Was your car so jam packed that you were close to having to sit on the roof? Was your mum crying hysterically because her baby was finally fleeing the nest? Did you feel as though you were heading into a world of unknown? Then you must have been off to University!
Whether you’re half an hour down the road, or 6 hours on a plane away from home, moving to University is certainly daunting. So as I enter my second year at Bournemouth Uni, I thought it would be an idea to give you a list of things that the prospectus won’t tell you about going to Uni
First up, I hope you brought your fancy dress box! Anything you thought about throwing away, don’t bother. It will make the perfect fancy dress costume at some point. Being a fresher means that you’re in the firing line for numerous themed events. Obviously the standard ‘Back 2 School’ party was around in Freshers week, so I hope you had a pair of geek glasses and a tie to hand. Accessories are key. Even if fancy dress isn’t your thing, don’t be the spoil sport that makes no effort at all. Wearing a pair of glasses is hardly going to damage your look!
Have some idea of how to turn on an oven, or even a microwave. Nobody’s asking you to be the next Jamie Oliver, however, pasta will soon become repulsive if you choose to cook nothing other than Spaghetti Bolognese. Simple recipes are often on the back of food packets. Stir fry, lasagne, and curry. They’re really not too challenging once you put your mind to it. Obviously Domino’s pizza is perfectly acceptable for hangover days, but every day? You’ll soon come to realise that your student loan won’t fully cater for your hungry belly!
It doesn’t take long to realise that student halls and university bedrooms are the blandest and most boring sight you’ve ever seen. So, if you haven’t already, arm yourself with photos that you can pin up and make your room feel a bit more homely. It doesn’t take long to put your stamp on your new room and photos are a just one way of doing this.
Money is a huge talking point at University. The bottom line is that your student loan will not even cover half of the things you need to pay for. So the best thing to do is try and get a job. Granted, its not always easy, but there’s often ways that you can work around the Uni, as well as venturing out to the town centre. Even the cheapest student deals will begin to seem expensive when you’re down to your last tenner and you’ve got another 2 weeks until your next loan is in!
Being a fresher means that it’s a prime time to sign up to many different societies. But, make sure you’ve got a few excuses up your sleeve and have an idea as to the kinds of activities that you might like to be involved in. If not, you’ll find yourself signing up to societies that you’ve never even heard of and have no intention of ever attending. All the reps are desperate for you to join, but don’t be fooled by the free pens and hard boiled sweets!
Most of all, the best advice that anyone can give you is to have fun and enjoy every second. University is very much a ‘don’t know unless you try it’ kind of thing, but as long as you keep your head screwed on and grab any opportunity with both hands, it will certainly be one of the best experiences you’ll ever have. And as for us second, third and fourth years, we’re really not that scary! So there will always be someone to help you out.
Good luck!
katiemallalieu 