2024 ended just a couple of days ago, and I’ve already written my resolutions for 2025. Have you? Looking back at 2024, it was a year full of challenges for me, where I decided to do more in less time. Spoiler alert: it’s not always a good idea, nor is it necessarily effective.

Since starting university at 22, which is relatively later than most of my friends and old classmates, I’ve always felt like four years of university was just too much. To some extent, I still think so, but pushing yourself as hard as I did never leads to anything good. Trust me on this one. For me, 2024 felt more like a transition year, but even so, I learned a lot and made plenty of mistakes along the way.

Now you’re here, reading this and probably wondering what in the world I’m rambling on about. Don’t worry, I’m getting to the point. I want to share with you my personal do’s and don’ts for navigating Korean university life. Hopefully, this guide will save you some of the trouble I went through.

As I prepare for my third year to start waving at me (though not quite yet), I feel like there are a couple of things worth restating: basic, maybe obvious, but still important.

Do’s

1. Pick Your Classes Carefully

When it comes to choosing your classes, take your time. Sure, there’s always the add-and-drop period, but why not avoid the hassle? At PNU, for example, the timeline for the spring semester is already out, and next week, the course syllabus will be available as well. Use this time to get curious, read through the options, and plan ahead.

Check the Onestop platform to see which classes you still need for graduation and make sure you’re not postponing mandatory courses like Reading Classics in Literature or Programming. You don’t want to end up stuck in winter school because you kept putting them off, right?

Also, try to organize your schedule in a way that works for you. For instance, group all your classes in the morning or afternoon. That way, you won’t spend the whole day at school and can head home early to get your work done while still maintaining a good productivity level!

2. Take Notes in Class

Yes, sometimes lectures feel boring, and all you want to do is sleep. I get it, you’re tired. But trust me, taking notes makes a huge difference. By writing things down, half the work is already done for you. When you go back to review, most of the material will already be in your head, ready for your midterms or finals.

From personal experience, I’ve noticed that my grades in classes where I took notes were significantly better than those where I didn’t. So even if you’re the “listener” type or just there for attendance, give note-taking a try. It’s so worth it!