How’s student life at 17 in Romania? What are some tips and tricks on how to navigate student life?

I have recently started my bachelor’s degree in marketing at University Babes-Bolyai, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Management. I am currently a first-year student there, and I just passed my exams with flying colors.

So, I’d like to share my experience so far, especially going through this at 17.

First few weeks in the first semester

When I first started it was kind of scary and exciting. I moved to a new city, and I went to classes every day, made some friends, got familiarized with certain areas of the city, and learned the public transportation access and routes.

For the first few weeks, the university does introductory courses so you get familiar with what you will study in the semester, and you also are introduced to a lot of activities and opportunities that start at the beginning of the semester. You get introduced to many other activities and opportunities along the way.

There were a lot of organizational issues to set at the beginning of the semester like the student ID’s, the library passes, the public transportation ID, the student representing the whole year, the students representing each group, etc. For all of those to set, it took around 4-5 weeks.

At the beginning of the year, we also had the opening year festivity where I was representing the whole first year as their “First year student with a maximum grade of 10”. So, this was a great opportunity for me, because I got to meet the dean of my faculty and the general dean of University Babes-Bolyai. Also, I got to meet some interesting speakers from the event, and in the end, I also gave a speech presenting myself to all my colleagues and sort of motivating them for the start of the year.

Overall, that was a cool opportunity for me because it also set the stage for my teachers to know me as I was the only first-year to give a speech and the youngest student in the whole University BB. As an example of this, when I went to my first Microeconomics course my teacher recognized me for the student on the stage, the 16-year-old at the time.

What are the subjects I studied in the first semester

So, in the first semester I studied:

• Microeconomics
• Mathematics applied in Economics
• European Economics
• Public Finance
• Fundamentals of Services
• Business English
• Management

I also enrolled to the teaching module and first-year students also have a fitness course to complete.

The general structure of these courses is that you must do a minimum number of attendances, and almost each course has the actual course in an amphitheater and seminars in different rooms. You generally get graded for your activity at the seminars and for the evaluations and exams on the course.

The courses were interesting, and the teachers were so nice. We could talk to them with no problem, and they would explain things so easily. Our microeconomics teacher even invited us to a sit-down with an official from the European Parliament where you could ask questions and debate with her.

As an overall review, the courses weren’t overwhelming, but you have to pay attention in class, take good notes, and review them constantly, not only study when the exams are coming up.

My first exam session

So, for my first exam session, I honestly felt prepared. I still looked over all the materials we had and all my notes, and studied some more, but I was quite prepared for them. They were stressful, nonetheless. But I am happy with my overall scores, and I would definitely advise everyone to study your notes and the materials you have, and to pay attention on the exam and not worry.

What about the second semester?

In the second semester, my courses are:

• Business English
• Macroeconomics
• Marketing Basics
• Accountancy Basics
• Informatics Economics
• Business Law
• Financial and Actuarial Mathematics
• Fitness
• And the teaching module once again

For the teaching module we also do different courses each semester. First semester our course was “Psychology of Education” and for the second semester our course is entitled “Fundamentals of Teaching”.

Some cool tips and tricks for students

1. DEFINITELY go to the library, it’s worth it.
2. Make some friends, meet some people to hang out and do some recreational activities.
3. Organize yourself. Make your study schedule, take care of your health, get good grades, and motivate yourself. Your motivation and overall health are 2 crucial factors in getting good grades.
4. Pay attention to your teachers and make good notes. That will definitely help you in the long run, when you have exams or when the first semester courses connect to the second semester courses, and you don’t remember certain information.
5. Take advantage of everything that a good university offers you. My university certainly offers a bunch of different opportunities and activities to students, along with many resources ready to help you (Student InfoPoint, Mentor of the Year, secretaries, articles, websites, books, etc.)

And my last and final advice would be to enjoy your student years, grow your mindset, have cool experiences, meet great people, and slowly start to figure out your life!