School vs University

Addressing the discrepancy between the expectations of school and university
  • Referencing of sources in assignments and academic documents
Some schools may accept www.google.com or Wikipedia as a reference for projects and assignments. At UP and the EMS Faculty we are serious about proper referencing and training in appropriate referencing techniques is provided in the ALL 124 module in the first year. Please consult your lecturer should you need help with referencing.
  • Assignment dates
At school, you are reminded of assignment dates regularly, but at university you have to take responsibility for your own study success and ensure that you comply with deadlines without being prompted frequently. Make use of the calendar function on clickUP if your lecturer uses it, or ensure that you update your own calendar at the beginning of each semester, and regularly thereafter, by adding all test and assignment dates as they appear in the study guides or are mentioned in class. Set regular reminders on your phone if you are worried that you will forget an assessment date. Note that late submission of an assignment will result in a refusal to accept the assignment and consequently a loss of marks.
  • clickUP support
Make clickUP your partner in success. Visit it regularly (at least twice a day) for announcements and to stay on top of all your modules.
 
Possible hurdles that may impact on your transition from school to university
In the move from school to university, many students move from one language community to another, where the university offers tuition in a language that is not their mother tongue.
How can you address this:
  • Read as much as possible in the new language or tuition to broaden your vocabulary.
  • Consult the terminology lists available for the generic first year modules on clickUP.
  • Speak the language as often as possible – and be proud of your accent!
  • Carry a dictionary or download a mobile dictionary on your smartphone.
There is a transition from a small class environment to a large class environment, which lacks the close contact with the lecturer that students had with the teacher.
How can you address this:
  • Attend every class.
  • Prepare for every class.
  • Consult with your lecturer immediately if you experience academic challenges, as many modules (eg. Accounting, Economics, Statistics etc) have a cumulative content build-up and if you leave it too long, it is very difficult to catch up.
  • Attend all tutorials.
  • Form a study group, join an existing study group and actively participate in your Learning Community which is launched every year in the first year Economics modules.
  • Work with your FSA immediately if you experience problems.
The transition from a small class school environment to a large class university environment is sometimes complicated by a move from a rural to an urban environment.
How can you address this:
  • Prepare for and attend every class.
  • Find a mentor.
  • Actively participate in your Learning Community and get the most out of learning from your peers.
  • Make friends as soon as possible.
  • Consult with your FSA if you experience problems.
Financial difficulties are also an important impediment to student success. Many students do not have sufficient resources to buy books, find accommodation or even eat regularly.
How can you address this:
  • Study in the library if you cannot afford to buy books and use the prescribed books in the library – they are for free.
  • Make use of the SNAP food project.
  • Ask your FSA for faculty-specific resources.
  • Apply for the numerous funding and wraparound support programmes offered in the EMS Faculty. Examples are the Bankseta, FASSET, ISFAP and Thuthuka programmes. Note that these programmes may be linked to specific degrees and may therefore not be available to all students in the faculty. 

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