04/06/2026
📝5 MISTAKES TO AVOID BEFORE ENTERING UNIVERSITY
This may be unpopular advice, but as a big brother, I'll say that before you enter university, some mistakes may seem small now but can affect your entire university experience.
These are things I wish someone had told me earlier. So if you're waiting for admission, read this carefully and save it for later.
1. DON'T ENTER UNIVERSITY WITHOUT A PLAN: Many students spend years preparing to gain admission, but never spend one day planning what they want to achieve after getting in.
Don't just think: "I want to enter school."
Ask yourself:
1. What skills do I want to learn?
2. What career am I building towards?
3. What opportunities do I want to take advantage of?
University goes by faster than you think. The students who leave with the biggest advantage are usually the ones who started with a plan.
2. DON'T THINK YOUR CGPA IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS: Yes, your academics are important. Very important, but university is also where you build:
Communication skills, leadership skills, networking skills, digital skills and problem-solving skills.
Some graduates leave school with good grades but struggle in the real world because they never developed themselves beyond the classroom. Read your books, but also develop yourself.
3. DON'T FOLLOW EVERY CROWD: In university, everybody will have an opinion.
"Skip lectures."
"School is a scam."
"Read only before exams."
"Everybody is doing it."
Not everybody is going where you are going.
The people giving advice won't write your exams for you, nor will they carry your results. They won't even live with the consequences. Learn to think for yourself.
4. DON'T NEGLECT YOUR MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH: Many students focus so much on surviving school that they forget to take care of themselves.
Sleep properly, eat properly, take care of your health and protect your peace.
University is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to be healthy enough to finish the race.
5. DON'T WAIT UNTIL FINAL YEAR TO START PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER SCHOOL: This is probably the biggest mistake.
Some students wait until NYSC is around the corner before asking: "What am I doing after graduation?"
Start thinking about this early. Learn a skill, build a portfolio, volunteer, take internships and network with people.
One final advice.
Don't enter university thinking it will automatically change your life. University gives you opportunities. What changes your life is what you do with those opportunities.
