What I wish I had known in first-year - How to best utilise your experience at the University of Liverpool

Posted on: 30 September 2020 by Ana Ghaffari, second-year student at the Liverpool Law School. in Blog

Ana Ghaffari is a second-year Law student at the Liverpool Law School. In her blog, Ana reflects on her first year of studies and offers her advice for students joining the University.

Hi everyone! My name’s Ana Ghaffari and I have just finished my first year studying Law here at the University. As I move into my second-year house, I can’t help but look back at first year and reminisce on everything I got up to. I don’t think anybody can really prepare you for the feelings of excitement, nervousness, thrill, and pride (oh, and possibly that tiny hint of stress) you will be feeling on that very first day. Now approaching second year, and with the advantage of hindsight, I want to offer you my top three pieces of advice that I wish someone had told me before starting University.

How to really watch online lectures

2020 has been wild – both socially and academically. We no longer need to dash to our 9am lectures but can now gain access to them within our own bedroom walls. Apart from getting your Wi-Fi up to scratch, there are things I do which I find helpful when making my lectures feel more ‘lecture-like’. The first thing is to physically get out of bed. Trust me I hate this step more than you do, but I know that by moving and not watching lectures from the ease of my bed I can study smarter (and therefore, quicker!). Once I get out, I like to find somewhere I want to study. Whether your study space becomes the library, your desk or even your local coffee shop, it will help make you feel more productive. And evidently, the advantage of this is that you can create your own ‘lecture timetable’ that suits you. Though some lectures may be live, having the opportunity to complete at least a few lectures, at a time that suits you in the morning (if you’re an early bird – like me) or in the evening (if you’re a night owl), will help make your university experience more fitting to you. You’ll feel more encouraged to get the most from online lectures – I promise.

Ana's online lecture notes.

How I manage my time

I’ve found that this is different for everyone and is just all about trying to find the right balance. I get really frustrated when people sometimes say ‘first year doesn’t count’, when in reality it does. Though it may not count towards your final degree specification, it does count towards apprenticeship schemes, scholarships and, most importantly, confidence (so it’s really important to find this balance sooner rather than later!). My holy-grail item for managing my time is an academic planner, and now I’ve got one I can’t live without one. By writing a to-do list in my planner each day, I am able to avoid (or at least try anyway) procrastinating and as a result, get my work done more efficiently so that I can play a round of minigolf with a friend in the afternoon. In Law, I’ve realised you have to think of it as a 9-5 full time job, and the faster you see it as this, the quicker you’ll get to grips with manging your time. Once that clock strikes 5, like Cinderella (ish) you can go to your society, make new friends, build your confidence, and get involved with all the opportunities at The Guild. It’s a win-win really.

Managing your time is essential to achieving the right balance between studying and socialising. 

How to deal with exams and assignments

Because of the hefty time that we have had off, the thought of exams now makes my skin itch and my anxiety flare up. But, I wish someone would have told me that exams are all about mindset. If you believe you can do it, you honestly can. A basic tip I know, but it’s so essential to stay prepared and not leave things till last minute so that your mindset doesn’t wander. By being prepared and having a can-do mindset, you will feel so much more confident in demonstrating what you know (in contrast to what you don’t know). I think it’s easy to forget that everyone else in your class is in the same boat, albeit at times it may feel like the Titanic. It is vital that you ask your peers questions when you feel like you need help so that you can support each other. Don’t be afraid to reach out. As well, make sure you’re allowing your brain to have some down time – the poor thing isn’t a machine and won’t absorb anything if it’s having an overload. My suggestion? Go and complete the tutorial prep that has been bugging you with a friend first, and then both of you can go out for a coffee in the afternoon as a treat. Sorted!

Ana's revision timetable.

My final message:

On less of an academic level and more of a practical one, I couldn’t write a blog about first year without telling you to look out for all the student discounts around Liverpool One. Groupon is your best friend, use it! And also, get a Tesco club card in advance because the amount of meal deals you’re about to buy is insane. On another note, don’t forget to take every opportunity that comes your way. If I had never gone on the Legal London Trip that the Law School was running last year, I would never have met the amazing people that helped me through my first-year exams. But also, don’t forget that it’s ok to say no sometimes. If you are not feeling it, or just want some space and time alone, it’s ok to say no. Please don’t push yourself too hard. And lastly, enjoy! Due to the coronavirus pandemic, my first year got cut short and I wish someone had told me to make the most of it because you really don’t know what’s around the corner. 

Thanks for reading! Ana.

If you are a new student joining us this year, make sure you look at the University's Welcome pages where you an find out about Welcome Week events, information about starting University and more advice about settling in here.

The Liverpool Guid of Students also have a guide to starting University on their Welcome 2020 pages.

To learn more about studying at the Liverpool Law School, visit out study pages: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/law/study/