So true, I'm the queen of rambling - as you might see next year
(I'm the president of the English and Creative Writing society so will hopefully see you around!)
Three best parts:
- the staff; like I've said before, they're engaging, fun and massive lovers of tweed - wait til your induction, you'll see... But the staff are great - they know their stuff and they know how to get you excited about it, they're a lot of fun and they really do want you to succeed and do your best!
- the class sizes; they are tiny! Which is amazing - you get so much more time with lecturers and it's much more personal and you have time to build a relationship with them. I attended Newcastle uni for a year, there were... 275 students studying English Lit - here at Hudds, there's like 40 max? It's so good!
- the content; the course here is so well-rounded and interesting. The lecturers introduce you to new ideas and concepts and encourage you to engage with the content without it being under - or over - whelming. The reading lists are so fun, and stuff you want to read - which helps!
The department is just great - I know I know I know I keep gushing but they are! They are so engaging with their students and they really care. My experiences at different uni's has been polar opposites - this department is so unique. They're all about student success but they understand people have lives and sometimes bad things happen and they support people through that. I cannot sing their praises enough - they're just the best!
First semester - ok, first things first - do not get sucked into Freshers week. Do whatever you want to do but don't feel like you have to do everything - you will get sick. So get the least sick you can - great English, I know
read in advance, use first year to get some practice in for second and final year but don't stress any bad grades - first year doesn't count for a reason. Deffo places to go: Bar Maroc/Small Seeds - best pizza! Warehouse for after lecture drinks, Arcade Food/Beer in Byram Arcade and the Corner. Find somewhere to clear your head; be it the gym, Greenhead park, the library etc - find a nice place to take a pause. Have a good long chat with your personal tutor and get the vibe with them. Do not start looking at houses until after Christmas - they're not going to all go, it's a lie. Join in with all the society stuff you're interested in - then you can narrow down for the next few years. Make sure you talk to everyone - it makes it all a little nicer but don't stress if you don't get along with people and, last of all, if you are struggling, tell people! Do not suffer in silence - everyone finds uni rough, it's not just you.
Hope that helps, if anything isn't clear, please ask more questions - I could rattle on for hours!
Abbi
Student Rep, Univeristy of Huddersfield