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What’s Life Like as A University Student

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What’s Life Like as A University Student

I major in marketing and accounting data analytics. For me, taking these 2 majors strike a right balance between the qualitative and quantitative side of things.

I am currently in my 3rd year of university and I have honestly been enjoying my life so far. Though it is wasn’t easy getting the hang of things at the start and was at times indeed stressful, I like that I am able to be in control of my life in terms of how much time I put in academic work and other things outside of it.

What I Love About University Life

The thing I love the most about university life is the flexibility in terms of planning my timetable for the semester and choosing which modules I want to take. This allows me to leave pockets of time for other things. It may seem daunting at first, being thrown into a whole new environment where you have no idea what to expect from a certain professor or a module. However, there are always others who have taken the module under the said professor before and they can provide advice on the teaching style and you can see whether it fits your learning style!

Furthermore, it is always very fun and exciting to take modules with my friends especially since I can group with them during group projects and help each other out when we are studying. After taking a few modules with your friends, you would get to know their working style and determine whether you all can complement each other in group project settings. It is important to remember that even though you guys may be really good friends, work and play is very different so if you guys cannot work together, it may be best that you don’t group together.

I also really like how we are given the opportunities to do so many things –going overseas for community service projects, overseas exchange programmes, picking up new interests, joining different academic competitions, being a teaching assistant, planning events and the list goes on!

A Typical Day For Me

Since I normally choose morning or afternoon lessons, my day typically starts off with me having breakfast at home with my sister before heading to school for lessons! If it is a morning lesson, I will ALWAYS bring along a tumbler with iced coffee to keep me awake during the 3-hour lesson. If it is an afternoon lesson, I will bring along a pack of biscuits to munch on during the 15-minute break. Afterwards, I would normally have lunch or get bubble tea with my friends before heading off to school rock climbing training or just training (bouldering) on my own. Then afterwards I would head home and do notes for lessons I had on that day or pre-read for lessons further along that week!

But during exam and project season, I cut down my personal training time and instead go to the school library to study or book a group study room with my friends for project meetings. This normally happens after recess week when deadlines for projects and assignments pile up. During this period, I normally do not have time to pre-read for lessons so I just try my best to absorb as much as I can during lesson and do notes over the weekends.

My Hobbies & Interests

I picked up a few interests over the course of my university life. The most prominent one is bouldering. I joined my school’s climb team in my first year and decided to join the executive committee as the events director. I got the chance to execute and plan club events, even being part of the sub-committee for a climbing competition back in 2020. For the first year in the climb team, I climbed recreationally – about once or twice a month. After circuit breaker, I joined the core team and have been training regularly – minimally twice a week on my own and once a week with the core team. We recently held a climbing competition in January this year, SMU Gravical 2022, and I was fortunate enough to be part of the main organising committee, the Head of Relations and Vice President!

Other interests I have include crocheting, sewing and baking! I enjoy doing crafts, especially making things for myself as well as people around me. I picked up crocheting from my aunt during summer last year and continued ever since. As for sewing, my passion and interest for it started when I was staying with my grandma in 2008 when my house was under renovation. She taught me how to sew and I sew once in a while when I get inspiration to make something.

Common Misconceptions About University

The most heard misconception is that university life is a breeze compared to JC. I guess in some aspects that is true due to the fact that there isn’t a major national exam at the end of it and school doesn’t last from 8am-4pm daily. However, I must say that there is still a lot and I dare say even more stress in university especially since every single component of your grade is determined by your participation in class from day 1 including all tests and assignments even if they aren’t worth that much.

Another misconception I have heard is that year 1 is meant for playing. In my opinion, playing shouldn’t mean not studying but rather figuring out your interests and joining as many activities as you can. Of course, don’t bite off more than you can chew since at the end of the day, academics are still important. But take up as many opportunities (outside of academic work) given to you as you can since the workload in year 1 is generally lighter than the following years.

Tips For Students Entering University Soon!

The best advice I can give is to take each day as it comes and ask your peers for help when you get overwhelmed.  It is okay to take breaks and PLEASE take breaks. One challenge that I myself faced going into university life was that I wasn’t used to the grading system here. It didn’t sink it at the start that all assignments matter and class participation contributed significantly to your overall grade. Honestly, no one will judge you when you speak up in class, so just do it!

What I have learnt is to pre-read for lessons so you can answer questions raised by professors and also ask insightful questions. Given the chance to go back to year 1, something that I would have done more would be to join at least 1 academic CCA. It is easier to enter niche academic CCAs in year 1 as compared to year 2 or 3. These CCAs provide great networking opportunities for your future internships and work life. CCAs are definitely a great way to make friends! I made most of my friends from the climb team as we spend a lot of time training together. One great way to be more involved in school would be to join CCAs and be part of the organizing committee of various events or even just being a volunteer for the event. There will be many opportunities to take part in events along the way whether as part of the planning committee, facilitator, or participant.


Hey there, I am Megan, currently a year 3 student in SMU, majoring in Marketing and Accounting Data & Analytics! I am currently on exchange this semester at Bocconi University in Milan. I have definitely enjoyed my life thus far at SMU and am looking forward to living my life to the fullest in my last year in SMU. I have a passion for bouldering which I picked up in SMU and I also enjoy crocheting, sewing and baking in my free time.

Follow Megan on:

Main account: https://www.instagram.com/megan.elaina/

Climbing account: https://www.instagram.com/meg.taiko/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meganeckh/


Images courtesy of Megan Elaina

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Megan

Hey there, I am Megan, currently a year 3 student in SMU, majoring in Marketing and Accounting Data & Analytics! I am currently on exchange this semester at Bocconi University in Milan. I have definitely enjoyed my life thus far at SMU and am looking forward to living my life to the fullest in my last year in SMU. I have a passion for bouldering which I picked up in SMU and I also enjoy crocheting, sewing and baking in my free time.

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