Things you wish you knew before starting uni at Nottingham

Something I have been thinking about lately is getting a new laptop, mine is getting sluggish and old but it gets the job done in any case, the only reason I would get a new one is if I would take it to lectures; however I am much more of a paper and pen person than a laptop person especially because I am studying Economics and making the diagrams on the PC takes ages, nonetheless what is your opinion, is a laptop essential for lectures or will I get on just as well with paper and pen?

TL;DR: Can I get by on paper and pen or should I take a laptop to lectures (not really a typist myself though)

Laptops nor tablets are essential for lectures. I'd stick with good ol' pen and paper. If they've done this good for you thus far, there's no season why they can't carry on their good'ness (sp?) further. But if you're laptop is getting old and sluggish, and you need it for essays and such, then I'd invest in a new one, or even a PC.

Gold sports membership isn't really worth it, IMO. Unless things have changed significantly since I last used it in 1st year, the weights room is too small to use properly unless your lecture schedule allows you to plan your sessions for when the gym isn't busy, rather than when you aren't busy.

I stopped going after one day when people were literally queuing for a bench and the following day when I finally got to bench press and somebody squeezing past promptly walked into the bar.

But that's pretty boring. Here's something I really wish I had known in advance:

The Victoria Hotel, Beeston
The Crown, Beeston
The Organ Grinder, Canning Circus
The Bell Inn, town centre
The Malt Cross, town centre
BrewDog, Lace Market
The Ropewalk, Canning Circus
Hand & Heart, as above
Old Salutation, near the castle
Trip to Jerusalem, pretty much under the castle

Seeing as you took the Gold membership, what is the deal with silver and bronze with regards to paying for the gym? Do you pay whenever you go in or is it a weekly thing?

Also any idea on the quality of the physiotherapy (I injured my knees and am currently undergoing therapy but I need to keep it going if I have any hopes of playing rugby at uni)?

I've never used the physio, so I can't really offer any useful advice. If memory serves, gold membership is free use of the gym all year, whereas silver and bronze pay £2/4 off-peak/peak per session. If you're actually going to use the gym, it make sense to go gold. An alternative to the campus gym is Raw Physique (link below) in Lenton, a mile or so from campus but the run/bike there and back can be your cardio.

http://www.rawphysiquegym.co.uk/Raw_Physique_Gymnasium/RawPhysiqueGym.html

Edit: I'm making the assumption here that you're interested in proper gym stuff- i.e. free weights. If all you want from a gym is a room with treadmills and resistance machines, then uni park will be fine, it's only the weights room that is small.

I am interested in all of it, but I am guessing the rugby team (if I get in) will have a session or so where we can use the weights and stuff. Thanks for the link btw might turn out to be quite handy.

Also forgot to ask you in the last post if those places you mentioned were all around Nottingham, i.e. pubs/bars and such?