Repeating first year elsewhere or staying?

I’m currently a first year at the University of Surrey who commutes to uni. I became increasingly unhappy with the situation as commuting is not the ideal experience I want to have from university. I decided to send out a UCAS application and have received an offer to study Law at the University of Sheffield. My question is , is it worth it to move to the University of Sheffield and repeat first year in order to have the experience of going out, having freedom and making friends? Or should I stay so I don’t waste a year and see the course through?

I’m currently a first year at the University of Surrey who commutes to uni. I became increasingly unhappy with the situation as commuting is not the ideal experience I want to have from university. I decided to send out a UCAS application and have received an offer to study Law at the University of Sheffield. My question is , is it worth it to move to the University of Sheffield and repeat first year in order to have the experience of going out, having freedom and making friends? Or should I stay so I don’t waste a year and see the course through?

I’m currently a first year at the University of Surrey who commutes to uni. I became increasingly unhappy with the situation as commuting is not the ideal experience I want to have from university. I decided to send out a UCAS application and have received an offer to study Law at the University of Sheffield. My question is , is it worth it to move to the University of Sheffield and repeat first year in order to have the experience of going out, having freedom and making friends? Or should I stay so I don’t waste a year and see the course through?

Anon,
If you are happy with everything else at Surrey aside from the commute, then it might be an idea to see how you can reduce your commute or maximise it so you don't feel like you are missing out! You might need to find other commuters who you can spend time with. Perhaps you could start a commuting society to help students meet other commuters?
You could start again, but you would have to consider different challenges you might have e.g. if you are originally from the South, you might find it difficult to adapt to the North. You might find it difficult to be further away from home. You will have experienced one way of law being taught and might not like how they teach it at a different university. You might feel bored and restless if the first year modules or assignments are too similar to what you have already done.
In short, you might need to make some changes at your current uni to make things work better for you. If you do want to move, then do your research before moving.
All the best,
Oluwatosin – 3rd year student – University of Huddersfield

Hi Anon,
These questions are always hard as the right decision for you may be the wrong decision for someone else. My advice would be to make a list of pros and cons of both universities and see which you prefer. With Surrey is there an option to stop commuting and move into accommodation. If in Sheffield you'd be paying for accommodation then surely you could do the same for Surrey. It might feel a little silly cost wise but it'd reduce a whole year of university so maybe that's something to look at and then you can have all those experiences you want without re-starting.
Overall I'd say look at the two courses, look at the universities career services and societies and cities and see what feels best. If you like Surrey but just dislike the commute then not having to redo first year is obviously ideal but university is a big experience and if moving will make you enjoy it more then go for it 🙂
Sorry, not a clear answer here but I hope it might help a little!
- Jessica
2nd year, Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)

Thank you very much that’s great advice. I think another factor I should have mentioned is how I really dislike the area. It’s so near to where I live and it’s just in a small quiet town. But I fully agree putting efforts into staying is a good thing to try

I’m currently a first year at the University of Surrey who commutes to uni. I became increasingly unhappy with the situation as commuting is not the ideal experience I want to have from university. I decided to send out a UCAS application and have received an offer to study Law at the University of Sheffield. My question is , is it worth it to move to the University of Sheffield and repeat first year in order to have the experience of going out, having freedom and making friends? Or should I stay so I don’t waste a year and see the course through?

I’m currently a first year at the University of Surrey who commutes to uni. I became increasingly unhappy with the situation as commuting is not the ideal experience I want to have from university. I decided to send out a UCAS application and have received an offer to study Law at the University of Sheffield. My question is , is it worth it to move to the University of Sheffield and repeat first year in order to have the experience of going out, having freedom and making friends? Or should I stay so I don’t waste a year and see the course through?

I’m currently a first year at the University of Surrey who commutes to uni. I became increasingly unhappy with the situation as commuting is not the ideal experience I want to have from university. I decided to send out a UCAS application and have received an offer to study Law at the University of Sheffield. My question is , is it worth it to move to the University of Sheffield and repeat first year in order to have the experience of going out, having freedom and making friends? Or should I stay so I don’t waste a year and see the course through?