Balancing Social Life and Academics Without Falling Behind

Turn down another hangout to study, and it feels like you’re missing out on the “real” varsity experience. Say yes one too many times, and suddenly an assignment deadline is two days away and you haven’t started. Almost every student swings too...

How to Make Friends and Build a Support System in First Year

Everyone else on your res floor seems to already have a friend group by week two, and you’re still eating lunch alone. First year does this to almost everyone, even the students who look completely settled from the outside. Building a support system isn’t...

What to Do If You’re Food Insecure at Varsity

Skipping meals to make your money last until month-end isn’t rare on South African campuses, even though almost nobody talks about it openly. If you’re rationing bread or choosing between airtime and lunch, that’s food insecurity, and it deserves a...

How to Calculate Your APS Score (Step-by-Step Guide)

Every South African matric student hears “APS score” long before anyone actually explains how to work it out. Then application season arrives, and suddenly it’s the number deciding which courses you can even apply for. Getting it wrong, even by one...

Dealing With Homesickness in First Year

Nobody prepares you for how quiet a rest room feels at 9pm when everyone back home is having dinner without you. First year homesickness catches most students off guard, even the ones who were counting down the days to leave home. Here’s why it gets to you so...