17 May 2020

If you’re heading to university next year, lemme tell you right now that you’re at the beginning of a real adventure.

Movies and TV shows paint a pretty romantic picture of what uni life is like. And while it might not be exactly the same in reality, there’s certainly can be a lot of truth to it if you’re keen to dive in headfirst and really immerse yourself in the experience. Because university offers a lot more than just degrees – they offer a chance to meet new people, explore new passions, try different things and really figure out who you are and where you fit into this big ol’ world.eIf you

If you wanna have the quintessential university experience, here’s a few things you should definitely try:

Join a club or society

It might seem extremely anxiety-inducing at first to join a club or society, but it’s definitely a big part of curating the ideal uni experience. It can be tricky making friends in first year, so joining a club ensures you’ll have a place where you can meet groups of like-minded folk who you share a common passion with.

University events are another great way to meet people in a more social setting (particularly if there’s some kind of free food/beverages involved). So, suss the uni calendar and get along to some exhibitions, sporting events, drama productions and camps.

Get to know your tutors

University is different from high school in that a lot of your study is self-motivated. You won’t have teachers telling you off for not doing your homework or pushing you to try harder, which means you have to learn to push yourself.

In saying that, there are a lot of amazing tutors and professors at university who have a wealth of knowledge to share. So, don’t be afraid to stay behind after class if you have something you want to clarify with your tutor, or to send them an email throughout the week with questions you have about an assignment.

Your marks will thank you for it, and there’s a good chance your tutor is pretty well connected in their field as well, so it’s a good place to start when getting your foot in the door of an industry.  

Get involved in the local area

Whether your university is smack bam in the middle of a CBD or in the depths of regional Australia, it’s important to get to know your new local area and immerse yourself in whatever it has to offer, from bush-walking to bar-crawling.

If you’re looking for the ultimate cultural experience at university, RMIT has three Melbourne campuses. There’s one in the bustling hubbub of Melbourne city and one in the creative district of Brunswick, both of which will give you easy access to Melbourne’s unique and famous cultural scenes—we’re talking food, art, shopping, bars and pumping nightlife.

They also have a third in Bundoora, which is a little bit out of the city if you’re looking for some green, open spaces and tranquil, native parklands.

Take on an internship

There’s no better way to learn in the ins and outs of a particular career than to get some work experience with an internship. It mightn’t be the most glamourous job you ever do, but it will help you get connected with people in the industry.

RMIT is also known for being super-well connected, partnering with some of the world’s biggest brands (BMW, the UN, Deloitte and L’Oreal to name a few) to ensure its students get the best of the best when it comes to internships, placements and work experience.

Study abroad for a semester

If you’re ever give the opportunity to live overseas for a time, you should seize it with both hands. Living overseas is one of the most exciting and eye-opening experiences you’ll ever have, and you’re sure to learn a lot about yourself and the world in the process.

If you spend a semester or two studying abroad, you’ll get to experience another culture all the while still getting credits towards your degree. Plus, there’s a good chance you’ll get to live on or near campus too, which is an experience within itself.

If you’re looking to have the quintessential university experience, RMIT University is definitely the place to get it. Student lifestyle is super important to them, so they offer plenty of clubs and societies, university events and student support to help you settle in and feel at home.

Plus, if study abroad tickles your fancy, they’re actually rated one of Australia’s top five unis for international exchange. They’ve got two campuses in Vietnam as well as 200+ exchange partners across the world, so you can head just about anywhere for a semester or year studying overseas.

Keen to hear more about RMIT? Jump over here to get all the details.