Top Ten Tips For University.

So summer is ending and it's almost time to go back to university, college etc. (boo!)
I currently study Sociology and Criminology in Liverpool and I've obviously already completed my first year of it and I've really enjoyed the subject so far. However, I didn't enjoy the beginning of university as much I could have due to outside problems beyond my control and the fact none of my friends were at the same university. 

Everyone knows it's scary when you're going to a university but your friends are going to different ones.. you're a fish from a small pond thrown into an ocean. I also didn't go into halls, I was an at-home-fresher simply because it wouldn't cost me as much and I live 15-20 minutes from the town centre anyway. But as things got better and I got into the swing of the university routine, I found myself feeling a bit comfortable with the student life.

So I'm doing this post to help those who are feeling those pre-uni jitters already.
I won't be able to give you any insight on what halls are like just because I haven't experienced that yet. But I can, however, give you an idea of everything else so I hope you get some help from reading this! 

1) Take a tour around your University Campus. They are so much bigger than your schools and you will need to familiarise yourself with it especially when you're rushing from one end to another to get to lectures on time!

 

2) Freshers isn't all that. It is fun, don't get me wrong but don't feel like you have to spend every single night out and get drunk when you don't feel like it. I only ever went to a couple of events and it was mediocre really. They just felt like another night out for me.. and I've kinda done that nightclub scene many times since I was 16. I still made friends throughout my first year, it ain't all that don't worry.

3) Get a hobby. It is great if you can join as many societies as possible. It is very doubtful that you'll stay to committed to them all year because of your studies but they will help you to get to know new people. But also, outside of the university, get stuck in doing things. For example, I do volunteering at a hospital, I write stories/poems and run a blog. You wouldn't believe that you can put down running a blog down on your CV!

4) Buy second hand books. I don't even want to add up how much I've spent on textbooks for university, it hurts too much! Please turn to the great sites like Amazon and find 'used' books for your subject. There's nothing more frustrating than spending more or less all of your student loan by buying completely new books to only use them for one semester!

5)  Attend lectures. You might think I'm boring on this one but seriously, do not miss them. I can't even tell you how many times people said to me "first year doesn't count" when I first started. Trust me, it does. Not towards your degree but you have to still pass the year to progress further so yes first year still matters. Sometimes lectures are super early and you're hungover.. trust me, you'll thank yourself in the future.

6) Accept differences. There is going to be so many different people that you've never come across before in your life. There'll people from different countries, people of difference races, religions, ideologies, sexualities, disabilities, ages etc. No matter what or who they are, accept them.

7) Go outside your comfort zone. Experience is the key thing at university. Don't be afraid to try new things, you may end up liking it. Anything can be a change; trying different food, trying a new sport, learning a new language, even asking questions in class. No one wants to speak up in a crowded lecture theatre but I can guarantee you that you won't be the only one confused about what the hell the lecturer is going on about.

8) Organise your time. Sometimes lectures and seminars are super early, sometimes they're quite late in the day.. don't waste that time going the pub. Create some sort of study timetable and there you can order your classes, lone study time and revision for when there are upcoming exams. Try and stick to this timetable.. well, as much as you can in between drinking and meeting new people.

9) Research your degree. It's helpful to get some background to what you'll be learning during your time at university. I don't mean go read a whole library's worth of one subject, that'll take a lifetime! Just get yourself informed of what you can be expected to be learning. Also, do this with timetables, room/building locations, deadlines and general guidelines for assignments.

 

10) Have fun. Seriously. It doesn't have to be you reading and writing away at some desk for hours on end. You need to enjoy the experience as well. Meet new people, even fall in love a few times, get drunk, make regrettable memories, laugh a lot, be happy. And if you don't feel like university is working out for you, then speak to someone you trust on your campus to see if you can be persuaded otherwise. If not, don't feel like you have to stay at university. If it's not for you, it's not for you and that's all there is to it. Plenty of people have careers without going to university.

I hope these tips help you out in some way and make you feel that bit better about starting university.

Congratulations on getting this far and good luck for the rest of your journey.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.