Looking back on my time at university I have learned so much and I am incredibly grateful for everything that I got to experience! That said, I was certainly a little nervous about my first day, moving into accommodation and making friends etc…but everyone’s in the same boat, so you don’t need to be concerned.
Although the start of university is a time of discovery and figuring things out, there are a few things that would have been useful for me to hear when I initially joined. Now that I’ve graduated, I’m able to reflect on my time at university and share some thoughts and pieces of advice with you.
Here are my top tips for having the absolute best time at university!
1. Room decoration and getting comfortable in your new living space
I’m sure you’ve all heard the classic ways to decorate your new university room – pictures of friends and family, posters, fake plants, fairy lights, the list goes on. Although quite common, these are genuinely great ways to help settle you into your new room. Anything that makes the space feel cosier is always a plus, but you can decorate your room however you want to make it personally tailored to you and your interests.
Instead of buying a new duvet cover for your bed, you could use the same bedding that you normally have at home. Not only does this save money but it also might help the room feel more familiar and homely.
- Organisation 101
When it comes to staying organised at university, this can differ significantly from person to person and there’s not one correct way of doing things. Different courses have different workloads and schedules, so you may prefer different methods of organisation to someone else.
Personally, I’ve always been a fan of the classic to-do list, but when I got to university, I realised that I often had lots of little tasks for different modules which became quite overwhelming. Instead, I used a digital calendar to colour code what I had to do for each different class. You may prefer to write things down on paper if this helps you to remember, but all in all I would say use the first few weeks of your first semester to figure out your preferred method of keeping on top of everything.
- Study schedules and spaces
There are also different ways to approach studying and getting on with your academic work. In terms of a study schedule, this is something that will likely change throughout the year depending on how many assignments you have and other commitments, so it’s a good idea to be flexible. While some people are early birds and prefer to get started with work by 9am, I normally found that I preferred working in the evenings, so definitely take some time to figure out what works best for you.
My friends and I would also often debate about the best spots on campus to study. I think this depends on what sort of environment you’re looking for. If you like having a bit of background noise whilst studying, I recommend going to a café or open working space. These areas are also useful if you’re completing any group work where you’ll need to discuss with others. On the other hand, when it’s really time to focus, the library is of course a great option and becomes quite popular during exam and deadline season. Lastly, if you know that all your flatmates will be out of the house for a while, studying in a quiet, empty flat can also be relaxing and super productive.
- Making friends
The first thing to remember when heading to university if you’re concerned about making friends is how many new people there are to meet. The possibilities are truly endless. You’ll be mixing with people from different places and cultures, so it’s very likely that you’ll find your crowd.
I met one of my best friends in Freshers’ week. She was a girl who lived in my flat and whilst I was decorating my room, I asked if she wanted to come and chat. There are lots of simple ways of getting to know someone, but if you struggle at first, try attending events that interest you, and you’ll likely end up meeting someone you have lots in common with!
If for the first few weeks you’re not settled with a few friends, you also don’t need to worry. Throughout the year, you’ll consistently have opportunities to meet new and different people, and the social environments at university are ever-changing.
You might even like to attend one of the supported social groups. they are a great way to meet other likeminded people in a safe space.
- Societies
I’ll be honest, when I first joined university, I didn’t fully understand what societies and groups were and what they offered. My first tip, if you’re anything like me, is to definitely attend the SU’s Groups Day on Thursday 26 September, where you can find out about the variety of student clubs and societies available! You may already know what sort of groups you’d like to join, whether that be a sports club or academic society, but if you have little to no idea, I’m sure you’ll come across something that sounds interesting.
These groups and societies are another great way to meet people outside of your accommodation and course and may help you discover a new interest or talent! I recommend trying something you’ve never done before as you never know where it may lead.
- Food & Kitchenware
For a lot of people, university is the first time that they are completely independent and responsible for buying their food and cooking meals. This can be challenging, but also exciting! If you’re not sure where to start, have a browse online for recipe ideas. There are tons of free blogs and social media accounts that share affordable and easy meals for students to make. Even if you’re an experienced cook, you may find that you run out of meal ideas at times, so these resources are also great place to get inspiration from.
In terms of kitchenware, it can be quite fun heading to the shops and picking out all the kitchen bits and bobs you think you’ll need. But I’d encourage you to not buy too much. For instance, you really don’t need 6 plates and 4 different sized bowls – that’s a lot of heavy things to move into your kitchen and will take up a lot of space (which there’s not always lots of). One of my flatmates only ever had one mug and one plate, and so she always made the least mess in the kitchen. Not a bad idea to me!
- Put your best foot forward
I wanted to end this post with a final tip about your general attitude when first getting to university. No matter what you do, I urge you to go into everything open-minded and truly have fun discovering all there is to offer! University is an amazing time and I’m sure you’ll make memories for life. That’s not to say that there won’t be challenges along the way, but with all the support available and your own self-motivation, I’m sure those won’t stop you from having a great experience.
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