10 Things That All Freshers Should Know!

Hola lovelies!

So now I'm back at university and in my second year studying, I thought it would be fun to do a post on some things I wish I had known when I was a fresher.. hopefully you find this funny or maybe even helpful!
p.s I was not perfect and some of this advice I didn't take myself but wish I had done (i.e 7..)

My diary for this year

1. DO NOT panic buy your books!

It is well known as a second year, or even just after your first semester at university that lecturers seem to be pros at panicking everybody. "You definitely will always need to use this £80 book so you better buy it NOW" when in reality you will probably only need to read a chapter for the first week and then it will sit gathering dust for the rest of your degree... sad. It is always safe to wait - maybe your department will have a book sale and sell those books for cheaper or maybe you can find the ebook online.. there are always solutions!

2. Everyone is in the same boat

I know when I started I felt that somehow everyone will be so clued up on university and know exactly what they're doing and I will be that loner on the sideline that isn't involved. This wasn't the case - nearly everyone I met during freshers felt the same and that is only a good thing! This meant that we had something in common and we learnt together as we went along.

3. Going out on a Wednesday is perfectly acceptable

Going out midweek is one of those things you will only be able to do whilst you're at university so you better make the most of it! Even if you don't drink, going to the 9am lecture the next morning and seeing everyone with drooping eyes and looking worse for wear is definitely good entertainment.

4. However going out is NOT the be all and end all

Although going out can be fun, if it is not your scene that does not matter. I think a lot of pressure is put on students to live up to their stereotype but most of the time it can be just as fun if you stay in with your friends with good food and a good film. Going out is just about making friends and being sociable and there are loads of ways to do that that don't involve going out, and if you don't, don't worry that you will be lonely, there are ALWAYS others who think exactly like you.

5. Societies are good

Every fresher should jump head first into university life - get involved in societies and their socials, get involved with their flat/house and just get involved academically too. Your first year doesn't count so you can afford to maybe have a little bit too much going on. It is of course a fab way to make friends but also to work out how much you can do with your time when your work counts towards your degree. Have a say on what is going on at your university or try something new - it's all good experiences!

6. Try not to rush into houses for second year

So I know at my university everyone started looking for houses in November... yes not even 2 months after we had started!! It was so early that most people are now living with those who they don't necessarily get on with. Luckily for me that is not the case... but we did rush into finding a house. We know that if we had left it a little longer there still would have been houses for us to go into and there wouldn't have been an issue of us being homeless second years studying for our degree in a park. 

7. Try not to get absolutely smashed

Obviously for most people going out and having all this time away from your parents judging eyes is a free pass to get off your face. This can be fun, if done within your limits, but perhaps try to save your crazy dance routine or puking antics until you have made some friends that you can trust who will look after you. Also, you KNOW there will be some really embarrassing photos from that night out during freshers...

8. Work hard

This may be a really boring point to make but it's really important that you go into second year with confidence knowing that you can do the work they will set you. Practising academic essays and presentations will be essential for your degree. Obviously they don't count (normally) so maybe don't spend a month on each thing, but definitely put in effort. It is even good just to make you feel like you have achieved something! 

9. Be yourself

I think it is really important that you try to be yourself at all times. You're moving to a new place and meeting new people and it is easy to try to impress those around you to try and make friends. But generally, just being yourself will generate friends in time, and they'll be more genuine in the long term. Also, staying true to who you are will make your experience so much better.

10. Have fun and enjoy yourself

University is obviously the place where you get yourself a degree and work incredibly hard in the process, but as a second year coming to the end of first semester I can tell you that time will FLY. University has been the best experience of my life so far, so much fun and so many opportunities. You need to make sure that whatever you decide to do with yourself whilst you're there, that you're always having fun and making memories - you will never do this again so make the most of it!

 

Housemates 

    

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Bethany xx