4 Things No One Tells You Before First-Year
By Logan Wickstone
Your first year of university can be a whirlwind: exciting, new, and sometimes even a little overwhelming. Between meeting new people, finding your way around campus, and adjusting to a brand new routine, it’s easy to feel unsure of what to expect. While everyone tells you the helpful basics like “go to class” or “join a club”, there are still a lot of things you only figure out once you’re actually here. To make this transition smoother, we’ve compiled a few lessons that students wish they had known beforehand, so you can start your first year with a bit of a head start and make the most out of it.
Clubs Are The Real Classroom
As I am sure you’ve probably heard a million times: going to your lectures is important. They give you the knowledge and the foundations of your program. But what people don’t always tell you is that the real learning happens outside the classroom. That is where clubs come in. Clubs allow you to take what you’re learning in class and actually put your ideas into practice. QMA is one of those spaces, whether it’s helping organize our annual conference, building your network with peers who share your interests, or gaining early experience alongside upper years, QMA makes it easy for first years to apply classroom concepts, make mistakes, and see your ideas have an impact in real time. Just as importantly, clubs push you beyond your program bubble.
It’s easy to spend most of your time with the people in your program, you’re in the same classes, the same study groups, and often the same social circles. But some of the best experiences come from stepping outside of that bubble and meeting new people. Because most clubs at Queen’s aren’t program-specific, they give you the chance to connect with people from different backgrounds and skill sets who share a common interest with you. QMA works similarly by bringing together students from across years and programs, not just commerce, to collaborate and learn from one another. These are often the most valuable connections long term, because they expose you to new perspectives and give you access to ideas you wouldn’t get from your program alone.
Group Work Is Where Friendships Start
In the first year, everyone’s trying to make friends…but let’s be honest, it can sometimes feel awkward to just walk up to someone and start a conversation. That’s where group work comes in, and the good thing is Queen’s professors are big on it. You’ll find yourself automatically paired with people working toward a common goal, and those shared experiences often spark connections naturally. However, the mistake some students make is treating group work as if it’s still an individual project. Sure, not every group will turn into lifelong friends, and that’s completely normal. But some connections will stick, and those friendships can carry you through the rest of your four years at Smith.
Beyond friendships, group work helps you get comfortable collaborating with different people. Professors assign them not just to get the assignment done, but also to give you practice in problem-solving, communication, and teamwork across different peers. It might feel challenging at first, but being open to it early on makes the experience a lot more rewarding and gives you skills that will carry far beyond your time at Queen’s.
Professors Are More Approachable Than You Think
It’s easy to see professors as distant or unapproachable, especially in your first year when lecture halls are packed and you feel like just another face in the room. But the reality is that most professors want the best for their students and are happy to get to know you; you just have to take the first step. That doesn’t mean you have to build a relationship with every single one, but having at least one professor who knows you personally is a huge advantage down the line.
You can start small, ask a question after class, show up to office hours, or participate in class discussions. Professors appreciate having students who engage, because nothing is worse than asking a question and the room being filled with silence. These small contributions may seem insignificant, but they make you stand out, and over time, they can lead to mentorship, referrals, or even TA opportunities.
Furthermore, professors often have fascinating backgrounds and career paths that you may not hear about in lectures. Taking the time to talk to them can give you valuable insight into internships, what courses to take, and career advice that you won’t find in the syllabus.
Your First-Year Circle Won’t Be Your Only Circle
There’s a lot of pressure in September to lock in a friend group right away. And while those first connections definitely will help you settle in, they don’t define your whole university experience. The people you meet in September might not be the ones you’re closest to by the end of the year, and that is completely normal. Your circle will shift as you’re exposed to new things, and that’s a good thing. Some of your closest friends may not show up until the second semester, or even later.
The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities to get to know new people. Clubs like QMA create those spaces year-round, giving you a consistent way to connect with others who share your interests and build the friendships that last long after orientation week. If you keep showing up to things you care about and follow what interests you, the right people will eventually fall into place. Those friendships end up being more genuine than the ones you feel pressure to form right away.
Starting university comes with a lot of unknowns, but staying open to new experiences makes the transition smoother. Your first year doesn’t have to be perfect; it might not be. What matters most is putting yourself in the right places and trusting that the rest will take care of itself, because it will.