You’re about to start your first year of uni and we bet you have mixed feelings about it. It’s definitely nerve-wracking and you don’t want to stick out like a total newbie.

There are a lot of lessons that you will learn along the way, but in case no one has told you, here are some things you should definitely avoid doing in your first year. Good luck!

Thou Shalt Not Buy The “Required” Textbook

Every single year your lecturer will assure you that you MUST buy the unit text book at all costs because it is ESSENTIAL to your degree and if you don’t, you will fail miserably. Oh, and did they mention it costs $200?

This is a huge fat lie. You will probably use the text book twice that whole semester and then never look at it again. Plus, we’re students. If we had $200 lying around we sure as hell wouldn’t be spending it on a textbook we’ll never use.

Look, there might be a slight chance that you will be using it regularly but I’m pretty sure you can survive the four months without it. Just the same textbook from the library and just photocopy the pages you will need to bring to class.

Thou Shalt Not Dine In The Uni Café

The café at uni know that you’re not going to travel off campus to get some decently priced food, so they charge you almost double what you would usually pay. Cheeky buggers.

We suggest you bring your own food to uni and save yourself the shock of looking in your bank account after a week’s worth of buying food and coffee on campus. Coffee is the only exception, because even though it’s wildly expensive, sometimes you just NEED that hit to get through your day. But go easy on the $10 chips.

Thou Shalt Not Park For Free

I don’t know if you’ve noticed but most universities are money-sucking parasites. They won’t give you anything for free, and parking is no exception. It will work out so much cheaper to get a parking permit for the whole year and take the $80 hit at the start than to empty your purse every day by paying $3.50 for the hour. Parking fines are hefty and the ticket officers unforgiving. Or better yet, give our beautiful planet some loving and get public transport!

Thou Shalt Not Ask Permission

It’s important for first years to understand that you don’t need to apologise when you leave early/come in late or ask permission to go to the toilet. Uni isn’t like high school and if you interrupt the lecturer by trying to explain why you’re late or asking to leave they will look at you weirdly and ask why you’re telling them this information. It’s a hard habit to break when that’s all you’ve been taught for many years but if you need to leave, then just go and do it quietly! 

Thou Shall Not Register For Morning Classes

I mean, I can see the appeal – go to your lecture in the morning and get it out the way so you have the rest of the day to yourself. But unfortunately, we have to warn you that it seldom works out this way. 8am classes are the devil and when you’re half way through the semester, have pulled 5 all-nighters, have a pile of assignments due and have a hangover from the night before, thinking about waking up that early will make you cry.

We can assure you, registering for 8am classes is NOT a good idea and you will hate yourself. You have been warned.

Sophie Nicolas is studying a Bachelor of Arts studying creative writing and is an aspiring writer, dog enthusiast and thrift shop fashion icon. 

(Lead image: Never Been Kissed/20th Century Fox)