[Clare~Bear]

(Original post by ste_nick)
Take the Leap...

You might not get on with your housemates, and some aspects of cooking / living away may get annoying at times.

But for what you will get out of it; studying something your passionate about, job prospects, make new friends, independence... The pro's will massively outweigh the costs.

Finally, it's for three years... you will work for over 50. If Uni isn't perfect for you at least its somthing completely different to the rest of your working life!!!

But from how I see it, there will be a lot more things I dislike about uni than I like. Bl00dy hell, how long do you think I'll be working for, I know the pension age is going up. But if I finish uni when I'm 22, cos of ym brithday, I'll be at least 23 when I get a job, so you think I'm going to retire when I'm 73?

[Origami Bullets]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
But from how I see it, there will be a lot more things I dislike about uni than I like. Bl00dy hell, how long do you think I'll be working for, I know the pension age is going up. But if I finish uni when I'm 22, cos of ym brithday, I'll be at least 23 when I get a job, so you think I'm going to retire when I'm 73?

Well, 68 when you can start drawing a state pension, and that's only likely to rise. I wouldn't like to bet that the state pension age won't have risen by then to 73.

http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.o...age-calculator

You haven't tried university yet, so you can't say that you won't like it. Most people are full of anxieties about uni, and for the vast majority of people they aren't borne out by reality. You really are getting yourself into a tizzy about not very much, despite people having explained to you in fine detail how your fears don't bear a huge similarity to the reality.

[Marsha2112]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to move out of my parents house, I do like alcohol, I am a reasonably social person and I'm passionate about the subject I want to do at uni.

But I just don't feel like I'd enjoy student life, especially if it was in a city.

BTW I won't be starting uni until september 2013. And this isn't a rant, I can't complain about things that haven't happened.

I hate/ am scared of the prospect of having to share a flat etc with complete strangers especially from the stories I've heard on here about really bitchy/ just annoying flatmates who I'd want to slap if I was the OP of such threads.

I'm not the kind of person that pointlessly wastes money on alcohol to get drunk and sick it back up. And I'm not the kinda person that goes to wild parties and clubbing. But I don't want to come across as a boring person or end up just spending my saturday nights with boring people/ prudish religious types that don't drink for religious reasons. Plus my hobbies tend be those that posher/ stuck up people do. I was in the sea cadets so I was lucky to do sailing and scuba diving cheaply. So I don't want to be stuck with these kinds of stuck up people for these kinds of societies that unis run - I'm definately working class, there's nothing posh about me.

I like cooking for people. But fussy people annoy me so I'd probably end up being able to cook hardly anything, in order to satisfy everyone.

I'm from a small town near the coast. I'd hate living in a city, but most unis are in cities. Bangor looks really nice, but I dunno if I'd get in there. Plus it's the other side of the country from almost everyone I know. My brother lives 2 hours away but he works offshore so is away half of the year, so I might or might not be able to spend half terms with him as the journey home would be very long and expensive.

How will I cope? I'd especially like to hear from anyone like me whose now at uni, especially if you came from a rural area.

Seriously, you've overthought this so badly.

Firstly, most people DO get on with their flatmates - sure I know some flats that had tension, but most really don't have anyone who hates each other. We only had 2 actual arguments in our flat, one involving someone throwing away sausages. There might be 1 or 2 you dislike but can't get along with, but usually the other person feels the same and you stay our of each others way! Simples.

Secondly, uni isn't divided into hardcore party addicts and complete nerds. There's a whole range of how much people like going out, from every other night to hardly ever. Most go somewhere between thrice a week to once a fortnight, so you'll find similar people. Not everyone gets plastered either - some people go clubbing sober, some people like drinking loads but not clubbing.

Lastly, unless you're bffs or it's someone's birthday, no-one cooks for anyone else but themselves. This whole "let's share dinners to cut the cost" doesn't actually happen unless someone got twice as much food on a deal. Even if you were cooking for people, we're STUDENTS. I bought the same food every week and most of my flatmates had about 3 meals on repeat all year long. Half of our food is out of date and the chicken always smells dodge - trust me, NO-ONE is fussy when there's free food involved or if someone else is cooking for you! That's a luxury! Also, no-one cares what hobbies you do, and you have to remember people going to uni get into completely random hobbies that might be unlike their background, so of course there'll be people like you.

The point is, chill, uni's amazing.

[Feefifofum]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to move out of my parents house, I do like alcohol, I am a reasonably social person and I'm passionate about the subject I want to do at uni.

But I just don't feel like I'd enjoy student life, especially if it was in a city.

BTW I won't be starting uni until september 2013. And this isn't a rant, I can't complain about things that haven't happened.

I hate/ am scared of the prospect of having to share a flat etc with complete strangers especially from the stories I've heard on here about really bitchy/ just annoying flatmates who I'd want to slap if I was the OP of such threads.

I'm not the kind of person that pointlessly wastes money on alcohol to get drunk and sick it back up. And I'm not the kinda person that goes to wild parties and clubbing. But I don't want to come across as a boring person or end up just spending my saturday nights with boring people/ prudish religious types that don't drink for religious reasons. Plus my hobbies tend be those that posher/ stuck up people do. I was in the sea cadets so I was lucky to do sailing and scuba diving cheaply. So I don't want to be stuck with these kinds of stuck up people for these kinds of societies that unis run - I'm definately working class, there's nothing posh about me.

I like cooking for people. But fussy people annoy me so I'd probably end up being able to cook hardly anything, in order to satisfy everyone.

I'm from a small town near the coast. I'd hate living in a city, but most unis are in cities. Bangor looks really nice, but I dunno if I'd get in there. Plus it's the other side of the country from almost everyone I know. My brother lives 2 hours away but he works offshore so is away half of the year, so I might or might not be able to spend half terms with him as the journey home would be very long and expensive.

How will I cope? I'd especially like to hear from anyone like me whose now at uni, especially if you came from a rural area.

Don't worry. You'll meet all sorts of different people. Some of them will want to go out drinking and clubbing all the time. Some of them won't. Try not to panic about university life based on what you see on tv and in the papers - they only ever show one side of things. University life is a much richer experience than that.

In terms of city/country living, you can look around at lots of different universities. Not all of them are in cities, or large cities. There's St Andrews in Scotland, for example, or Aberystwyth in Wales, or plenty of other smallish towns that have universities. Just because you want to go to university that doesn't mean you have to apply to places where you don't think you'll enjoy living.

As for hobbies and cooking - again, universities attract huge ranges of people. You aren't going to be the only person from a working class background that enjoys that kind of sport, and you'll no doubt find that cooking for people with all sorts of different tastes is actually fun. You'll quickly figure out what meals you can enjoy with your friends.

So as others have said, try not to worry. Everyone gets nervous about going to university, since it's a huge change, but really, you'll figure things out when you get there, and settle in just fine.

[PinkyPurply]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
Ta

I can't wait to move of from my parents. And most my friends are moving away to other unis this september.

I hate cities though. I hate staying with relatives or going on holiday to cities.

Wookie, I might go to Aber, I'm visiting it this autumn.

But my grades aren't amazing so i might only get into Portsmouth or Plymouth.

I'm going to Aber in september. I was quite nervous about going to uni, but on the open day everybody was so friendly and approachable that it put my mind at ease.

[ranbow99]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to move out of my parents house, I do like alcohol, I am a reasonably social person and I'm passionate about the subject I want to do at uni.

But I just don't feel like I'd enjoy student life, especially if it was in a city.

BTW I won't be starting uni until september 2013. And this isn't a rant, I can't complain about things that haven't happened.

I hate/ am scared of the prospect of having to share a flat etc with complete strangers especially from the stories I've heard on here about really bitchy/ just annoying flatmates who I'd want to slap if I was the OP of such threads.

I'm not the kind of person that pointlessly wastes money on alcohol to get drunk and sick it back up. And I'm not the kinda person that goes to wild parties and clubbing. But I don't want to come across as a boring person or end up just spending my saturday nights with boring people/ prudish religious types that don't drink for religious reasons. Plus my hobbies tend be those that posher/ stuck up people do. I was in the sea cadets so I was lucky to do sailing and scuba diving cheaply. So I don't want to be stuck with these kinds of stuck up people for these kinds of societies that unis run - I'm definately working class, there's nothing posh about me.

I like cooking for people. But fussy people annoy me so I'd probably end up being able to cook hardly anything, in order to satisfy everyone.

I'm from a small town near the coast. I'd hate living in a city, but most unis are in cities. Bangor looks really nice, but I dunno if I'd get in there. Plus it's the other side of the country from almost everyone I know. My brother lives 2 hours away but he works offshore so is away half of the year, so I might or might not be able to spend half terms with him as the journey home would be very long and expensive.

How will I cope? I'd especially like to hear from anyone like me whose now at uni, especially if you came from a rural area.

Firstly, sharing a flat is something that nearly everyone has to do at some point in their lives. Tbh yes you may come across bitchy people, but in life you aren't gunna get along with everyone, and as long as you have people in your flat who you do like (if you are a friendly person you will) or at least people on your course. About the societies thing, don't automatically think that these people will be stuck up. You say yourself you're not stuck up or posh, so how do you know there aren't gunna be other people like yourself. Also, I have posh friends who are lovely, don't judge people because you don't think you'll get along with them before you've even gotten a chance to know them. Student life is all about getting to know people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures.

There are actually quite a few Universities that are in towns and not huge cities. If you don't like cities, then choose a campus university and that way you won't have to venture into the town/city often, as usually universities have everything you need on campus. Look up uni's such as Keele, Aberystwyth, Bournemouth, Winchester, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Reading, Chichester and Bath. Most are situated in large/medium towns or small cities.

You don't have to cook for other people and often it's easier just to cook for yourself as people finish lectures at different times, have meetings etc. Maybe in the first few weeks it will be nice to eat and cook together, but what i found was most people just did their own meals.

I hope this helped It sounds like a campus university is more suited to you, and don't worry about sharing with strangers, it is actually really fun and you forget they were strangers in about 2 days! Good luck

[Clare~Bear]

(Original post by Feefifofum)
.

(Original post by ranbow99)
.

Thanks

You've mentioned that there are lots of unis in town, but my course isn't ran at many universities, so I don't have many options.

[Feefifofum]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
Thanks

You've mentioned that there are lots of unis in town, but my course isn't ran at many universities, so I don't have many options.

Well which universities offer your course?

[Clare~Bear]

(Original post by Feefifofum)
Well which universities offer your course?

bangor, aberystwyth, southampton, portsmouth, plymouth, brighton, essex (colchester)

[Feefifofum]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
bangor, aberystwyth, southampton, portsmouth, plymouth, brighton, essex (colchester)

Well, of those, Bangor, Aberystwyth and Colchester aren't particularly big. Why not visit the universities whose courses you like most and see what you think of them?

[Clare~Bear]

(Original post by Feefifofum)
Well, of those, Bangor, Aberystwyth and Colchester aren't particularly big. Why not visit the universities whose courses you like most and see what you think of them?

I didn't like Colchester. Bangor's nice. I haven't been to Aber yet.

But that only leaves me with 2 options and I might visit Aber and hate it (although pics and stuff from friends make it seem nice.)

[Feefifofum]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
I didn't like Colchester. Bangor's nice. I haven't been to Aber yet.

But that only leaves me with 2 options and I might visit Aber and hate it (although pics and stuff from friends make it seem nice.)

If you have decided on a course that is only offered at a few places, then you're just going to have to deal with the fact that only a couple of those are in small towns. There isn't really any more advice that people can give you! I'm sure that Bangor and Aber will be fine. There's no rule saying that you have to apply to as many universities as you are allowed

[foxes-are-ginger]

I'm from a teeny tiny country town and I found Uni a big shock. It was weird not having to rely on a 40 minute bus journey to shops, concrete and traffic!
You adapt pretty quickly - but I'll always prefer the countryside.

Also - no one will care that you don't drink. I know plenty of people that didn't and no one seemed to mind or exclude them from events or nights out.
You'll find that people go for meals out or the cinema just as often as they go out - more up your street perhaps.

You never know though - you could end up going out once or twice a month and actually enjoy it - heck knows I did!
Keep an open mind!

[Average_Aaron]

I wouldnt worry about it.

I'm heading to Southampton in September and I'm not a big drinker at all.

It's all about finding your right group. My friends at school weren't big drinkers. So I assume I'll find my group at uni after some time.

Just be confident and proud about who YOU are. If you dont want to party, dont, if you dont want to drink, dont.

You will find people with similar ethics/interests

[Clare~Bear]

(Original post by foxes-are-ginger)
!

The thing is, my village is attached to a small/medium town (with quite a few facilities). So from my bedroom I can see fields and it's quite rural, yet the bus into town is only 10 minutes. There, there's loads of shops, bowling, cinema, the beach, cafes, restaurants and all sorts.

(Original post by Average_Aaron)
I

I do drink though. Just not excessively. But if don't go clubbing or whatever, won't it almost entirely be tee-totalers that don't go?

[UCLEmily]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
Ta

I can't wait to move of from my parents. And most my friends are moving away to other unis this september.

I hate cities though. I hate staying with relatives or going on holiday to cities.

Wookie, I might go to Aber, I'm visiting it this autumn.

But my grades aren't amazing so i might only get into Portsmouth or Plymouth.

I can identify with your situation, because I was originally brought up in the countryside, then we moved to outer suburban London, then I went to college in central London, it was a series of culture shocks for me.

What I would say is that you might be tougher and find it more fun than you think at the moment. That's not to say that aspects of it won't be hard for you, but I think you shouldn't at this stage rule out going to a big city University, there can really be a lot of pluses. It can be great fun being in a big place, there is more to do, there are a greater variety of experiences and the Uni life can be fast moving and enjoyable. However, on campus and with your friends, it doesn't make so much impact and is like being at Uni anywhere probably, it's just that you also have access to a wider range of enjoyable things if you want them.

[Average_Aaron]

(Original post by Clare~Bear)
The thing is, my village is attached to a small/medium town (with quite a few facilities). So from my bedroom I can see fields and it's quite rural, yet the bus into town is only 10 minutes. There, there's loads of shops, bowling, cinema, the beach, cafes, restaurants and all sorts.


I do drink though. Just not excessively. But if don't go clubbing or whatever, won't it almost entirely be tee-totalers that don't go?

I honestly dont know what Tee-Totalers are.


But no, I dont think so. Not everyone goes out and gets bladdered every week I wouldn't have thought...

The ones that usually drink (in terms of males anyway) all the time are the retard, lads lads.

I don't mingle well with them, because they seem retarded and lack wit.

[Origami Bullets]

(Original post by Average_Aaron)
I honestly dont know what Tee-Totalers are

People who don't drink so much as a drop of alcohol.

[Average_Aaron]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
People who don't drink so much as a drop of alcohol.

What if they abstain from alcohol, but dabble in recreational drug use instead.

just dabble.

[kittyb99]

I'm from a rural area and I'm not really a big drinker or anything and it may make you feel better to hear I have so far survived two years and remain content Don't worry about moving into a flat with nasty people because you can always get moved to somewhere else. I actually moved out of my first flat within two weeks of starting my first year because the people I lived with were truly, truly nasty. I simply went to the head of college housing (admittedly burst into tears) and within five minutes I was being shown a new room in another flat- I was all moved in time to cook tea in my new flat that night. The flat I moved into was full of lovely people, and the people I live with now are also wonderful, so the odds of getting horrible people are really quite slim.

You have to remember the great thing about university is that there will always be people like you, and will share similar views/interests. For example, none of my friends are hardcore party animals- we do enjoy drinking, but not in the way that intimidates some people starting university (i.e. getting wasted on cheap cider, going out to a club, desperately trying to pull, and all that). Instead, we tend to have parties in our flat, or go round the college bars.

As for hobbies- chances are no matter what social class you hobby might appeal to, guaranteed someone like you will also do it- so don't shy away from societies- they are an excellent way to meet like-minded people. I do snowboarding, and the society has a broad array of characters in it, all of whom are lovely people.

Hope this makes you feel better!