By; Umar-Mark Victor
So, you’ve just enrolled for a degree in History. Congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most transformative journeys any student can take.
But let's be honest, you might be hearing a few things from friends and family: "What will you do with that?" or "Get ready to memorize a lot of old dates." It’s time to put those myths to bed. Right here. Right now.
Studying history at the university level isn't about memorizing timelines. It's about learning how to think. It's a discipline that equips you with a superpower: the ability to understand the present by deconstructing the past. This guide will walk you through what you "really" need to know to not just survive, but absolutely thrive, in your first year.
Shifting Your Mindset: You're Not a Student, You're a Historian-in-Training
The single biggest shift from secondary school to university is this: your professors don't want you to just recite history; they want you to do history.
Think of yourself as a detective, not a parrot. You will be presented with fragments of the past documents, artifacts, images and your job is to piece them together into a coherent narrative while acknowledging the missing pieces. You will move from asking "What happened?" to the far more compelling questions: "Why did it happen?" "Who said it happened?" and "So what?"
This is the core of historical thinking. As the renowned historian E.H. Carr argued in his seminal book, What is History?, the facts don't just speak for themselves. He famously stated, "Study the historian before you begin to study the facts." This means you must always consider the perspective, bias, and context of the person presenting the historical narrative, whether it's a 16th-century chronicler or a modern textbook author.
Mastering the Two Core Skills of a History Student
Your success will hinge less on your memory and more on your ability to manage information and construct arguments.
First, let's talk about reading. You will be assigned more reading than you can possibly complete. The secret isn't to read every word, but to read strategically. Learn to distinguish between a book's core argument (often found in the introduction and conclusion) and the supporting evidence in the chapters. Skim for the main points before you dive deep. This isn't cheating; it's being a scholarly professional.
Second, and most importantly, is writing. History is fundamentally a written discipline. Your essays are where you prove your detective work. A strong historical argument isn't about your opinion; it's a thesis supported by evidence from your sources.
Forget the five-paragraph essay. You’ll be building complex, nuanced arguments. Every claim you make needs a footnoted source backing it up. This leads us to the most crucial academic skill you'll learn...
Conquering the Arch-Nemesis: Proper Referencing
If there's one thing that can trip up a bright history student, it's referencing. Using someone else's ideas or words without proper credit is plagiarism, and universities take it extremely seriously.
Each history department usually has a preferred referencing style, like Chicago/Turabian, MLA, or APA. Don't wait until your first essay is due to figure this out. Find out which one your department uses and use a tool like the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) a free, incredible resource for formatting guides. Getting this right from day one shows professionalism and respect for the scholarly community you're now joining.
Beyond the Textbook: Where to Find Your Sources
Your university library will become your second home. But don't just wander the stacks aimlessly. Early in the semester, take a library tour. Librarians are magical beings who can teach you how to navigate academic databases like JSTOR and Project MUSE, where you'll find peer-reviewed journal articles that are the lifeblood of historical research.
Also, don't underestimate the power of primary sources. These are the raw materials of history letters, diaries, government documents, newspapers from the period, and even photographs. Websites like Internet Archive and the Library of Congress have digitized millions of these documents. Finding and analyzing a primary source can be the key to making your essay stand out.
Connecting the Dots: Why This All Matters
You might wonder why a course on Medieval Europe or Pre-Colonial Africa is relevant to your life in the 21st century. The answer is simple: history is the story of us. It explains why our world is shaped the way it is from political borders and economic systems to social conflicts and cultural norms.
Understanding the history of colonialism, for instance, is not just about past events; it's essential for grasping modern global inequalities, migration patterns, and international diplomacy. When you study these complex pasts, you develop empathy, critical thinking, and the ability to see the world from multiple perspectives. These are not just academic skills; they are life skills highly valued in any career, from law and journalism to business and public policy.
Your Journey Starts Now
Your first year as a history student is an invitation to a lifelong conversation with the past. It will challenge you, change how you see the world, and equip you with a powerful toolkit for understanding the present.
The goal is not to learn all of history, but to learn how to navigate its vast and fascinating waters. Embrace the debates, get messy with the sources, and never be afraid to ask big questions. Welcome to the guild of historians. We’re glad to have you.
Ready to connect with fellow students? Join our dedicated WhatsApp community for History and International Studies students: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGeZVOAu3aGAYRZGA3Q
