Did your life get better when you went to university?

If you're a loner now why would you expect it to be any different?

I was a 'loner' at home because people disliked me for reasons I could do nothing about - mainly because I was queer. I expected this to change at university because I expected people to be more mature and less discriminatory - and it did. I'd imagine many people have similar stories.

Reply 61

*Thedreaming*

17

Original post by sr90

do i know you? :lolwut:

Reapplying - i'm at university now.

~~maybe~~ no, I was thinking about re applying for next year and i recognise your username from the re applicants page.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 62

a_certain_nobody

my life changed for the better- but as others have said, I was determined and proactive socially and academically. Before uni I thought that I wasn't cool or fun enough to hang around people I actually liked- once at uni, I was able to look back on the vicious cycle of my school years: no good friends -> no chance to go out and do fun social stuff -> felt like a loser -> harder to make friends.
Then I got to uni and went to all the freshers parties and chatted with loads of people, put myself out there, and to my amazement, people responded well to me.
People are generally better at uni too. At school, everyone is from the same town and there is a very strong sense of what it is to be "normal". At uni, people come from all over and everyone has different life experiences, and so people are more open and accepting.

edit:why the neg??

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 63

dave2k

Well I'm in my 2nd year, and so far Uni's been the best years of my life, so I'd say my lifes definitely improved loads! Also was loving my life before uni so it says a lot :P

Its mainly because I could reinvent myself, my 6th form was at the same place as my school, and the majority of the people were the people I was with for 5 years, so everyone already had their rep from their immature days. I thought I was a bit of an idiot back in the day, so to come to uni and start completely fresh, taking away a few of the worse qualities has worked out great.

Also starting 1st year at a house with a bunch of stoners helped me out, as it meant I would make much more of an effort to go and socialise at friends halls and make friends there etc. Now every night out, I always see about 20 people out that I know from different places!

Ah, one more thing (this is turning into an essay!) culture was quite different back in school, as the majority of my friends circle were muslim, so didn't drink and didn't club, so that was a huge new culture for me when I came to uni, and I absolutely love it! In short, I wouldn't have my life any other way! :biggrin:

Reply 64

amb160894

is freshers all its set out to be? ive heard stories where is absolutely the best thing ever and others where they say its all overrated. does it depend on the uni you go to, where its at and the people on your course?

one last question, do nursing/midwifery students even get a freshers week?

Reply 65

Antifazian

16

Original post by amb160894

is freshers all its set out to be? ive heard stories where is absolutely the best thing ever and others where they say its all overrated. does it depend on the uni you go to, where its at and the people on your course?

Well that should tell you something then, it depends on a lot of things, but mostly on you and how you approach it. The people on your course don't have much to do with freshers week, it's mostly about the people in your halls if you choose to live in them.

Original post by amb160894

is freshers all its set out to be? ive heard stories where is absolutely the best thing ever and others where they say its all overrated. does it depend on the uni you go to, where its at and the people on your course?

Don't fall for any of that ''best week of your life'' rubbish all it does is put unnecessary pressure on yourself. If you've been drinking/clubbing before uni it isn't really anything out of the ordinary. My freshers was great fun but you will find nights in and out become so much better as you get to know people and make friends.

It is a unique experience in terms of meeting people, so make damn sure that you talk to as many people as you can. Even if its just asking what course they are doing or what flat they are in, everyone is desperate to make friends so they'll be open and friendly. Then when groups have formed you can still have something to talk about when you see them :smile:

Reply 67

GlitterFreak

Nope, it is has enhanced my anxiety and made me worse, and I have to have councelling. But that is just me.

But, the independance is amazing!

Reply 68

ItsRach

It can be stressful, since the workload is higher than I expected, although this doesn't bother me too much since I love my subject and I love reading around it, but the stress is still there, especially when you're frustrated with an essay or exam or something.

But yeah, I don't know whether my life got better, but I would say I have learnt a lot about myself, and others, and gained a fresh perspective on life. I have met people from all over the world and got to learn about their cultures/experiences, I have definitely gained confidence and socialized more than I did at school, and I have took advantage of a few really good opportunities. In that sense my life has got better I guess, since I've developed more as an individual.

It depends what you expect from uni I think. If you come with the attitude of wanting a fresh start and to re-invent yourself or whatever, but then struggle to do so then I think that can put a downer on a few people. If you expect uni to just be a tool for gaining opportunities/study a subject you love then I think it is easier to enjoy the university experience.

Reply 69

unfortunateklaus

I had an amazing time at school, couldn't wait to get to uni. But now i'm here, it just doesn't compare to the time I had at school at all. Especially after it has been so 'bigged up' by other people, I imagined it to be the best time of my life. Instead, me and one of the very few friends i've made here sit and talk about how depressingly **** our lives are despite being very friendly people. Really expected a lot more from uni, I wanted to be drinking every night, chatting to every one and any one, playing drinking games, ridiculous dares and what not. However, i've found myself in a group of all girls who all have boyfriends and aren't too up for socialising. I MISS MY BOY MATES and people who generally wanted to have fun. URGH.

Reply 70

riotgrrl

19

Original post by amb160894

is freshers all its set out to be? ive heard stories where is absolutely the best thing ever and others where they say its all overrated. does it depend on the uni you go to, where its at and the people on your course?

one last question, do nursing/midwifery students even get a freshers week?

For me, it wasn't particularly great. It depends on what you like- the better I know people, the more I enjoy myself so freshers wasn't all that fun for me but it's all been uphill from there.

Reply 71

hwalusimo1

3

Nope, unfortunately :sadnod:

Not really.

Original post by kerily

I was a 'loner' at home because people disliked me for reasons I could do nothing about - mainly because I was queer. I expected this to change at university because I expected people to be more mature and less discriminatory - and it did. I'd imagine many people have similar stories.

It's because children aren't accepting of differences (in my case, being Russian and a bit loud), whereas young adults pretty much prefer them. At school everyone strived to be the same, now everyone can be themselves and it's way more interesting that way. Hence why I didn't enjoy primary school, thought 6th form was decent but finding this year to be *handsdown* the best one of my life so far. My school was like Mean Girls in the beginning, uni is like Mean Girls at the end.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 74

username851717

18

Yussssss! I found more freedom and I had the chance to control my whole life for once :smile:

Reply 75

geetar

16

Yes.

Then it got worse again when I left. Such is life.

Reply 76

Liam_G

14

Original post by Marsha2112

It's because children aren't accepting of differences (in my case, being Russian and a bit loud), whereas young adults pretty much prefer them. At school everyone strived to be the same, now everyone can be themselves and it's way more interesting that way. Hence why I didn't enjoy primary school, thought 6th form was decent but finding this year to be *handsdown* the best one of my life so far. My school was like Mean Girls in the beginning, uni is like Mean Girls at the end.

Mean Girls references :adore:

That film is my guilty pleasure :nopity:

Reply 77

animalnitrate

10

My life has definitely improved since coming to uni. The relationship between me and my parents has certainly got a lot healthier, as not living under the same roof means we're not constantly at each others throats anymore. The two years where I completed my A Levels were the worst of my life, it's been lovely to get away from the ****ty atmosphere/people/teachers at my old school.