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.

Stop Cuts To Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)!

The responsible department for this ridiculousness is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. David Willetts (pictured above), is the Minister for Universities and Science has announced the 'modernisation' of the grant students with disabilities get from the government; the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA).

The original detail of this so called modernisation is a series of cuts in provision, placing the funding burden on Universities and individual students. There is an online petition which highlights the cuts that'll be made and what they'll do:

- Reduce the access to higher education for students with disabilities and dyslexia.
- Reduce successful outcomes with less support meaning lower degree classifications for students who require additional support.
- Reduce the employment prospects for graduates with disabilities and dyslexia.
- Increase the drop out/failure rate in universities amongst disabled and dyslexic students.

This is disgusting and this petition will hopefully gain enough signatures to stop such cuts. As the appeal has had over 10,000 signatures, the appropriate Government department have provided the following response:

"We note the concerns expressed in the e-petition. The aims of these reforms are not to reduce or limit the level of support available to disabled student, but rather to rebalance responsibility between the Government and higher education institutions which now face legal obligations under the Equality Act.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills is working with a range of stakeholders including those from the Special Education Needs and Disability sector, in order to advise our policy and develop guidance. Meetings are ongoing to assist our effort in quantifying what reasonable adjustments an Higher Education Institutions would be expected to make, and what Disabled Students' Allowance should support.

This e-petition remains open to signatures and will be considered for debate by the Backbench Business Committee should it pass the 100,000 signature threshold."

So far this petition, created by Rob Fidler, only has 16,863 signatures and that is pitiful if we need 100,000 to even get a debate sorted out. Yes, I am thankful for those who have already signed it but we need more to make a change. There has been no media interest in this at all and it is up to people online to spread this around as much as they can.

Stephen Fry has even tweeted his thoughts about this:

"Government cuts to Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) – What next? Please sign this petition http://bit.ly/1jDQ8W5  updates at NADP_UK"

I think it is terrible that the less able are being targeted when they're the ones who need specific help in universities. To cut their funding that helps them get the support they need, the Government are not allowing them the same opportunities the other students have. This will give disabled and dyslexic students less chance to complete a degree and less of a chance of getting a job they want like anybody else. The cuts will only lead to further inequality within society and we can't have that.

Here is the petition for you (UK residents only) if you want to sign it like I have.

It will ask for you for personal details but I promise you these are kept safe and not shared with anybody else, it is only for the purpose of the petition.

It closes on the 11th of April in 2015 so we still have a fair bit of time.

To see any changes made, you can follow NADP_UK on Twitter aswell.

I constantly see posts on here, on Tumblr, on Twitter etc. about inequality in society so let's not further it, sign up and share this petition and/or this post on every social media you may have so the government can withdraw this policy statement. 

I only hope this doesn't come into effect because everyone deserves equal opportunities in this world and deserves the education they wish to receive. 

Thankyou for reading and thankyou if you sign up.
Laura.

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