How to make the most of my time at University?

To me, there are two reasons for going to University. They are to find yourself and to identify a path.

First, University helps you to find yourself. It is a place where you should try many things whether it is being more social or getting out of your comfort zone. University helps you to make great friendships and do stupid things without facing serious consequences. So you should go with fear of consequences.

Two, University helps you to identify a path. I did not write find a path, but identify a path for your future whether it is with what you intend to study or with another subject. There are loads of people, who change subjects because they find that it does not suit them. If you feel this way, don't be scared to change direction. Identify a path for yourself and explore it.

You should also try to get some work experience or valuable experience during your University time. Don't get bugged down with pay, if there are unpaid summer internships or experience and you can afford to go without pay, please jump in and don't look back. You are not committing yourself to a lifelong career, but just learning about yourself and interests for about 10 weeks of the summer.

Good luck and enjoy Cardiff, it is a lovely City.

Thank you so much for the response I know I need to step out of my comfort zone and am hoping to increase my confidence during my time at university. I have a couple of rough ideas about future careers: archivist (which has received criticism from my mother) or advertising (which I would love to do but fear I don't have enough creativity or confidence for). I'm also stuck halfway between wanting every single little thing planned (the 'aspie' side of me) or just going with it and seeing where life takes me.

I've only been twice but yes, it certainly is! Unfortunately I'm about 80% sure I haven't got in.

Hello everyone

I would like to know if anyone has any tips on making the most of my 3 years at university. I will hopefully be going to Cardiff in September to study Journalism, Media & Sociology.

And I don't mean the social side of things - I'm well aware that many people get drunk and go clubbing. I don't drink and I have anxiety.

How do I make sure that my time at university is as beneficial for my future as it can possibly be? I do not know which career path I would like to follow yet.

Thank you

Hello everyone

I would like to know if anyone has any tips on making the most of my 3 years at university. I will hopefully be going to Cardiff in September to study Journalism, Media & Sociology.

And I don't mean the social side of things - I'm well aware that many people get drunk and go clubbing. I don't drink and I have anxiety.

How do I make sure that my time at university is as beneficial for my future as it can possibly be? I do not know which career path I would like to follow yet.

Thank you

You are about 80% sure you haven't gotten into Cardiff? Sorry, to read that. Hopefully, you get in.

Yes, be yourself and try to stretch yourself a bit. Once you leave Uni, things will become more rigid with work and life in general.

Not to be rude to your mother, but don't take her word for gospel. Try your hands or many things, I guess that there may be an Adverstising Society in school or History/Archivist Society to join.

As I previously wrote, you should try to get some internships around your interests and/or subject. So that you can get a tiny taste of the real world. "Many internships may not show you what you want to do for the rest of your life, but some will show you what you don't want to do." - from a Career Adviser.

Good luck and I hope you get in.

Hello

I like your question - it's an interesting one, something I haven't seen a lot of whilst using The Student Room. People are always interested in the social side as oppose to what other students have learned in order to make the most of their time at university.

Well, I've just finished my second year and I'm now going into my third. In my first two years, I've learned the following;

Never be afraid to ask for help! Yes, university is about independent learning and learning how you work best but if you are struggling or don't understand something, seek help!

Which leads me onto...
Support! There is a lot of support at university, from your lecturers to internal services that can help with assignment work and such. These are there everyday and even through holidays - use them! If you don't understand feedback, seek support.

Always make the effort to catch up if you have a day off sick! You should make friends pretty quickly - make sure they take notes when you're sick or ask the lecturer for the presentations or notes they used or if there is anything you can use to read up on.

Enjoy the experience! University has times where it is extremely stressful or you'll have lectures where you sit there and question if it's really what you want to do but stick with it and enjoy every little moment! From the fun lectures to the boring ones and everything in between - you'll make some good memories and learn a lot!

Try and put what you learn into practice - be that teaching experience, or writing up your own projects to share with people and so on and so fourth. Don't learn it in a day, write it down and be done with it - continually renew your knowledge on it!

Don't lose the passion for your course. Keep that passion strong - read for the hell of it even if it's not something you need to read for the course because you may end up learning something that you may not and that can help towards a lot more on your course.

There are probably more I can share but this is probably enough for now!
Hope this sheds a little light on things for you!

Enjoy

Getting involved with societies is so important. They're not only a brilliant way of continuing with or finding a new hobby and meeting new people, but getting involved with societies and being part of committees can help you develop skills that are essential for obtaining employment post graduation.

Volunteering and doing internships over the summer holidays can help provide you with inspiration as to which career you want to pursue after you graduate. Plus they'll provide you with experience and skills that employers actively look for once you graduate.

People don't care if you don't drink-I know quite a few people who are completely tee total for a variety of reasons, but it hasn't affected them making a very strong friendship group. You just have to ignore your anxiety and get involved with things. I know it's hard-I have severe anxiety myself.

Find out where your uni's support services are and how they can be contacted-if it's a decent uni, they'll want to help you with any problems you have

I may or may not have a few societies I'd be interested in joining saved on my favourites 😂 I'll definitely look into volunteering/internships though! Oh gosh that is such a relief to hear! I was worried that I'd seem like some kind of freak for not drinking... I've already been in contact with Cardiff concerning my Aspergers and anxiety and they so far seem very supportive

The main thing is you get involved with things-I've met a load of people with Aspergers, various mental health conditions, non drinkers etc, and no one bats a single eyelid. You may get asked why you don't drink, but that'll just be curiosity rather than anything malicious.

If you never get involved with things, you'll never develop the skills and experiences that are essential when looking for employment post graduation. Also, it'll give you the opportunity to make so many friends, which is half the experience of uni