First-year university advice from a graduate
By Maya
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- Make friends outside your uni course
Starting university, having to put yourself out there and make friends can be terrifying, but you are not alone! Most of us haven’t had to build a social life from scratch since our very first day of primary school which, let’s be real, was about 14 years ago. It’s natural for it to feel a little daunting.
The most important thing to remember is that everyone (and I mean everyone) is in the same boat. The good news? University gives you countless ways to meet people, from societies and clubs to classes, events and accommodation socials. When I first started, I assumed nobody went to these events. For some reason, I thought that after the first night of freshers, everyone had already found their lifelong friends and no longer needed those cringey icebreaker breakfasts. Turns out people do go, and you’ll miss out if you don’t drag yourself out of bed to join in.
When you do meet someone, don’t be afraid to ask for their socials. It doesn’t make you look desparate, chances are, they’re just waiting for the right moment to ask you. Why not suggest meeting up for coffee? Follow through! If they agreed, they genuinely want to hang out. This is the time to take the risk and start making lifelong besties.
- Freshers’ week isn’t everything, but you still need to take part
The do’s and don’ts of freshers week.
My next piece of first-year university advice is to make yourself uncomfortable, but not too uncomfortable. You should go to things, even if they are out of your comfort zone, but if you’re feeling tired or if your body is telling you to have a night in, don’t force yourself;There is nothing wrong with taking a night off, so try to balance fun and rest.
That being said, you should try and make every effort to explore and have fun! This is the time to try new things, whether that is a sport society you’ve always wanted to try or spending the afternoon with a new group of people. If you’re up for it, say yes, you won’t regret it.
There’s more to life than university
Make the most of city life as well as uni life.
For most people, going to university means moving somewhere completely new, which is the perfect excuse to explore. If you’re living on campus, make sure to step outside the uni bubble every now and then. If you’ve got other cities nearby, grab a student-discounted bus or train and go check them out. The beauty of uni is that you’ll probably only have 15–20 hours of classes a week, the rest you can do from anywhere.
- Don’t set your expectations too high
Learn to go with the flow.
The university experience is a lot of things, but what it’s unlikely to be exactly as you expected. The key is being open-minded, taking opportunities as they come and making the most of the entire experience. I understand that’s easier said than done, so be patient with yourself and don’t beat yourself up if you have a down day or are struggling.
If you see your old school friends or new university friends on social media and they ‘appear’ to be having more fun than you, have made more friends than you, or have a better social life, remember that social media is entirely curated. It’s a highlight reel that shows the highs and rarely the lows. Instead of comparing yourself, focus on what makes you happy and build your own version of fun, rather than trying to copy someone else’s.
- Homesickness is normal
Coping with missing home
Most freshers basically run on adrenaline and energy drinks for the first few weeks, everything’s shiny and new. But then reality sneaks in and you’re like, hold on… I don’t live at home anymore; this is real life now. That’s when the wobble usually hits.
This happens to many students and it’s nothing to worry about. If you need to, call home or visit for a reset. But try easing into your new normal too, set little routines, open up to people around you (they’re probably feeling the same) and reach out for support if you need it, whether that’s family or someone at uni.
- Look after your health
Easy ways to stay healthy as a student
In first term it’s easy to slide into dodgy habits, late nights, takeaways and way too many vodka cranberries. For the first time, you’re totally in charge of looking after yourself which is exciting but also a bit tricky. My advice? Actually listen to your body: if you’re wiped out, rest. Grab a veg or two, chug some water and maybe give the alcohol a break.
Also, set yourself up for success. Bring medicine with you, ask a family member to teach you some healthy, comfort meals (or look up some recipes),if you have a big week ahead try to meal prep so you don’t resort to takeaway or instant ramen.
- You’ve got to network to get work
Building relationships that matter
If your uni experience is anything like mine, you will most likely feel the constant pressure to build your LinkedIn connections list (side note: if you haven’t made a LinkedIn profile, do it now). While I find LinkedIn (and networking in general) to be one of the most unbearable forms of social interaction, it is important to start thinking about the kind of connections and relationships you want to build during your time at university. Take the time to speak to and learn from your teachers and lecturers, join societies and speak to as many people as possible. You never know who’ll open a door for you later.
- First year isn’t just for fun
Your reminder that first year grades still count
While I am a huge advocate that university is about more than just the studying and the grades, don’t forget they do still exist. In most universities, first year grades do count towards your classification, although often less than second- and third-year grades, you still need to pass.
Moreover, tuition isn’t cheap, so you might as well make the most of what you’re paying for. Go to the lecture, ask questions and speak up in class. Luckily for you, Hello Student accommodations have many rooms and communal study areas to help you get the most out of your studies.
- You’re allowed to change your mind
Swap courses if you’re not into it.
If you don’t like your course, change it. Granted, you should give it a chance and not swap it five minutes after your first lecture (warning: they aren’t all going to be interesting) but if you aren’t into it don’t force yourself to spend three years studying a subject you aren’t passionate about.
The course might not be what you expected it to be and that’s okay. Listen in to lectures in other courses or speak to other students to see if there might be something else that suits you better. This is your life and future, don’t waste it.
- Don’t forget to capture memories and live in the moment
University doesn’t last forever, take it from me who still can’t quite believe how quickly three years went by. Make the most of every second. Take photos, write your thoughts in a journal or whatever allows you to take it all in and capture your journey. I recorded short videos for myself every couple of months, talking about how I was feeling and asking my future self-questions. When I watched them back, I realised how quickly everything can change. Live in the moment, don’t waste your time or energy on things or people that might detract from your experience and most of all, have fun!
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