Surrey Homes | SH59 | September 2019 | Education supplement inside

SH Education Supplement sponsored by
Three ACS International Schools offer tips on
preparing for university life, as students move
on to begin their undergraduate studies
Jeremy Lewis, Head of School, ACS Egham:
Every year around this time, thousands of students are
preparing themselves for university life – and there is
plenty they can do in advance of Freshers’ Week that will
help them thrive during their first year. Although there
can be lots of social events to focus on when making
friends and learning how to live independently, my advice
is to first consider how you might have a good working
relationship with your academic tutor. By making this the
focus of your first weeks and months at university, students
won’t just get off to a more confident start, they will also
be setting themselves up to really enjoy their course.
Don’t forget that the more academic discussion first
year students are part of, the more their theoretical
knowledge and critical thinking in a subject will
develop. Students should aim to go to every seminar
with at least one strong opinion and one question about
something from the reading list – which, in case you
haven’t guessed, means completing the recommended
reading in advance and making meaningful notes!
Planning your time is essential in the first term;
make sure you put a lot of time and thought into
your personal, independent organisation and it will
certainly pay off with lower stress levels and more
time leftover for extra-curricular activities.
Ryan Hinchey, College Counsellor and
Careers Advisor, ACS Cobham:
One of the most important parts of my role at ACS is guiding
students towards suitable university choices and careers for the
individual. Most often my advice to students and their parents
is to find the right fit. Here at ACS, we want to prepare our
graduates for university life by asking them to consider the
parts of their personality that will impact their success rates
in higher education. For example, what is your learning style?
Do you prefer small groups, large lectures or independent
study? Look for courses that are delivered in a way that
suits your academic preferences. Are you an extrovert or an
introvert – with this in mind, consider the choice between
a large university and a smaller campus or college setting.
When choosing where to study, think about if you really
know what you want to study in depth, or whether you
want a wider range of studies which narrow later. American
universities, for example, are famous for their liberal arts
approach, where you study a broad curriculum in the first
year – a great opportunity to experience new things before
finding your focus subject. In contrast, UK universities are
famous for their superb career focus and specialisation, so
knowing that difference can help make some first choices.
If you don’t have a very specific career choice in mind,
students can think about broader subjects, such as
Geography or English, where there are many pathways
to choose from. It’s not unusual to struggle with exactly
what you want to do, so keep an open mind while looking
for the right general fit in teaching style and location.
Marcea Eckhardt, University Counsellor, ACS Hillingdon:
The number of university students in the UK seeking
counselling over academic stress and mental health issues
has grown dramatically in recent years. The increasing
pressure on young people to succeed academically, alongside
the stresses of living independently in a world dominated
by social media and smartphones, suggests that now, more
than ever, students need mindfulness training to help
maintain wellbeing as they leave their school environment.
Mindfulness training gives students tools to remain
calm, sustain their attention and focus through simple
breathing and meditation practices – it is the training of the
attention to keep focused on what’s actually happening in
the present moment, and how to relate to this thoughtfully
and rationally. According to a Mindful Schools study, 83
per cent of teachers saw improved levels of focus amongst
students who had undertaken mindfulness training,
whilst 89 per cent also saw better emotional regulation.
Mindful practices help students feel confident as they start
a new stage of life in university or work and the methods
we teach beyond the classroom at ACS Hillingdon ensure
that they reach their full potential while maintaining
their personal wellbeing. I would recommend new
undergraduates find a meditation app or podcast series that
works well for them over the summer break, so they start
the new term prepared. Headspace and Calm are popular
choices, but there are plenty of options available online.
In addition, students should remember that various
talking therapies, mindfulness and CBT courses
are available free via the NHS, so get to know your
campus GP and the services available early on in the
academic year, for quick access if needed later.
Long term, practising mindfulness cultivates a greater
sense of perspective. Teaching mindfulness gives crucial
tools to deal with the pressures of life – starting university,
but beyond that too. It’s empowering and once you know
how to do it, you can draw on it whenever you need to.
acs-schools.com
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