that we don’t understand mental illness. We don’t like to talk about the various forms of mental illness like depression, anxiety etc. But, our denial doesn’t erase the factual truth – that mental illness very much exists here. And among students, its effects can be devastating because there …

I remember when I used to call my parents a lot in school. They never quite understand why I’m always in constant need of money. It doesn’t matter whether your parents just sent you money last week. There’s always something that demands extra cash in school. Whether it’s a new textbook or assignment or paying …

In a previous article, I wrote about the types of female roommates one is likely to find in University rooms. This is another list for the type of male roommates you’re likely to find in universities. Have you ever been to a male hostel on campus? It’s a chronically disorganized, chaotic theater. It’s almost comical, …

Lecturers’ teaching methods differ and so does their grading styles. In uni, you’ll probably take a lot of courses in each session. It is paramount to get to know the teaching and grading methods of each lecturer for all the courses you’ll take. Building a good relationship with your teachers is not just for the …

To achieve success (high grades) in universities, you have to do the work. And doing the work entails studying really really hard. Back in most secondary schools, students move on to the next class automatically when they fail any subject. Universities do not run in similar styles. Yes, you might move on to the next …

On Extra-Curricular Activities As you must have heard a million times, school isn’t just about classes alone. Just a little heads-up: the world is not as obsessed with degrees/certificates the way it used to be. The world needs more skills than it does degrees. In the olden days, civil service was the real deal. Everyone …

Being a full-time student doesn’t mean a complete, total focus on just academics. Students also need a well-rounded lifestyle; it’s good for mental health. Many students struggle with balancing their academics with their social and spiritual life. For most, they’ve completely resigned to just focusing on their education which, in my opinion, isn’t really healthy. …

Just like businessmen, students need to learn how to budget and manage their money judiciously. Money management is an essential human skill necessary for navigating this world that is ruled by money. This is one of the scariest parts of leaving home. For most people, their parents handled all the financials at home. They’ve never …

Elective courses are compulsory in universities. They’re a major requirement for the completion of any degree. Electives are important because they offer students fresh perspectives on courses unrelated to their major courses, help boost GPA and the chance to study what interests them apart from their main course. For instance, one might be studying Mass …

School hostels have their perks which is the reason most students would kill to get a hostel room. These perks include free light, low rent, free water, etc. Now, most people may not want the school rooms because of such disadvantages as overcrowding, rules (some people want to be free to do whatever they want …

Unless your family is buoyant enough to afford to rent a room for you off-campus, you’ll probably share living spaces with others – strangers and friends alike.  Here’s the thing about friends sometimes: You might love them and be compatible with them when you are not living together but when you move in together, you …