University Prep - Part 2 The First Week of University

As promised this is the second part of the University Posts. In this one I’ve tried to include as many useful tips as I can remember, to hopefully give you advice on the big move to Uni, as well as what to do when you get there.

• Moving and Settling in

You’ve made it; the contents of the car is now filling your tiny room and you have no idea where to begin. Independent living is extremely daunting, and can seem like a massive life change – but trust me, it will be easier than you think. To me the hardest thing was getting over the shy and nervous phase that comes with it; however, being open (even if it’s the scariest thing ever) really helps, especially in the first week. Remember, everyone is in the same boat, you're not the only new kid.

So, the first piece of advice that I will give, is to leave your door open (not overnight that would be really dangerous, obvs), but when you're unpacking you will be able to see when other people arrive, (This is how I met my neighbour, she strolled in while my parents and I were having a cuppa.)

A couple of days later, once Amy had arrived we decided it would be a good idea to see who else was in our halls; we proceeded to knock on every flat in our block and introduce ourselves. Now some people were a bit taken aback by our approach, but others were more inviting; from this, we met 4 other lovely girls; two we are living with next year. Even though it seems like a really bold move, I really recommend doing this as its good to know who you have around you, for example, you never know when you need an onion or even better, a face to look out for on a night out because somehow, you’ve found yourself abandoned.

• Unpacking

The sooner you unpack and make your flat feel like home the better; you’ll feel less homesick. Whether it be a cushion from your bedroom or photographs of relatives, the more comfortable you feel the better experience you’ll have at Uni. Over the course of the year I’ve made my room super cosy, and even better I hardly spent a thing.

It’s also good to make your room work friendly and organised; having a desk with good lighting, good stationery. My first term I did not to this! I worked from my bed while my desk was covered in papers, scribbled notes and empty dishes – I was so unmotivated! By the second term, I’d learnt from my mistake. If you sleep where you work, it’s almost as if you can never have a break (and trust me you will need them).

• Familiarise yourself with your surroundings

Now you’ve settled in your flat I recommend exploring your new city. I don’t recommend trying to do it freshers week as you probably won’t benefit (You won’t remember it). Knowing where the nearest and cheapest Supermarket is, is probably one of the first things you should do, as if you are self-catered, getting the best for your money will be your number one priority. 

With the freedom that you will now have, it's very tempting to go 'all out' with your student loan, spending on clothes, gadgets etc., as £20-30 isn’t that much right? – Wrong! Trust me, by the end of the year, you’ll be kicking yourself when you’re standing in Tesco in your new and amazing Coat, struggling to buy a bag of pasta. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot. Overdrafts may seem handy but you’ll still have to pay it all back in the future. (Don’t be like Amy... £900 in her overdraft within the first term👀)

As well as the big supermarkets, it's good to know where your nearest corner shop is so that you can grab necessities like milk and bread during the week. Another thing is to see where the bus/train station is in comparison to you, as there will come a time where you need to venture home.

The final, yet probably one of the most important things to do is to register at a surgery. It may seem a really boring thing to do in your first week but it takes about 5 minutes’ max to fill a form out. It’s better to waste five minutes of your time rather than a day or two where you've had to go all the way home to get a prescription.

• Freshers!

This is probably the most exciting thing about coming to Uni and I recommend really enjoying it as its unlikely that you'll have another chance to go out for a full week. One thing I would suggest is to get a wristband or a full week ticket; even if you don’t end up going out every night, it’s so much cheaper to do this rather than buying a ticket individually on each night. That said, don’t feel pressured to go out every single night just in case you 'miss out on something'; you have three whole years of Uni to go out. Make sure you go out in a group; you may have to walk to the venues and it's much safer than walking alone. 

Freshers is a great way to meet new people and the one question you’ll be sick off is ‘So what course are you doing?’ – that said you do meet a lot of people on your course so it’s good to take their number for future reference. So of course, be open and meet as many people as you can but don’t expect to be friends forever with every single person you meet; there are 55,000 people in my University, it’s impossible to know everyone.

• Alcohol

As you will suddenly realise, most events don’t start until about 12 pm or later – it’s a shock but it’s also a good thing; more time from pre-drinking. Going out as late as possible has become a thing for Uni students as the more you pre-drink the less you will spend on a night out, as bars and clubs tend to be expensive if it’s not a student night. Therefore, I recommend stocking up on pre-drinks as it will save you so much money.

However, be responsible, I know I may sound like your mum at this point but trust me if you go too hard on the first night it will ruin your whole week. Don’t be stupid; if you're too drunk you may do something stupid or even dangerous. As well as potentially gaining a serious injury, you could also gain a reputation. Do you really want to be known for something stupid you did on freshers for the next three years of your life?

Also, please don't feel pressured to drink! Freshers has the reputation that absolutely everyone is completely wasted every night. Trust me it's not the case, I know a lot of people who don't drink; if you're T total you can still enjoy freshers - you won't be judged.

• Go to a Society fair

It's not compulsory but, joining a society alongside your course can be a great way to really enhance your university experience. It makes Uni a lot more enjoyable when your coursework becomes busier. I joined a society, even though I don’t actually participate in the sport (lol). However going out every Wednesday night is a really nice break and it’s not a financial deal breaker due to it being the student night. Since joining the society I've had the opportunity to make friends from years above me that can give me advice as well as the opportunity to go on a ‘Tour’ (basically I’m going to Croatia in Easter to dress up in fancy dress and get really drunk – Highly recommended).

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It sounds completely nerdy, but education can be really rewarding, and chances are you will really miss it when you end up getting wrapped up in a 9-5 job. Get much out of your degree as you possibly can, take every opportunity and get as much information as possible from your professors and tutors because that is what you pay £9000 for. Even though there will be down days, enjoy every second as its surprising how quick time can pass.

Now don’t expect to be the perfect student after reading this, and don’t presume that I’m the perfect student either. I’m still making mistakes and learning form them but this is exactly what this time is all about. It’s not the end of the world if something goes wrong, you’re a student and no one expects you to have your life completely figured out, however one thing I’d say is to try and stay organised – it makes student like a hell of a lot easier!"

Hannah x