Bewitched, bothered and bewildered: A college survival guide

It's a huge step moving from school to third level. However there are ways of making the transition as smooth as possible. Dr Sarah Moore offers seven ways to cope with the challenges ahead'.

During the early weeks of college, new students often experience something similar to the kind of culture shock that people encounter when trying to adjust to life in another country.

There are new routines, new norms, new values and new languages to conquer. And for the novice undergraduate student, the feeling can be utterly overwhelming. You may still be riding on the crest of the wave that got you there, but be careful. Arriving at university is a disorientating time for even the most confident and self-possessed of college entrants. Here are some of the surprises you might encounter - and some advice about how to react to them.

1 FEELING DISORIENTATED IS A NATURAL THING

Universities are big, bureaucratic places that are difficult to navigate when you're not familiar with them. Even the smallest transactions such as going to the library, buying a book or finding your lecture rooms can be difficult at the start. And on encountering these early struggles, your mind starts to race - "If I can't find out where my lecture theatre is, how am I going to manage the course, the assignments, the exams ..."

Try not to panic. Adjustment is a gradual, step-by-step process. Your first task is to find your way around, to get your bearings, to start to feel comfortable in your new surroundings. Once you have done this, then you can start worrying about staying on top of your subjects. Lecturers and tutors generally do take into account that you will be finding your feet in the early weeks and are prepared to cut you quite a lot of slack.

Use the first couple of weeks as your opportunity to learn the ropes - like finding out where to eat, study, learn, socialise, get extra help and stock up on necessary learning tools. All universities have orientation weeks for new students, don't treat this service as an optional activity. It's very useful to have a guided tour to help address the sense of information overload you're likely to be experiencing.

2 THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU OUT

It may not be immediately obvious, but universities are full of committed educators who have a vested interest in your success. The only problem is that they can't read your mind and don't always realise if you're feeling lost, worried or anxious. If you are feeling any of these things then make sure you look for help. Drawing your early problems to the attention of people within the system is one of the simplest and most effective strategies in your journey from novice fresher to self-contained, confident campus king or queen. Tutors, lecturers, porters, administrators, student union reps and librarians are usually only too happy to help.

If they don't know the answers to your questions, they'll be able to direct you to someone who does. And while learning to ask questions at university might be daunting at first, it's a very good habit to get into in the longer term, helping you to nourish your inquiring mind and using the knowledge of other people to enable you to learn more.

3 ATTENDING LECTURES IS GOOD FOR YOUR EDUCATIONAL HEALTH

The first step towards success is to turn up. Remember that if you don't stay on top of your lecture schedule, no-one else is going to do it for you. Attending lectures keeps you on track, provides predictable rhythms to your days and weeks and will create structure around which you can plan your study strategy. Attending lectures is one of the most important things you can do to stay in control of your course and up to date on your learning material and tasks.

4 DEADLINES DON'T HAVE TO RUIN YOUR LIFE

Deadlines create pressure to perform. They can lurk in your diary and haunt you even when you're trying to ignore them. If they build up, and if you only ever respond to them at the last minute, they can become a real source of panic and stress. But it doesn't have to be like this. You can develop empowered, well-paced and positive attitudes towards deadlines and learn to tackle them with determination, success, even enjoyment. What this requires is good time management. Every time you're given an assignment, essay or project, estimate how long each task is likely to take. Break your tasks up into manageable chunks. Work backwards from the due date of each assignment and develop a reasonable plan that allows you to see clearly how each step can be achieved. Becoming a deadline wizard will make your time at college run much more smoothly.

5 "LIBRARY" IS NOT A DIRTY WORD

As soon as you arrive at college, get to know the library. It is a warm, silent retreat from what can otherwise be a very noisy and hectic learning world. It allows you to take stock and to hear yourself think. Librarians are on hand to help direct you to interesting and useful learning resources. Don't see it as the last resort, but rather as the scholarly, safe heart of the university. And get used to being there - at least some of the time.

6 SETTLING QUICKLY INTO A STUDY PATTERN DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T SOCIALISE TOO

There is huge freedom at university that you may never have encountered before. It's easy to get drunk on the whole atmosphere, both metaphorically and literally. Don't lose the run of yourself. This is your opportunity to exercise your own judgment, to make your own choices and to become a real life, self-directed grown-up. Try to make relatively wise decisions. Settle into a study pattern as soon as you can. Have a reasonably balanced strategy for work, play and learning that you can implement from the very start.

7 FAILURE IS OCCASIONALLY AN OPTION

Contrary to the cliché, failure at university is occasionally an option. You don't have to do everything perfectly all of the time. Sometimes in order to get things right, you first have to get them wrong. Remember that it's not a disaster if you get a bad grade or some negative feedback on your early work. At college, there is usually more than one bite of the cherry; there are built-in chances to improve your performance and to learn from your mistakes. Learn to ride the waves of failure and success with persistence and good-humour, and you will eventually reach your destination.

Be gentle with yourself. Work hard but also don't forget to have fun. This is your time. Make the most of it. Learn, grow, find your voice and build on your strengths. With a bit of patience and determination not only will you settle in - very soon you'll be running the place.

• Dr Sarah Moore is Dean of Teaching and Learning at the University of Limerick. Her new book, written with co-author Maura Murphy is called How to be a student: 100 great ideas and practical habits for students everywhere and is published by the Open University Press