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Is the second year of uni much different from the first?
Hey everyone. I'm just about to start my second year at uni and I have a few questions for the people who've been in my position before. Basically, what are the main differences of being in the second year when compared to the first? Is there a big workload increase? How much time did you get to socialise? Is it pretty much the same as being a fresher?
I really enjoyed my first year (living in halls) but next year I'll be living in a shared house in town so one of the downsides is that I'll have to travel up to campus (fingers crossed I dont have many early lectures lol). I'm only living with 4 of my group of 11 friends I usually go out with, so I'm worried this will affect the group dynamics and we won't be as close anymore - as when we were living in halls we were always together and it'll take more effort to see each other. Would like to hear of any experiences from people who have been in that sort of situation too
(I'm starting to wish I was a fresher again! I loved my first year and was quite sad to go home for the summer, so my message to all the new freshers would be: make the most of it!)
I really enjoyed my first year (living in halls) but next year I'll be living in a shared house in town so one of the downsides is that I'll have to travel up to campus (fingers crossed I dont have many early lectures lol). I'm only living with 4 of my group of 11 friends I usually go out with, so I'm worried this will affect the group dynamics and we won't be as close anymore - as when we were living in halls we were always together and it'll take more effort to see each other. Would like to hear of any experiences from people who have been in that sort of situation too
(I'm starting to wish I was a fresher again! I loved my first year and was quite sad to go home for the summer, so my message to all the new freshers would be: make the most of it!)
Reply 1
Longer essays and fewer exams, in my case. And being able to choose my modules.
Socially it was very disappointing, for me. I lived in a private flat with two girls who turned out to be complete *****, and I didn't really get any chances to meet new people (mostly my fault). Since I only had a few friends from the previous year in halls, I didn't really do much.
Socially it was very disappointing, for me. I lived in a private flat with two girls who turned out to be complete *****, and I didn't really get any chances to meet new people (mostly my fault). Since I only had a few friends from the previous year in halls, I didn't really do much.
Reply 2
ya exactly a question id like to hear the answer to i mean you hear about freshers and how hall life is great and how amazing it is meeting new people which you think is university 100% but oop oop the next year all of that doesnt apply so what does university become then?
In my experience, unless you're living with all of your friends in the second year, the social side goes from being a group kind of thing to more of a dispersed network, with lots of different groups and individuals all over the place, many of whom aren't friends with each other.
The workload is larger, but more interesting. And - because it counts - you're taking it more seriously. Putting more time into it.
If you overdo it, this can end up with you going a little bit mad, eating too many ready meals, not leaving the house enough, and forgetting what socks look like, particularly around deadlines.
So, what you need to do is balance your working hard with playing hard. Clubbing isn't as much fun, as you'll have seen it all before, so it's better to entrench yourself in the pubs and bars, cook for your mates, hit a few house parties, bumble around town aimlessly, and - if you're into it - focus on some of the sport / societies stuff.
Being responsible for a house is a bit weird, particularly when it comes to bills, tidying up, shifting furniture, sorting out internet connections, and so forth. Make sure you get on with your housemates.
The workload is larger, but more interesting. And - because it counts - you're taking it more seriously. Putting more time into it.
If you overdo it, this can end up with you going a little bit mad, eating too many ready meals, not leaving the house enough, and forgetting what socks look like, particularly around deadlines.
So, what you need to do is balance your working hard with playing hard. Clubbing isn't as much fun, as you'll have seen it all before, so it's better to entrench yourself in the pubs and bars, cook for your mates, hit a few house parties, bumble around town aimlessly, and - if you're into it - focus on some of the sport / societies stuff.
Being responsible for a house is a bit weird, particularly when it comes to bills, tidying up, shifting furniture, sorting out internet connections, and so forth. Make sure you get on with your housemates.
The workload is increased (although not greatly), the change is that as this year counts people take it more seriously and therefore work harder than in first year. People also start to think about the post-university what they want to do.
As for the social aspect, I find that after a wild fresher's year, my interest in going out clubbing decreased, and found myself going out less, and more often to bars/pubs then clubs. The other difference is that unlike in halls where a lot of your friends and acquaitance live within a couple hundred metres of you, this year you have to make an effort to see friends who aren't your housemates (and aren't on your course). You start to realise whom you really consider a friend as they're the people you will still see.
As for living in a house. It's nice in a way and you have more communal areas, and your housemates practically become your family. However, there is more responbility. Dealing with landlords are a pain, and they're not so quick to solve problems as in halls. You also find that housemates whom you get on well as friends, drive you crazy as housemates, either in domesticity (no cleaning, excessive use of utilities [esp in my view gas/heating], unreliability in paying bills, inability to ever sort something out) or because you see so much of them you see all the bad moments (tantrums/sulking).
I know I've mainly pointed out negatives, but second year also has its plus points. You start to realise what it is about your course that interests you. Now that everything has settled down (in comparison to freshers), you start to make proper friends/friendships groups as opposed to the random acquaintances you have in freshers' where you're desperate to make friends with everyone.
As for the social aspect, I find that after a wild fresher's year, my interest in going out clubbing decreased, and found myself going out less, and more often to bars/pubs then clubs. The other difference is that unlike in halls where a lot of your friends and acquaitance live within a couple hundred metres of you, this year you have to make an effort to see friends who aren't your housemates (and aren't on your course). You start to realise whom you really consider a friend as they're the people you will still see.
As for living in a house. It's nice in a way and you have more communal areas, and your housemates practically become your family. However, there is more responbility. Dealing with landlords are a pain, and they're not so quick to solve problems as in halls. You also find that housemates whom you get on well as friends, drive you crazy as housemates, either in domesticity (no cleaning, excessive use of utilities [esp in my view gas/heating], unreliability in paying bills, inability to ever sort something out) or because you see so much of them you see all the bad moments (tantrums/sulking).
I know I've mainly pointed out negatives, but second year also has its plus points. You start to realise what it is about your course that interests you. Now that everything has settled down (in comparison to freshers), you start to make proper friends/friendships groups as opposed to the random acquaintances you have in freshers' where you're desperate to make friends with everyone.
I noticed an increase in work, not by much, but it was harder and the essays were longer etc. As others have said, for most people your marks start to count towards your degree this year so in general, students start to take it more seriously anyway and put more effort into it. I did find that work in my second year required more time and effort than it did in first year.
Housing was an issue I had. Living in a house of 5 girls proved extremely interesting, and wasn't my idea of fun by the end of the year. It brought on too much stress, too many arguments, people being bitchy and two-faced and it was just hell to be honest! How I survived it, I don't know, but I did, and I'm sure you won't end up in my situation.
Housing was an issue I had. Living in a house of 5 girls proved extremely interesting, and wasn't my idea of fun by the end of the year. It brought on too much stress, too many arguments, people being bitchy and two-faced and it was just hell to be honest! How I survived it, I don't know, but I did, and I'm sure you won't end up in my situation
.
Reply 7
my second year got crazier, i statyed in halls with some mates, i also met more people due to this and also came friends with my other friends friends who also stayed on campus so social side increase, meant had ot make a effort to see people who had moved into town but we survived, even if it was meeting on a nite out for a drink or inviting them around inbetween lectures . work got more i suppose yet still left it to the end to do it woops
. work got more i suppose yet still left it to the end to do it woopsReply 8
I'm about to retake my second year and this time i will be prepared for it. The second year is so much more important, you actually have to work this year, and the workload more than doubles. If you are living out your need to sort out time and transport for getting to and from uni, you also need to think about food living out, buying, cooking, don't do what i did and live on pizza, chinese and pasta. Remember to match work with play though, the second year is when you will find your real friends, the ones you'll have for the rest of your life.
Reply 9
I'm in second year and its true that you start to realise who your real friends are. I don't think I have any to be honest, after an argument which separated me from our group of friends, my best m8 here treats me like i don't exist. And hte others just about tolerate me, even thought the original issue has been cleared up.
So I have decided to throw myself into work, as im here for a degree. I have to live with these girls next year in a house and i know it's going to be hell unless things clear up( cant see it happening) but oh well aye?
Just don't have any arguments and you'll be fine all you freshers.
Oh yea the work loads is a beast in second year I can't wait for third year gaaahhh.
So I have decided to throw myself into work, as im here for a degree. I have to live with these girls next year in a house and i know it's going to be hell unless things clear up( cant see it happening) but oh well aye?
Just don't have any arguments and you'll be fine all you freshers.
Oh yea the work loads is a beast in second year I can't wait for third year gaaahhh.
Reply 10
Rachey
Hey everyone. I'm just about to start my second year at uni and I have a few questions for the people who've been in my position before. Basically, what are the main differences of being in the second year when compared to the first? Is there a big workload increase? How much time did you get to socialise? Is it pretty much the same as being a fresher?
Second-year is a bit of a limbo really. You're no-longer a fresher starry-eyed at university life. Neither are you an overworked and embittered third-year student trying to scrape together the best grades you can get. It's easy to feel like the university as an institution "forgets" about you a bit in your second year, so the ties you've made in your first year become quite important.
The most important thing is that you CAN still do the stuff you did as a fresher, going to fresher's fair etc. Don't take the attitude that because it's a year on you're now dreadfully over-the-hill.
Work-wise the load is probably going to be similar but you're less likely to be covering the stuff you already had a basic knowledge of (from A-level etc.). Stay on top of things. Now is a good time to get some breadth into your reading, as you should have the basics in place, so give that a try too.
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