Top 10 mentor tips for new students

1. Keep a diary!
"Get yourself a copy of the complementary student diary and write in it all your assessment item due dates, holidays and exam periods. It is really useful for figuring out what week of semester it is and how many weeks until exams. It is also a good idea to look through each course outline at the beginning of the year and draw up a table listing all assessments in order of due date and how much they were weighted at. It helps to prioritise."

2. Factor in time spent learning outside of class
"I think every new student needs to know that for every hour they spend in class, they need to roughly spend three learning outside of class. Many students do not realise this until its too late."

3. Hit the ground running
"Start reading any of the course readings that you can in the first weeks. Those first assignments roll around quickly and catching up on the reading while trying to write assignments can be very stressful."

4. Get help early on
"If you start to struggle early on - get help straight away!!! Talk to your tutor, lecturer or course coordinator. See if someone is offering study assistance / tutoring - 2nd and 3rd year students may be able to help.  There may also be Peer Assisted Study Sessions you could go to. Go to Connect 2 Success to get help with organising yourself and getting assistance."

5. Orient yourself with a campus map
"Keep a copy of the campus map and carry it with you at all times (there's a copy in the free student diary). Mark the rooms/buildings that you will be using and take a walk around so that you know where you a going on your first day."

6. Read and summarise
"Take advantage of the slow start to a semester and start reading and summarising after every class, you will be so thankful you did when you get to exam time and have a million assignments due!"

7. Manage your time and set reminders
"Find out when online quizzes or assessments close, and don't wait til an hour before to begin. Set reminders in your phone, or in your diary to remind you they are coming due."

8. Read your course outlines
"With regards to the requirements, the course outlines are the bible. They should be read before the first day if they are available online, or at the first opportunity possible."

9. Get on top of researching and writing essays
"Ask the Librarian about research and journals and books. Contact Learning Support to learn about writing essays."

10. Don't forget to breathe!
"Make time in your schedule for a little exercise - staying active is a great coping strategy when times get stressful!"