Starting University - Top Tips and Tricks
Starting university, for many of us, is the first time we have lived away from home and our family and friends who love and support us. It’s exciting to move away from home, gain independence and make new friends whilst studying something you love. But sometimes you may also feel nervous, overwhelmed and worried, right? Don’t worry, this is totally normal. We’re all in the same boat. Here are a few tips and tricks to best prepare for starting Uni.
Before you set off: making friends, meal prep, and student loans
Need a great way to meet other freshers? Join a group chat. Set up by Student Unions on Facebook on Instagram, these are a great way to make a few friends before you get there. But don’t worry if you don’t get a chance to meet up face-to-face before you arrive. Freshers Week is designed for you to meet lots of new faces and make lots of new friends.
Want to get the most out of Freshers week? Do some research beforehand. You don’t want to miss out on the great events your Uni has to offer! Freshers week is full of fun activities, events and taster sessions to help you settle in, make new friends, and find a club or society suited to you. Many events require you to purchase tickets beforehand, whilst others are free. It’s a good idea to create a Freshers week schedule of all the events you’d like to attend.
There’s not long left until you arrive at campus. But there is still time for some last minute cooking practice! Pizza and meal deals are great for a quick snack, but there’s nothing like a home cooked meal. Why not ask parents or carers to help show you a few favourite recipes? Or checkout BBC Food’s Easy Recipes for Students. Don’t forget TikTok and YouTube are also great for finding cooking tutorials and kitchen hacks! A healthy, balanced diet will give you all the brainpower you need to study to the fullest and help your mental wellbeing. Not sure where to start? Perhaps create a two week meal plan? How about locating your nearest supermarket before you set off, planning your route and getting your shopping list ready? A food shop is an easy first win once you’re settled in.
Have you checked the status of your Student Maintenance Loan? Make sure you know when you will receive your loan, check you have provided the correct bank details and ensure you pay your rent on time! It is also a great idea to open up a student bank account. Student bank accounts offer you lots of perks like railcards, cash back, and larger overdrafts; all you need is your UCAS code and letter of acceptance. Your Maintenance Loan is paid in three instalments, one for each term. That’s why it is important to budget and watch your spending to make sure your money lasts! If you’re not sure how to do this, why not set yourself a weekly allowance? If you are still struggling, ask for help! Student Unions provide money advisors to help with budgeting and access to additional funding. Your career zone can help you build your CV and apply for part-time jobs. If you work for a chain store, you can put in a transfer request to a branch near your Uni. If not, you can use Indeed to find local part-time jobs. Check uni notice boards for job opportunities on campus.
When you arrive: time to unpack, making friends, and getting settled in.
Firstly, unpack; that’s an easy first step! Once all your luggage is unloaded, why not introduce yourself to your flatmates? This can feel really scary and may be outside your comfort zone. But it’s good to get to know them as you’ll be living with them for a whole year! You could all go to a freshers event together, have a games night, or go out for a meal and some drinks. But it is also okay to expand your social circle. Some flatmates may instantly click, but it’s okay if that’s not the case. It may take time, or you’ll find a friendship group outside of your flat, maybe through your course, societies or at Freshers events. There are so many events you can attend whether that's as a flat or on your own. It is important to be brave, put yourself out there, and mingle. But don’t worry if Freshers week doesn’t go to plan, there is a great opportunity to make new friends when your course starts in week 2!
Joining clubs and societies is another great way to meet like-minded people. Uni’s offer a huge variety of activities to choose from gaming, book clubs, educational societies (like Law, Business or History) to casual and competitive sport societies. Remember, it is never too late to join a society to learn a new skill or make a new friend, even in third term!
A cure for homesickness: keeping busy and staying social
The best way to deal with homesickness is to keep busy. Attend all your lectures and seminars, take part in clubs and societies. Spend time with your new friends and flatmates and explore the local area to take your mind off being away from home. Why not cook together? Cooking and eating with your flatmates can be like a family meal and make you feel more at home.Or have some fun decorating your room with home comforts? Take out your favourite bedding, teddies, decorations, trinkets, and family photos to remind you of home.
Calling home can be a great way to stay in touch and kick the homesickness, but it’s also important to spend time getting to know new people and building your Uni support network! If you are still struggling, that’s okay. We all take a different amount of time to settle in. Make sure you talk to someone. Lots of other students will be feeling the same. Why not ask for a student mentor to help you settle in? The University will also have councillors to talk to if you need help. If you have depression, anxiety or another mental health struggle, homesickness can make these worse. So it is important to speak to someone about it. Talk to a councillor, mentor or personal tutor to help you get the support you need.
Prioritise you and self-care. Getting enough sleep, having a regular sleep pattern, eating a healthy, balanced diet, and making sure you get fresh air and exercise can help improve your mental health and reduce homesickness.
Finally, it is important to give yourself time. It may be overwhelming at first, but as time goes on, you’ll make new friends, create memories and have many brilliant experiences.
Need someone to talk to?
If you are struggling with your mental health at Uni, make sure you reach out. Speak to a Uni counsellor, a trusted lecturer, or your personal tutor. If you’d rather talk to someone over text or over the phone, these resources are available:
Childline:
Website - https://www.childline.org.uk/
Phone Number - 0800 1111
Mind:
Phone Number -0300 102 1234
Shout:
Website - https://giveusashout.org/
Text ‘Shout’ to 85258
NHS:
Phone Number - 111
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