Results day was last week and now you should know which university you’re heading to. It can seem daunting heading to uni for the first time or even returning after a long summer, but I’m going to give you my best tips of how to prepare yourself for your next adventure.
1. Get ahead in readings
If you’re returning to uni then chances are that you were assigned readings before you broke up. So get ahead by reading some of the material. If you’re living in your university city then head to the library (yes, they’re still open!), if not, plenty of books can be found online. If you’re heading to uni as a first-year then you might have been sent some recommended reading. It might be worth checking that out so you’re familiar with the content.
2. Pack & get settled in your new flat
If you’re heading off to uni for the first time you’ll need to equip yourself with pots and pans before you leave. Here’s my comprehensive list of things you’ll need at uni. So grab Mum or Dad and go on a shopping trip. Wilko and Poundland sell decent essentials but don’t go overboard as there are shops where you’re moving to. If you’re a second or third-year you might have already moved into your new flat. If that’s the case you can make the flat homely by following my ways to design your perfect bedroom. If you’ve got a 42-week contract and you’re waiting to move into uni, pack as much as you can in advance to save you stress on move-in day. Make sure you get some photos developed before you move out so you don’t get too homesick.
3. Get files set up
Whether you’re going back to uni or starting for the first time you should have a vague idea of what modules you’ll be doing. I’m studying Primary Education and I’ve done blog posts on the modules we covered in the first year and how I organise my files so check them out if you think they’d help you. The cheapest option is to colour code your files by buying plain black ones from Wilko or Poundland and then buying a set of multi-coloured washi tapes to decorate each file with it.
4. Find your flatmates / organise events
If you’re a fresher see if you can find your flatmates online. There are loads of Facebook groups that can help you do this. However, if you’re in the second year and you’ve had the privilege of choosing your own flatmates you could make the most of the summer together before uni starts by organising a few day trips or nights out.
5. Plan freshers week
Once you’ve found your flatmates book some freshers events. Tickets get more expensive the longer you wait so it’s best to get them ASAP. If you buy it only during freshers week your bank account won’t be happy so try and buy some things before the week itself. Freshers week isn’t all about drinking and there are plenty of fairs that you should attend. Make a note of the dates for the sports, activities & societies and freebie fairs as you don’t want to miss these. The date for the event should be found on your university’s students union website.
6. Find out about your course structure
At some universities, you have to sign up for modules yourself so make sure you’ve done that before you head to uni. Different courses have different contact hours so how often you’ll be each week and what you’re going to do with free time. A lot more is expected of you and you will be expected to do outside reading by yourself. Also, ensure you know when your holidays are, as you don’t want to book a holiday in the middle of term as attendance is sometimes counted towards your grade. Buy yourself an academic diary so you can write your contact hours, to-do lists and other essential info.
7. Make a provisional weekly timetable
If you’re heading back to uni (or even if you’re a fresher) you could make a provisional timetable to help you organise your time. I’ve made one to help me manage my commitments and to ensure I spend enough time studying.
8. Consider a part-time job
If you have a job in your hometown, do you need to quit that before you go to uni or could you just reduce your hours? Do you need to make a CV to get a part-time job whilst you’re at uni? These are all decisions that you need to make before you go to university. Your uni will probably have a jobs fair at the start of term so make sure you attend that if you’re looking for a job.
9. Explore your city & learn what’s nearby
Before you go to uni make a note of the closest supermarkets to your accommodation so you can go food shopping easily. It might be worth making a bucket list of things you want to do in your city in case you have a day off and you’re not sure what to do.
10. Sort out your finances
You should have applied to student finance so login to their website and make a note of the dates you get paid and then the date your rent comes out. It might be helpful to make this as a spreadsheet or you could just download an app instead. I’d recommend Spending Tracker as it’s extremely easy to use. I used to write down very single purchase I made on the app but now I just check my bank account on a regular basis and every month I do a spending review to ensure I’m spending my money meaningfully.
11. Say goodbye to home friends
It can be hard to say goodbye to old friends so make sure you have one last get-together before you all head your separate ways. Make sure you have a group chat so you can stay in contact and arrange to meet up regularly.
I hope this helped you prepare for university. The next step of your life awaits you! Don’t forget to just enjoy it and take one day at a time. If you’re returning to uni for your second or final year, good luck with it all! I know it can be hard to balance uni and having a social life but it’s all about time management and if you can get that right, you can have the best of both worlds.
Izzy's Adventures 