Pre-University Jitters?

The summer is slowly drawing to an end and you’ve been celebrating getting the right A-Level result for over a month. Within the next few weeks you’ll be taking your first steps into your new university life. As the heartened comments from family and friends begins to increase  - “Oh, you’ll have great time!” “You excited?” - a slow realisation dawns that for the first time in your life, you will be fending for yourself. A sense of nausea begins to set in…

I’m really worried about going to university because…?

“I just won’t know anybody?”

If we’re all honest there is nothing more scarier than walking into a room full of strangers knowing the fact that at the end of the day whatever happens you can’t run home to mummy and cry into her apron - like we all did on out first day at primary school! (or was that just me!) Luckily for you though, the creation of “Freshers Week” is designed purely to help all new students to fit in without the usual pressures of everyday Uni life. During this week you will be encouraged to join clubs at the local Frehers Fair, visit social events, meet people on your course and your tutors. It is simply a matter of you taking the plunge and remembering that EVERYBODY is in the same boat. So, don’t be afraid to knock on your neighbours’ door and invite them for a pint at your local union bar.

“I’m going to be stuck in halls with a load of inbreds?”

One of the greatest skills that you have to learn living away from home is to tolerate and show consideration for others - particularly when living together. Don’t be deceived into thinking that just because you share a common bond of attending university together that you will all live happily ever after. It simply is a matter of changing the things you can and learning to tolerate the things you can’t! If life gets totally unbearable however, each Hall has a Hostel Rep who is there to specifically help you with any difficulties in your living arrangements so don’t be afraid to ask for their advice.

“I’m going to get into so much debt I’m going to be skint forever!”

Yes, university is now an expensive choice but consider the long-term effects it will have on your future. Not only will it be an opportunity to educate yourself, make some lifelong friends (as well as acquire a few stories to tell the grandchildren!), having a degree in the UK can open a great many opportunities. For example, did you know that on average, graduates in the UK earn up to 20% more than employees without a degree and that women graduates are likely to increase their earnings by almost 40% (Higher Education statistics 2002) Besides, you’ve got the rest of your life to work, so why not spend some time discovering more about yourself whilst studying a subject in-depth that you love and having a great time doing it! Believe me a year of working in the real world and suffering from “workeatsleep” syndrome you’ll know you made the right decision!

“I’m going to hate my course?”

There is nothing worse than having made the upheaval away from home, and settled into your new environment, to find that you just hate your course. The first things to remember is that you are not alone. Each year hundreds of student change their university course. Naturally, this is not something that is encouraged by universities. However, it is important to them that you get the most out of your time there. Check out our article on “Right Move Wrong Direction” which will help point you towards getting the right professional advice.

“I’m not clever enough to get a degree?”

Oh hav’ a day off will ya! If you have been accepted into a university it will mean that your application has been considered extremely carefully. It is just as important to the university that they keep they maintain a calibre of student to reflect their own reputation. They don’t just let anyone in you know so take the compliment and ‘ger on wi’ it!’.

“When I get drunk I tend to take all my clothes off and break-dance naked on tables!”

Beware of splinters and make sure it’s not a cold day!

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