Allegra
"Summer Start offers a small-scale introduction to university life, the ideal taster before Semester One."
Going from high school to university is an incredible change, and I expect that it is nerve-racking for almost anyone. I knew little about the university, what lectures were like, and how to get around campus, and I was nervous about stepping into something so different.
When I first heard about Summer Start through a family friend, I thought it was the perfect way to begin my university journey and immediately saw how valuable it could be. Summer Start offers a small-scale introduction to university life, the ideal taster before Semester One. For me, it addressed all the little doubts I had about making friends, navigating campus, and gaining confidence before starting my degree.
"I learnt how to get to the right class, getting used to new study methods and
tests, and knowing where to go if I ever needed support."
During Summer Start 2025, I took my first Engineering course. With just one paper to manage, I could focus solely on doing my best and getting comfortable with the pace and expectations of university study. I got to experience lectures in a way that wasn’t overwhelming, and it also gave me the chance to meet people from my cohort and make friendships that carried into the first semester.
One of the highlights of Summer Start was the personalised induction into UoA life. I was guided through what it means to be a university student. I learnt how to get to the right class, getting used to new study methods and tests, and knowing where to go if I ever needed support. The best part is that you gain access to all this before anyone else; it really feels like having a foot in the door before you even get there.
Allegra was a Summer Start student in 2025 and is studying a Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Conjoint degree.