Starting a brand-new college or university can be very difficult. As freshers week and the start of term loom ever closer, we are here to give you our top tips to ace your first few days and weeks at university or college.
We are always here to help you through your time at university. We hope these tips will help you ensure that you are settled and ready to start the next chapter of your life.
So let us get into our top 5 tips for coping with going to university. Again, these are our tips. We’d love to hear yours, so feel free to share!
1 - Plan and arrive early before you start your course and throughout your time at University.
Make sure you give plenty of time between arriving at your university and starting your course. This can ensure that you have time if there are any travel delays and allow you time to settle in. It will also give you time to get used to a different city or university. Also, it will help you find the other on-campus areas and where public transport and shops are located. You can meet many fellow students from the halls and new classmates.
It may help if you have a checklist to make sure you have all the correct documentation as well as everything you need.
2 - Take Part In A Wide Range of Events
Make sure to take part in different events held by the student union. The student union has many opportunities for their students and is a very convenient way to meet new people.
Fresher's events do not always need to involve a trip to a nightclub. You can also participate in many activities to meet others from different courses and learn a bit more about what the student union does.
If you join the Uni connect app, this may also help you meet others in your course and ease your nerves about meeting new classmates. Check with your university or union to see if they offer this to their students.
3 - Be You At Your Induction & Lectures
When you go to your first induction, try to be yourself so that you can naturally make friends with others. Also, ensure you get all the information you need from the induction. So you know what is expected.
Don’t go over the top with personalities that may not be you. You should be yourself and be comfortable with who you are as well.
Don’t ever feel like you’re stupid if you have a question that others may not have said or think may be silly. It’s imperative that if you have questions about university life, you can speak with others and find out. Remember, it’s another milestone on your path, different from college or sixth form.
4 - Look For Opportunities; however, ensure a work-life balance!
People in the third year of their course often say they wish they had taken advantage of more opportunities within the university. So make sure you utilise any opportunities the university may have, such as the student Guild or part-time job opportunities such as student rep or student ambassador.
As people say, it’s a plus for your CV! However, it’s beneficial to come out of your shell if you are shy or struggle