University life

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hi @emilyyy1527

Personally, I felt that the transition from school to university life was smooth for me. This is mainly because I met some amazing people during the first few weeks. But, I would say that adapting to university life is primarily about learning how to manage your time and responsibilities. At first, it felt very overwhelming to manage lectures, coursework, personal chores, socialising, and going to the gym all at once! But a few weeks later, I learned how to prioritise tasks and make a schedule that works for me.

While the transition has its own challenges, it's a lot of fun and is a great learning experience!

I hope this helps!

All the best,
Akshita Gupta
(University of Southampton Student Rep)

Reply 2

CardiffUni Rep 2

Official Rep

Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hiya!

I would say that in terms of university content, it didn't feel like a jump. I think the thing I struggled most with was all the free time I was given! Its very different in the sense that you are expected to do a lot of independent studying. I found it was quite easy for me to procrastinate on work haha.

However, first year is treated as more like a transitionary year for most universities. In my university course for example, first year counted only 10% of the degree, and only in 2nd semester. This gives you time to figure out how you best learn, and adapting to university life :smile:

~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep

Reply 3

EdgeHillStudents

Official Rep

Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hey @emilyyy1527,

I think one of the large contributing factors to adapting can be if you move out especially if it is your first time as this is a big thing to adapt to. I found it took me a couple of weeks to get use to it all but freshers week is great for keeping your mind off of moving away. As you are usually quite busy with activities and meeting new people.

In regards to work I found it a bit difficult learning how to reference and how to best structure my essays at the beginning but after a few assignments, reading through my feedback and setting up meetings with staff I started getting the hang of it all.

I would say if you struggle with the work load or aspects of assignments speak with the module leader or your tutor or see if there is any support you can get for example at Edge Hill there is something called Uniskills which are online and in-person workshops which can teach you how to reference, how to academically read and write and lots more.

I personally found adapting overall quite easy but I think it can depend on the people around you but I'm sure you will do great.

Hope that helps!

Rebecca
3rd Year Geoenvironmental Hazards Student

Reply 4

Liverpool Hope University

Official Rep

Hi there!
I think the transition is fairly smooth. In a few aspects uni life and school life are similar but at the same time university is very unlike school. At university you end up with a lot more free time outside of study which is probably one of the hardest things to manage because it can feel strange to get used to!

It may also feel strange if you are moving out for the first time as it'll be a strange new environment but you will quickly adjust and you will not be the only person potentially feeling this way. But after 48 hours or so you quickly find your footing.

In terms of essays etc it depends on your course and university but tutors are always really supportive in regards to giving advice on assignments etc and they will have drop in hours where you can go and ask for advice or any questions- they will have heard every question before so no question will be a silly question! I know here at Liverpool Hope we offer many different workshops regarding reference and essay structure and the likes so there is plenty of support available to you.

Most importantly just embrace this new step in life! It may feel a little scary at first but as you get to know flat mates/ course mates/ join societies you will feel many who feel the same way and you'll quickly find your place! Then you'll look back and think- ah that transition wasn't as hard as i thought it was going to be.

I hope this helps,
Daisy- Graduate Advocate 😊

Reply 5

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hi @emilyyy1527 ,

I was expecting to find the transition to uni from school to be harder than it was as I didn't really struggle with the transition at all.

In terms of the work and the workload, usually first year acts as a year for you to get used to the course and the way you need to write assignments etc so you will get a lot of help with this which is really good. The tutors were really helpful for me and in my experience they offered a lot of help and formative feedback opportunities so you could see if you were writing in the correct style and doing the work correctly.

I would also say to make sure you take advantage of all of the help that your university offers you. At Hallam, there is often study skills sessions on in the library or online which are really good so make sure you are attending theses if you are struggling with anything. One thing that I found tricky when coming to uni was referencing as I hadn't done it before but theses sessions and my tutors were great at explaining and helping with this.

At Hallam, we also get an academic advisor and you might get similar or some people get a personal tutor who you ca go to for help and advice so if you get one of these then make sure you are taking advantage of this and scheduling meetings with them if you ever feel like you need any help. Every university will have a wellbeing team too so if you ever feel as though you are really struggling, make sure you go and talk to them.

As for the workload, I found it easier to manage than doing my three A Levels in first year so I wouldn't worry about this too much before you go as it is likely to be similar workload to when you were at school which you have managed to do before so you will be fine!

I think the biggest change is probably the fact that you are living independently which can be a big change for people! To prepare for this I would suggest to practice some cooking before you go to uni and make sure you have some meals which you know you can easily cook so that at least you know you can do this and you don't need to worry as much about this.

I hope some of this helps!

Lucy- SHU Student ambassador :smile:

Reply 6

UCLan Ambassador

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Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hi @emilyyy1527,

I think this varies from person to person as some people are brought up more independently than others, so they are used to it. For me it wasn’t a big jump and I kept in contact with my family and friends quite often so that was always nice. It can be a nervous time with the packing, moving, and settling in but there are many ways to make that move easier. Most universities have Facebook groups for courses or accommodation so you can make friends before meeting them in person.

Getting used to the workload might be more challenging than some people think but with the right support and keeping organised it is manageable. 😊

Hope this helps.
Jakub - Fashion promotion and marketing student

Reply 7

University of Sunderland Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hi there,

That is a great question which I think alot of people worry about when they first start university. I think personally, I didn't find it that difficult. I think the best way to go into it is to think of it as something completely different. University is nothing like school, and should be treated as such. I think when you get to university and you meet people on your course, they will help you to navigate the differences well.

I think the main difference is the free time you have, independent study was a new concept to me, and while it is enjoyable, it can be hard to balance your time and make sure you actually get work done in that time.

I hope this helps,

Ellen
Medical Student
University of Sunderland

Reply 8

Richmond Hiba

Official Rep

Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hi there,
Personally, it was okay for me, but I did have to adapt to moving countries. During my first year, the workload decreased significantly compared to what I was used to, so I had to adjust to a new rhythm. Since my university follows an American curriculum, the structure was different from what I was accustomed to, which added to the adjustment. But I found that engaging in various activities on campus helped me fill my time and make the transition a bit smoother.

Good luck!

Hiba
RAUL Student Ambassador

Reply 9

UELStudentRep

Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hey there,

I can imagine that the thought of studying at university can be quite daunting.

As a student who has transferred straight from school to university, I can say that it was not as scary as it sounds, and I found that it was not as difficult to transfer.

Here are a few tips to make the change from school to university a little easier:

•

Your course mates are probably all in the same boat as you- they have gone to university straight after completing school so try to make friends in the first few weeks of university.

•

You can use your free time attending events and that way you can meet other students- a great way is to join societies at your university.

•

Joining societies is a great way to meet other students who share similar interests as you.

•

Be prepared- get all the necessary equipment required for your lectures/seminars- this could be a notepad and a pen, a computer or an iPad- whichever you prefer to take your notes on.

Good luck with the transition and wishing you all the best!

-Saema

Reply 10

CardiffUni Rep

Official Rep

Original post by emilyyy1527

Was it difficult to adapt to university life after school?

Hi there,

I do think that this can vary depending on what you like/ dislike about school and if you went to a liberal sixth-form college or sixth-form at your school. Personally, switching to university life as a welcome and easy transition as I favoured independence and freedom. It is very different from the structure of school though.

Do you have any specific concerns?

All the best,
Jaz - Cardiff student rep

(edited 4 months ago)

Reply 11

University of Portsmouth Student Rep

Hi there!

Adapting to university life is a different transition for everyone, and can seem quite daunting, but there are lots of things you can do to help yourself with it!

Joining a society is a great way to meet likeminded people, as you’ll already share an interest with the people you meet! They also give you the opportunity to meet students in other years, who may be able to give you some advice for the school-uni transition. Your course mates are also a good source of support during your first year, as everyone is in the same boat!

Don’t forget to reach out to the support available to you, whether that is academic tutors or wellbeing staff, as they are there to help you, and guide you through this new period!

I hope this helps, and best of luck with starting uni!

Eryn - Portsmouth Student Rep 🙂