For many admission seekers, securing a place at a university is the culmination of months of preparation, anticipation and uncertainty. Yet, for some students of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, gaining admission was only the beginning of a new set of experiences they had not anticipated as aspirants.
From discovering that the university operates across multiple campuses to understanding accommodation arrangements and preparing for the realities of student life, some students say they would have approached their admission differently if they had known certain things beforehand.
Olofofo UNIOSUN spoke with students who shared some of the things they wish they had known before gaining admission and beginning their university journey.
‘I thought we were all going to be on the same campus’
According to Oderinde Boluwatife Ezekiel, one of his major surprises after gaining admission was discovering that UNIOSUN was not situated on a single campus.
He said he had initially assumed that students would study in the same environment.
> “I wish I knew the school was divided into different campuses. My thought was we were all going to be in the same environment, in the same campus. I never knew it was not that way,” he said.
Ezekiel, who is a 300-level student, also identified internet connectivity at the Ikire campus as another issue he wished he had known about before gaining admission.
> “I wish I knew the network in Ikire is bad as hell,” he said.
‘I was expecting to go to Osogbo’
According to Odetunde Samuel Taiwo, who is a 200-level Mass Communication student, the university’s multi-campus structure was also something he did not fully understand before gaining admission.
Taiwo said he had been excited about joining UNIOSUN because some of his friends were also gaining admission into the university. He expected that they would all meet at the Osogbo campus.
However, he later discovered that his programme was based at Ikire.
> “Before gaining admission, the first thing I won’t forget was that I was expecting that we were all going to Osogbo, not knowing that UNIOSUN has six campuses,” he said.
He said the discovery was initially disappointing because he had hoped to be at Osogbo with his friends.
Despite this, Taiwo said he remained pleased with his admission because he got the course he had always wanted.
> “Actually, it was my wish to study Mass Communication and I got it,” he added.
‘Know the campuses and how hostels are allocated’
According to Olawale Tobiloba Emmanuel, prospective students should have a clear understanding of the university’s campuses and accommodation arrangements before gaining admission.
The 300-level student identified two things he wished he had known earlier.
> “The six campuses and their proximities. How hostels are allocated,” he said.
His observation highlights the importance of aspirants finding out where their chosen programme is located and making enquiries about accommodation before resumption.
‘UNIOSUN will humble you’
According to Olonade Bukola Temiloluwa, some of the realities of university life are difficult to anticipate from outside the institution.
The 300-level student said he wished he had been better prepared for unexpected changes to class schedules, registration challenges and electricity supply.
> “Honestly, what I wish I knew before gaining admission into UNIOSUN is that UNIOSUN will humble you, from class update that might scatter your plans, to portal wahala during registration, to light that comes and goes like NEPA is playing hide and seek,” he said.
He added that financial and practical preparation were also important.
> “If you don’t have money ready, power bank charged, dress code intact, and seniors on speed dial, you’ll be learning lessons instead of reading,” he said.
‘Prepare for the expenses’
According to Adetona Taiwo Oluwadarasimi, one of the lessons he learnt after gaining admission was the need to prepare for the everyday demands of university life.
The 300-level student advised prospective students to come with essential items such as a power bank, charger and extension box.
> “Bring power bank. Light no really dey,” he said.
He also drew attention to the cost and frequency of printing, advising aspirants to make adequate financial preparations.
> “You will print and print and print,” he said.
Oluwadarasimi further advised prospective students to prepare some food provisions before resuming.
> “Plenty foodstuff and garri life safer,” he added.
What the students want aspirants to know
The experiences shared by the students point to a broader lesson for prospective UNIOSUN students: preparing for university should go beyond securing admission.
While aspirants understandably focus on UTME scores, screening exercises and admission lists, the transition into university can introduce practical issues that are not always obvious before resumption.
Understanding the location of a chosen programme, finding out about accommodation, preparing financially and speaking with students already familiar with the university are some of the steps that can help new students adjust more easily.
The students’ reflections also show that university life can differ considerably from what an aspirant imagines before gaining admission.
For prospective UNIOSUN students, therefore, the admission letter should not be viewed as the end of the preparation process.
It is, in many ways, the beginning.
And as these students have learnt, knowing what awaits you before you arrive can make the transition into university life a lot easier.
