Day in the Life of a Freshman at HKU

It's Monday, and my morning begins at 8:30 AM. With a 9:30 AM class, I take a quick shower and leave my residential dorm, which is just one MTR stop away from HKU. Most HKU dorms (except JCSV IV) are conveniently located close to the campus, making the commute easy by either bus or MTR. However, HKU Station's exit is always packed with students rushing to morning classes, so leaving a little earlier is a must!

My first class of the day is Introductory Microeconomics (ECON1210)—a course with the infamous reputation of having a class average of C. All Business Faculty students must take this course, so you're not alone in the challenge! The material itself isn't too difficult, but the volume of content and the tight exam timing can trip you up. For anyone planning to take this class, previewing the content may not be essential (especially if you've taken economics in high school), but mastering Excel for quick calculations will definitely give you an edge.

Class is over, and after focusing intently on catching the professor's tips for the final exam, I'm starving. I usually head to Exit B at HKU Station, where there's a variety of nearby restaurants offering affordable meals (around ~60 HKD) that are tasty enough to satisfy my cravings.

Next up is a tutorial session for my accounting course. Tutorials are smaller, interactive classes where tutors review concepts and clarify tricky topics from the lectures. Since I already have a solid grasp of accounting, I just check my attendance, sit in the back, and pretend to be engaged. However, keep in mind that some tutorials have participation grades—if that's the case, be sure to contribute actively!

With the tutorial done, my classes are over for the day. I head to a 24/7 gym near HKU Station Exit B for a workout. Although HKU has its own gym, it's often too crowded, and the overly strict rules can be a bit of a hassle.

Post-workout, I return to my dorm and take a quick one-hour nap before tackling assignments due in the upcoming week. Back in high school, I procrastinated a lot, but that approach doesn't work in university—tasks pile up way faster here, and it's easy to lose control if you fall behind.

Dinner time! My friends and I hop on the MTR and head to Central to try out a new restaurant. One of the great things about studying in Hong Kong is the sheer variety of dining options and cuisines available.

After dinner, I return to my dorm and get back to my assignments.

Around this time, I call it a day. I unwind in bed by scrolling through my phone or watching videos until I fall asleep.