What I wish I knew before starting university
1. You won’t have it all figured out right away.
I remember thinking I had to have a solid plan from day one. What I wanted to specialise in, how I’d study, and even who my friends would be. The truth is that university is a learning curve. It’s okay to feel lost at times, and it’s okay to change your mind about lots of things.
2. Managing money is a skill you’ll need and fast.
Budgeting was something I underestimated. Money disappears quickly between rent, groceries, transport, and unexpected expenses. I wish I had set up a proper budget earlier instead of learning the hard way (like running out of money mid-month and surviving on instant noodles).
3. Placements can be tough, but they teach you so much.
For anyone in healthcare courses, placements can initially feel overwhelming. I was nervous about my first placement, but I learned that asking questions, keeping a positive attitude every shift and not getting stuck and giving up made a huge difference. Some shifts were exhausting, but those experiences shaped me the most.
4. Not every day will be amazing, and that’s ok.
There will be days when you doubt yourself, struggle with assignments, or feel homesick. But there will also be days when you feel so blessed and on top of the world. Uni is full of ups and downs; the key is taking it one step at a time.
5. You don’t have to do it alone.
I can’t stress this enough. Please use the support available. Whether it’s academic support, well-being support, course-specific support, personal tutors, mental health services, or just friends, do not be afraid to ask for help. Everyone struggles at some point, not just at the beginning, and you’re never alone.
Looking back, uni has been a mix of challenges, growth, and unforgettable moments. If you’re about to start, what are your biggest worries? And if you’re already in uni, what do you wish you had known earlier? Let’s share and help each other out!
~Annabel (Kingston Rep).
Reply 1
1. You won’t have it all figured out right away.
I remember thinking I had to have a solid plan from day one. What I wanted to specialise in, how I’d study, and even who my friends would be. The truth is that university is a learning curve. It’s okay to feel lost at times, and it’s okay to change your mind about lots of things.
2. Managing money is a skill you’ll need and fast.
Budgeting was something I underestimated. Money disappears quickly between rent, groceries, transport, and unexpected expenses. I wish I had set up a proper budget earlier instead of learning the hard way (like running out of money mid-month and surviving on instant noodles).
3. Placements can be tough, but they teach you so much.
For anyone in healthcare courses, placements can initially feel overwhelming. I was nervous about my first placement, but I learned that asking questions, keeping a positive attitude every shift and not getting stuck and giving up made a huge difference. Some shifts were exhausting, but those experiences shaped me the most.
4. Not every day will be amazing, and that’s ok.
There will be days when you doubt yourself, struggle with assignments, or feel homesick. But there will also be days when you feel so blessed and on top of the world. Uni is full of ups and downs; the key is taking it one step at a time.
5. You don’t have to do it alone.
I can’t stress this enough. Please use the support available. Whether it’s academic support, well-being support, course-specific support, personal tutors, mental health services, or just friends, do not be afraid to ask for help. Everyone struggles at some point, not just at the beginning, and you’re never alone.
Looking back, uni has been a mix of challenges, growth, and unforgettable moments. If you’re about to start, what are your biggest worries? And if you’re already in uni, what do you wish you had known earlier? Let’s share and help each other out!
~Annabel (Kingston Rep).
Hi!
This is a great idea so I thought I could share some of my tips and experiences too!
•
You won't necessarily meet your best friends straight away. Lots of people end up meeting people later in the year or in your second or third year who will be your people! You will find people who you get on well with so don't worry if you don't find people immediately.
•
Be prepared to put yourself out there a little bit. It might be hard but in freshers week people will be mingling and making plans so it's a good idea to talk to people and ask them if they want to make plans! People will appreciate you making plans with them and will then in turn ask you too!
•
Try and set your budget before you get to uni. Work out how much you will get in (job, loan etc) and then how much your rent/bills will be and then you can see how much you will have to spend per week. You'll need money for food and essentials and then you know what you can spend on fun things!
•
Join a society or at least consider it. Go to the freshers fair and see if there are any that you like the sound of as they are good for meeting people and also just doing something fun. The socials are great too and there is usually lots to choose from.
•
I agree with what has been said already - make sure you make the most of the support available as they are there to help you. Use the student support services, careers team and just general help!
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂
Reply 2
This is a great idea so I thought I could share some of my tips and experiences too!
•
You won't necessarily meet your best friends straight away. Lots of people end up meeting people later in the year or in your second or third year who will be your people! You will find people who you get on well with so don't worry if you don't find people immediately.
•
Be prepared to put yourself out there a little bit. It might be hard but in freshers week people will be mingling and making plans so it's a good idea to talk to people and ask them if they want to make plans! People will appreciate you making plans with them and will then in turn ask you too!
•
Try and set your budget before you get to uni. Work out how much you will get in (job, loan etc) and then how much your rent/bills will be and then you can see how much you will have to spend per week. You'll need money for food and essentials and then you know what you can spend on fun things!
•
Join a society or at least consider it. Go to the freshers fair and see if there are any that you like the sound of as they are good for meeting people and also just doing something fun. The socials are great too and there is usually lots to choose from.
•
I agree with what has been said already - make sure you make the most of the support available as they are there to help you. Use the student support services, careers team and just general help!
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂
Hey Lucy!
Thank you so much for sharing your tips and experiences. You’ve made some really great points, especially about not meeting your best friends straight away. It definitely takes time to find the right people and that’s totally okay.
I also love your point about joining societies as it’s such a great way to meet people and try new things outside of your course. Budgeting before uni is definitely a smart move too (wish I had done that sooner!).
I’m sure your advice will be really helpful to students starting out. Thanks again for adding to the discussion☺️.
~ Annabel (Kingston Rep).
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- What students wish they knew before starting their course
- 5 Things I wish i knew before starting uni
- What’s one thing you wish you had known before starting university?
- Common questions and top tips for University!
- New to QUB & Belfast Any Advice for an International Student?
- University
- Study A Year Abroad - Kyoto University??
- What do you wish you knew before uni?
- 🎓 Top 5 things we wish we knew before starting uni?
- What students wish they knew before starting their course
- Just starting
- Questions to ask at an Open Day
- The Official UAL Postgraduate Thread
- What’s one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of Year 12?
- Official Uni of Chester Offer Holders Thread 2025 entry
- How to Shortlist and Compare Options Beyond Rankings
- Thing I wish I knew before studying in London
- Feeling genuinely sick about leaving for university
- University of Brighton Student blog & AMA
- Freshers and halls of residence
Last reply 6 months ago
Struggling With Delays in My Kingston MSc Nursing Application – Feeling Stuck 😞Last reply 8 months ago
Kingston University London Official Clearing thread 2025Last reply 8 months ago
Debunking Clearing myths: What I learnt from going through ClearingPosted 9 months ago
How To Make Best Use of Kingston University's Careers ServicesPosted 9 months ago
An Overview of Penrhyn Road Campus - From current Kingston studentLast reply 9 months ago
Why I chose Kingston University to study BSc Cyber Security and Digital ForensicsLast reply 9 months ago
All the thing I wish I packed and should have left at home
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
