What do you wish you knew before uni?
To anyone already in uni or preparing to start: What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting university? Just collecting advice while I dream big!
Reply 1
Having likely spent 18 years in the same neighborhood hanging out with a relatively similar crowd, university usually offers a big change up in the types of people you can associate with. You could be socialite from a big city who goes clubbing every night living next to a kid from the sticks who enjoys fishing and church on sundays, or vice versa/anything in between
Getting to know other people at university was one of the most important experiences of my early adulthood. Go out and meet people different to yourself
Getting to know other people at university was one of the most important experiences of my early adulthood. Go out and meet people different to yourself
Reply 2
Original post by Oma.on.fleek
To anyone already in uni or preparing to start: What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting university? Just collecting advice while I dream big!
Hi @Oma.on.fleek
Don't shut yourself off to making lots of different friends in lots of different places! While it can be tempting to just have one "friend group" (usually your flatmates), university is so much more fun if you know as many people as possible! It also means if something does happen with that friend group (and sometimes it does - the flat was likely put together randomly and sometimes they're nice people but just not your type of people) you've still got an amazing support network around you. Meet people from your course, other flats in your accommodation, part-time work, friends of friends!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Reply 3
5
Original post by Lancaster Student Ambassador
Hi @Oma.on.fleek
Don't shut yourself off to making lots of different friends in lots of different places! While it can be tempting to just have one "friend group" (usually your flatmates), university is so much more fun if you know as many people as possible! It also means if something does happen with that friend group (and sometimes it does - the flat was likely put together randomly and sometimes they're nice people but just not your type of people) you've still got an amazing support network around you. Meet people from your course, other flats in your accommodation, part-time work, friends of friends!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Don't shut yourself off to making lots of different friends in lots of different places! While it can be tempting to just have one "friend group" (usually your flatmates), university is so much more fun if you know as many people as possible! It also means if something does happen with that friend group (and sometimes it does - the flat was likely put together randomly and sometimes they're nice people but just not your type of people) you've still got an amazing support network around you. Meet people from your course, other flats in your accommodation, part-time work, friends of friends!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Noted
Reply 4
Original post by Oma.on.fleek
To anyone already in uni or preparing to start: What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting university? Just collecting advice while I dream big!
Hi @Oma.on.fleek
My best advice is to make sure you put yourself out there as much as you can! Take every opportunity you have even if it is something that you don't think is quite your thing, you might end up really enjoying it and also meeting people that you could go on to become really good friends with!
As mentioned already, try not to just stick to the first group of mates that you find, be open to having lots of different people and you will naturally become closer with certain people over the course of the year! Also just be yourself, there's no need to pretend you are someone that you aren't and it will make it a lot easier to meet people and make friends if you just be yourself!
Uni is great and I am sure you will have the best time! Good luck with everything, let me know if you have any more questions, I am more than happy to help!
Thanks, Matt 🙂
Reply 5
Original post by Oma.on.fleek
To anyone already in uni or preparing to start: What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting university? Just collecting advice while I dream big!
Hey @Oma.on.fleek ! I love this idea of experience sharing because we all have such different experiences. I think my biggest advise is heavily influenced by me being an international student.
I would advise anyone to go to familiarise yourself with the international advise centre/team on your campus. They were so helpful in my experience in the UK. They helped me with getting a bank account , sorting out important paper work , my provisional license and general things that I needed to get sorted that I wasn't sure about. Especially the things regarding my right to work , tax and other very strict and regulated things for my visa. It is so important to know where to find things , how to access certain them and to know your visa restrictions. The visa advise centre on my campus was a life saver , I assume that most campuses have one but do check before you pick a university.
I hope this helps some international students .
Cece
Energy engineering student
De Montfort University
Reply 6
5
Original post by LJMUStudentReps
Hi @Oma.on.fleek
My best advice is to make sure you put yourself out there as much as you can! Take every opportunity you have even if it is something that you don't think is quite your thing, you might end up really enjoying it and also meeting people that you could go on to become really good friends with!
As mentioned already, try not to just stick to the first group of mates that you find, be open to having lots of different people and you will naturally become closer with certain people over the course of the year! Also just be yourself, there's no need to pretend you are someone that you aren't and it will make it a lot easier to meet people and make friends if you just be yourself!
Uni is great and I am sure you will have the best time! Good luck with everything, let me know if you have any more questions, I am more than happy to help!
Thanks, Matt 🙂
My best advice is to make sure you put yourself out there as much as you can! Take every opportunity you have even if it is something that you don't think is quite your thing, you might end up really enjoying it and also meeting people that you could go on to become really good friends with!
As mentioned already, try not to just stick to the first group of mates that you find, be open to having lots of different people and you will naturally become closer with certain people over the course of the year! Also just be yourself, there's no need to pretend you are someone that you aren't and it will make it a lot easier to meet people and make friends if you just be yourself!
Uni is great and I am sure you will have the best time! Good luck with everything, let me know if you have any more questions, I am more than happy to help!
Thanks, Matt 🙂
Thanks Matt
Reply 7
5
Original post by De Montfort University
Hey @Oma.on.fleek ! I love this idea of experience sharing because we all have such different experiences. I think my biggest advise is heavily influenced by me being an international student.
I would advise anyone to go to familiarise yourself with the international advise centre/team on your campus. They were so helpful in my experience in the UK. They helped me with getting a bank account , sorting out important paper work , my provisional license and general things that I needed to get sorted that I wasn't sure about. Especially the things regarding my right to work , tax and other very strict and regulated things for my visa. It is so important to know where to find things , how to access certain them and to know your visa restrictions. The visa advise centre on my campus was a life saver , I assume that most campuses have one but do check before you pick a university.
I hope this helps some international students .
Cece
Energy engineering student
De Montfort University
I would advise anyone to go to familiarise yourself with the international advise centre/team on your campus. They were so helpful in my experience in the UK. They helped me with getting a bank account , sorting out important paper work , my provisional license and general things that I needed to get sorted that I wasn't sure about. Especially the things regarding my right to work , tax and other very strict and regulated things for my visa. It is so important to know where to find things , how to access certain them and to know your visa restrictions. The visa advise centre on my campus was a life saver , I assume that most campuses have one but do check before you pick a university.
I hope this helps some international students .
Cece
Energy engineering student
De Montfort University
Thank you for the advice
Reply 8
Original post by Oma.on.fleek
To anyone already in uni or preparing to start: What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting university? Just collecting advice while I dream big!
Hi there!
For me, I have a degree in Medical Biology and I am doing a masters in Pharmaceutical Science. Having an accredited degree is important! Whatever degree you are choosing and whatever industry you want to enter, please make sure your degree is accredited by a professional body (for example the royal society of biology accredits bioscience degrees). This opens up networking opportunities, events, awards, and you can become a member of these bodies and add it to your CV. Additionally, it tells employers that the content you learned in your degree is of a credible standard.
It is also important for your career. I believe you cannot register as a Biomedical Scientist for example without an accredited biomedical degree (accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science). If this was the case for you for example, you would have to do top up modules which cost money and of course time.
I did not know how important accreditation was because it was not something discussed when I was in high school (2020, things may have changed now!). So please look into it before you pick your degree!
Kind regards, Jenifer (Kingston rep)
Reply 9
Hi Oma,
Thanks for reaching out, very good question!
The single biggest thing I wish I'd known before uni is that uni is about more than studying. I wish I'd put a little less pressure on myself at uni to spend all my time working and did more things to have fun, get to meet people and experience new things. Whilst its important to get into good working habits and work hard for your degree, its just as important to live your uni life in other ways, such as by joining societies, going to SU nights, getting involved with part-time work, fundraising and exploring town.
The best university experience will turn you into a well-rounded and happy person, not just a graduate.
I hope this helps!
Holly
University of Bath
Thanks for reaching out, very good question!
The single biggest thing I wish I'd known before uni is that uni is about more than studying. I wish I'd put a little less pressure on myself at uni to spend all my time working and did more things to have fun, get to meet people and experience new things. Whilst its important to get into good working habits and work hard for your degree, its just as important to live your uni life in other ways, such as by joining societies, going to SU nights, getting involved with part-time work, fundraising and exploring town.
The best university experience will turn you into a well-rounded and happy person, not just a graduate.
I hope this helps!
Holly
University of Bath
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 10
20
That you do have to actually do the required reading from day one.
You can't just rely on other people doing it and then hope that you can bluff your way through a tutorial.
You can't just rely on other people doing it and then hope that you can bluff your way through a tutorial.
Reply 11
Original post by Oma.on.fleek
To anyone already in uni or preparing to start: What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting university? Just collecting advice while I dream big!
I would say that making friendships takes time! Uni is a massive jump in that you're responsible for your own time, and I would say it can take longer to make friends, compared to a school setting where you're around people every day! Its absolutely normal to not be besties with your flatmates, for example. My best piece of advice would be to not fret if you struggle to settle in, in the first few weeks, these things take time
~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Student Rep
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 12
Original post by Oma.on.fleek
To anyone already in uni or preparing to start: What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting university? Just collecting advice while I dream big!
Hi!
This is a great question and it is always good to have lots of advice from different people! Here is one thing that I wish I knew before starting university:
Making friends can be trickier than you might think, but you just need to put yourself out there! I found it hard when I first started Uni to put myself out there and start talking to people, but it really is the best way of making friends. You will meet so many new people in freshers week, so talk to as many as you can, get their social media and meet up with them! You can't be afraid of people saying no, as most people will want to make friends too so they will likely say yes.
Also trying to get involved in as much as you can do. There will be societies, events at the SU, general events at your halls, nights out etc. Try and do as much as you can, especially in first year!
I hope some of this helps 🙂
Lucy -SHU student ambassador.
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