ITMO University Newcomer’s Guide: Student’s Perspective
Math can be confusing, right? But what is even more confusing is being a freshman at a university, especially if it is as unusual as ITMO. I am a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Control Systems and Robotics, and I also previously studied at the Information Technologies and Programming Faculty. In this blog, I want to share my experiences as well as some tips and tricks regarding studying at our university.
Dormitory: a survival guide
The first thing every student comes across when coming to a new city is the dormitory. Finally flying the nest might be mesmerizing however don’t be fooled as things are not as easy as it may seem. Right as you step across the threshold of the room (maybe a little later) a couple of people would be already waiting for you. They are your roommates and here is the first advice: don’t be shy or scared, and if you are, it’s time to step up your game and introduce yourself. Think about it, there is a high chance that for the coming year you would literally share a home with them and the earlier you get to know each other the easier the life will be. However, there is always a chance that you won’t get along and this is absolutely normal as total strangers who meet for the first time in their lives don’t have to like each other. Therefore, in case of a situation like this don’t be scared to ask for another room. Arguments and quarrels aren’t worth the stress, they come on top of everything else happening at the same time. In addition, when it comes to using the kitchen or other common rooms just ask around the halls, students usually are eager to help a newcomer, just don’t be too annoying.
Studying and the right way to do it
So, you made it through your first night at the dorm and ready to conquer the world? That’s the spirit! However, before you fall into the pit of academic debts you need to learn a couple of important things about how our university grades its students and how to be most productive at studying. First things first, let’s start with the grading system. Throughout the year you will have labs, practical lessons, homework, tests, and final exams. All these things let you score your points for respective subjects which will later evaluate to a final grade. Let’s say you did a Math Analysis test and got a score of 30 for it, that means that now you have a score equal to the latter number and it can be increased with doing more assignments as other tests etc. However, your score is locked by the end of the semester and the only way to gain any more points is final examinations which can bring it up by 20 points. Here comes the second advice: be mindful of your score during, and I emphasize, during the semester as by the end of it you might be left with a big zero, which is a nasty thing to deal with. So, learn to manage your time. Don’t be laying around just expecting problems to resolve by themselves. It can be tough to fight off procrastination, trust me, I KNOW IT. Nonetheless, just get your wits about you and push through, try to do tasks by their deadlines and when the exams come you might wind up with a good mark already in your pocket.
Importance of social interactions
By this time, you might be asking yourself, how to actually cope with all the problems coming at the same time? Do not be confused as the answer is pretty simple. Just talk. Talk to your groupmates when stuck with the lab, talk to your tutors when feeling unsure about the lecture material or regarding your current score. This will immensely improve your studying experience as it will relieve you from the stress of infinite googling and reading. Remember you are all in the same boat, cluelessly floating in a new world of university education. I think a group eventually figures it out on their own, however, I would advise that you guys start a group chat in "Telegram" and also have another separate one for important news, so there is no need in scrolling. This is how we do it and how other guys did before us, it’s simple, effective and time-proven, thus I see it as at least worth trying.
University structure
And, of course, the official part of it all. I will be honest, I still have doubts about how our university functions but I’ll cut some time for you by explaining important things you need to know. We have this thing called the dean's office (or now the student office). This is the place you don’t really want to go to as its usual business is regarding student’s transfer between faculties or, you guessed it, expulsions. However, this place also provides certificates stating your affiliation with the university, therefore in case you need one this is a place to go. There are also student organizations, but you can read all the necessary info about them on the website. Don’t get too deep into it, this is not as crucial, and anyway your curator (or adapter, whatever you call them) will help with all the questions considering official applications and etc. In any case, everything important is usually communicated by email, so check your inbox and you will be fine.
Mental health
Last but not least is your mental health. As one comes to a new city, becomes a part of a new community and has an unexpected difficulty spike in studying, he or she is inevitably exposed to large amounts of stress on a regular basis. This may take its toll on a person’s physical and mental health leading to different, sometimes dire, consequences. Here I just want to tell you one thing: "it's ok." It’s ok to feel depressed, ok to lack the energy to study or talk to people. Life can be exhausting and we all go through it. This is not a sign of weakness in any shape or form and there is no need to listen to fools who tell you otherwise. When you feel that way, talk to your friends and family, don’t be scared to take a couple of days off, you can always pick it up when you feel better. I want you to feel confident and remember: you do not live to work, you work to live. Buy yourself a coffee and have a walk around St. Pete. Go to movie premieres. Meet with your friends. Just do not forget to be a human and life might just be a little better.
