TRANSITION AND ORIENTATION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This section is about orientation week and preparing for life at university. As you read this section, keep in mind the following learning objectives:
What you can do to prepare for university before you arrive on campus
How to get the most out of orientation week
Below are the key points of this section. You should read the key points before reading the rest of the section.
KEY POINTS
 |
Speak to someone in the disability or accessibility support unit at your university, before you arrive on campus. You will learn about the different support services offered at your institution and what you need to do before you arrive on campus.
|
 |
Register for courses before classes begin. Registration is mostly online, but it is always best to check with your university. At some universities, registration for classes is in person and during orientation. Make sure you know what day registration opens and closes. It is also recommended to talk with your course/ faculty advisor to discuss what subjects you should take.
|
 |
Different terminology is used in secondary school versus tertiary institutions. Make sure you are familiar with the new language to avoid confusion. You can find a glossary of tertiary institution-related words later in this section. |
 |
Attend ”Open days” or “Accepted Student’s Day" to learn more about the university and what is offered.
|
 |
Familiarize yourself with the campus, before classes begin. Before the first day, make sure you know where all of your classes are and how long it will take for you to get to them. Check to see if your university is on the app, “Lost On Campus.” |
 |
Attend orientation events! You will learn more about the university and what is offered. This is also a great opportunity to meet people and join clubs that interest you.
|
 |
Once you know what classes you are in, check to see if the professor/lecturer/teacher has contacted you via email or posted on the class website or student learning portal, if you have been given access. You should also check to see if you need any books for the first day of classes. |
DISCUSSION
Whether you are returning to study after a break or continuing straight after high school, commencing further education can be very exciting, but also daunting at the same time.
Preparing for fuRther education
Well done if you have been accepted to study at a university!
If you have not yet applied for a tertiary course, you are doing very well by coming to this site and starting your preparation early!
Many students start university without much preparation. This is what some autistic students said about preparing for university:
Student: “I kind of didn't prepare for [university]. I didn't quite expect it to be the same as high school. I wasn't expecting that. But I wasn't expecting it to be as far removed from high school as it was. I didn't really lay the groundwork necessarily to prepare yourself for it.”
Student: “I [wish I had] people tell me what university is like. I didn't [know] what learning in uni is like. How it's different to high school. How you don't actually have classes you just have lectures and tutorials. You have to study differently, plan differently.”
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE FOR UNIVERSITY?
There are a number of other things you can do to help you prepare. These include:
Speaking to someone from the disability/accessibility support unit at your university about your autism diagnosis before classes begin. The disability/accessibility support unit can provide you with tailored support for your specific learning needs.
Attending university and open days.
Checking the campus map on the university website.
Joining in the orientation activities, especially activities that tell you about using the library, accessing the computer system, or any special services that are available.
Registering for subjects (courses) prior to the first day of class.
Visiting the campus and familiarising yourself with its layout (e.g. library, classrooms, lecture theatres, cafés).
Attending transition/bridging courses if they are offered by your university.
Talking to family members about tertiary education.
Finding out how to get to university (by public transport or driving) and practicing getting there.
orientation
Orientation is an important period for first time university students to get familiar with the campus environment, the student services, and fellow students. However, it can sometimes also be quite stressful and overwhelming.
During orientation, you have to:
enrol into your course (program)
take care of logistical items such as subject (course) selection and student cards
register for access to university online systems
Attend orientation events during orientation week which also involves various social interactions.
Check your university website or the student portal within their website for more information on upcoming orientation events. If your course or department offer orientation activities or sessions, it's a great idea to attend. It is highly recommended that you speak to someone from the disability/accessibility support unit at your university before or during orientation about what they can do to help you succeed in your education
Glossary of tertiary study words
Here are some words used at universities. It will be very useful to learn these words because it will help you understand what other students and teachers are saying.
Assessment: A piece of work which is marked or graded. Assessment can take a variety of forms including written assignments (essays or reports), examinations, laboratory work, oral presentations, and practical assignments. Attendance at some classes may be required as part of the assessment: check this as soon as possible after you commence study.
Attendance: Records of attendance are maintained by teaching departments and may impact upon a student’s successful completion or even be a compulsory requirement.
College vs School: Within many Australian universities, there are colleges and schools. For example, at La Trobe University, the Department of Psychology & Counselling is in the School of Psychology and Health Sciences, which is within the College of Science, Health and Engineering.
Contact hours or contact time: The number of hours per week a student spends in class (classes include tutorials, lectures, workshops and practical sessions).
Course: Depending on the university, course could mean one of two things: 1) the degree or diploma you are enrolled in or 2) another name for subject.
Credit: Recognition of prior learning granted towards an academic program.
Elective: A subject that is chosen according to your interests, or a non-compulsory subject. Some restrictions may apply to what electives you can select.
Faculty: An organisational division within a university (e.g. Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science) covering a particular area of study.
Lecture: A lecture is a formal presentation by an academic staff member at university, usually to a large number of students. Lectures may include the use of handouts and audio-visual presentations. Opportunities for asking questions or discussing the material being presented are usually limited.
Program: Another word for 'course' or 'degree'. Some tertiary institutions may use program.
Statement of results: A formal record of your academic results recorded against your module.
Subject: A subject is a particular area of study. For example, Accounting 101, Biology 101. However, some universities may use the word ‘course’ or ‘unit’ instead of ‘subject’.
Swot vac: In university, swot vac is the free time before exams when there are no classes scheduled, which enables students to prepare for exams.
Tutorial: A tutorial is a learning opportunity in which students discuss the key topics, concepts and ideas of the course with their tutors. Tutorials are closely linked to assessment and often involve small group discussions and group work. All students are expected to prepare for tutorials by reading required material and preparing questions and /or answers to questions. Students are also expected to participate actively in class discussions and small group activities. Tutorials often complement the lectures given for a course and usually run for one or two hours.
SUMMARY
You have completed the “Transition and orientation” section!
You should now know what you can do to prepare for university and how to get the most out of orientation week. If you feel you need a recap of the information, revisit the learning objectives and key points from the beginning of the section.
End of Transition and orientation section