What's uni actually like?
I've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Reply 1
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hi @Radwa.s
It was a long time ago now (2021) but hopefully I can still give some relevant advice.
I put in effort to join all the relevant course/accommodation/general group chats I could across Facebook/WhatsApp/snapchat etc. Honestly, a lot of the people you will NEVER meet, however, I did meet some really amazing friends through my course group chats who are still my best friends today.
I made sure I could cook basic food so I wouldn't starve to death! I had a stay-at-home parent most of my life and I'll admit I was a little babied so wasn't as independent as some people starting university so it was important to me to think about more general life skills like laundry and cleaning.
I prepared for packing by writing a very thorough packing list ahead of time so I had plenty of time to add really obvious things I ended up missing! I also checked other lists on forums such as TSR to see if there was anything they recommended. An obvious thing to remember is an extension lead, and a personal favourite of mine is those plastic bag clips that can be used to seal packets - super useful for keeping bread/crisps fresh and stopping frozen items from spilling all over your freezer drawer!
First few weeks of living were definitely strange. For me, the first month felt slow and weird - like I was in a hotel of sorts? After the first month something clicked and it because "home" and felt normal. It'll really vary per person/university. I'd obviously say to hang out with your flat, but also put in the effort to spend time with course mates outside of lectures and meet new people through societies.
Starting a new course is really fun honestly. Usually they don't start you off too "hard", so some of the early content felt like a recap of A-levels. Make sure if you're using a computer you save documents properly with a logical name and in a file - I had so many random pdfs floating around in downloads which was a nightmare. Similarly if you're using paper ensure you title pages logically and file them away properly. Don't panic if you don't settle on a note-taking/revision style. It's more important that you make some form of notes. I always found that interacting with the lecture material will force your brain to pick up more of it and form connections and I struggled more with lectures where I sat there doing nothing.
Best of luck starting university!
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Reply 2
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hi @Radwa.s
Firstly, well done on completing your exams! I hope they went as well as they could and I am sure you will get some fantastic results to reward your hard work!
I have just finished my first year at uni and I can honestly say I loved every second of it! To prepare I found various lists that people had made online with the main things to take and as mentioned I practiced some basic cooking as I didn't really cook much at home before going to uni! BBC good food is a great website to get quick and easy meal ideas from.
My first few weeks were good but moving to a new city and living independently definitely takes a little getting used to, but that is just normal! I made sure before hand that I made good effort with the people in my flat by finding them on social media and getting to know them slightly. My accommodation also put us all in a group chat so I made sure I was vocal on there. It definitely made it a bit easier when moving in as I felt as though I had already met them!
My best advice in freshers week is to go to as much as you can and put yourself out there as much as you can. Freshers week is the best opportunity to meet new people at things such as the freshers fair and the course you are doing might hold some intro sessions and there you will start to meet the people on your course who you will see most days! As long as you put the effort in, which I am sure you will, you will meet plenty of people!
Starting a new course is great! You will find that in your first year the workload is reduced compared to the following years however, there are always times that feel stressful with the work but as long as you are prepared and you stay disciplined then you will be absolutely fine!
I hope this response has helped you slightly, good luck for results day and I hope you have the best time at uni! Let me know if you have any other questions, I am more than happy to help.
Thanks, Matt 🙂
Official LJMU Student Rep
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
I've "started" uni a few times so I guess I have kind of varied perspectives on this, speaking from the first time I went to uni and moved out:
How did you guys prepare?
I didn't really do any preparation. Not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing? Honestly looking back I think taking the summer to enjoy it as much as possible was a good thing as it was one of the last true summer holidays I ever had...! You'll probably spend your summers at uni working, either part-time/casual work to get some money over the holidays or in an internship/placement, and dependent on course perhaps doing fieldwork or dissertation/thesis work before final year.
What did you pack?
Clothes, bedding, some dishes and cutlery, my laptop, some bits of stationery, some books and so on that I wanted to take. I moved into a private rental rather than halls when I first moved out so kitchen appliances and such not as essential as it was fully equipped. My mum also took me to do a food shop with her the day of moving in which I also brought with me.
Realistically a lot of stuff you can pick up once you get to the uni in terms of random amenities, just focus on making sure you have things to wear, things to sleep on/with, and whatever you need to study and entertain yourself. Bringing some familiar things from home can also help, although try and avoid overloading with that!
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
I struggled a lot honestly. Really the entire first year - it didn't help that I had then undiagnosed mental health issues (although one of my kindly flatmates did try and encourage me to recognise them and also engage in social stuff more, although I did not respond to this recommendation really), and also that I went to a "local" university and ended up going home almost every weekend. I found it really hard to sleep the first night (in fact after my mum left I wasn't even sure what I was really supposed to do while sat in my room). It took me a long time to make friends and longer still to really do anything with them - mostly I just went back and forth to lectures and my accommodation.
In retrospect I don't recommend that approach (and is not how I approached things so much subsequently when moving to a new uni) - all the school leaver age students are in the same boat of not knowing anyone, being unsure of themselves and nervous, and you really should just openly go up to people and strike up conversation, join people for lunch/coffee breaks/studying together etc. I'd also suggest avoiding the urge to go visit home early, to avoid it becoming a crutch (especially if you live near your parental home).
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Honestly the workload felt like less to me as I'd done IB beforehand. In reality it probably wasn't so different but the main difference was the way the work was divided - there are far fewer contact hours but that doesn't mean you are done when the lecture finishes. Usually lectures are just an introduction to a topic or a case study for a specific matter, and it's expected you will do a great deal of work outside of lectures. Worth bearing in mind you're expected to be spending approximately a full time job's worth of time on studying when on a full time degree, so realistically 30-40 hours a week should be spent on your studies of which only a small portion of that is usually timetabled activities.
It really is important to go and read into topics more after lectures, do practice questions or exercises etc as applicable to your subject. It's not like school where you are given in a structured classroom environment all the information you need for the exam and time to practice it - you're often only given some of the information and/or no "practice" time and it's expected you will do this work yourself. Adjusting to this new way of learning is really the most important part of succeeding at uni academically - avoid thinking of it as "school 2" and as an entirely new way of learning and studying.
If you approach it as a 9-5 job you'll do yourself a lot of favours not only in ensuring you do the above, but also mitigating stress. If you just make a point of setting an alarm consistently every morning for a set time, making sure you are up and on campus by a set time every day (regardless of lectures etc) and then set yourself up to work through the day up until another set time before you "clock off" you'll develop very useful habits for succeeding academically in my opinion (this is how most people how get 1sts seem to do it - not by intellect but simply consistency). That said it doesn't have to be literally 9 to 5.
Inevitably you're going to have some flex in your schedule as assignment deadlines come and go, and you will also have time during the vacation periods to catch up on bits you didn't get a chance to do during the main teaching term (also during reading weeks if your uni has these). But if you make a point of turning up to campus regularly at the same time and working through to say 3 or so, just going to lectures and other timetabled activities as they come up, then you can feel a lot more empowered to "switch off" at the end of the day and engage in social and other activities without so much feeling the stress of "I got invited to go hang out with some people but I have this assignment due tomorrow I haven't done anything for!"
Reply 4
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hi there,
I hope you are doing well and am enjoying your summer so far! This is completely normal so please do not worry. In relation to thinking about results day, honestly the best piece of advice I can give you is to try to. push it to the back of your mind - when I was in my year 13 summer all i did was enjoy the freedom while I still had it!
In terms of preparation, I would largely recommend joining as many facebook or whatsapp groups that are relevant to your university, your course and you accommodation. I met my first year flatmates and most of my course mates through them! It definitely eases the nerves on the first day because it makes you excited to meet new people.
For packing, this sounds so gen-z of me but I honestly just searched on tiktok about honest videos of what to bring! There was some stuff online that the uni recommend that I never personally would have used, and these videos also showed me things that I didn't even think of bringing! It is always better to overpack that underpack in my opinion but it is always really useful to think that if you need anything, there will most likely be a shop nearby that you can get it from.
The first few weeks can feel quite long because you are adjusting to a whole new lifestyle. For me personally the first 2/3 weeks were amazing and then after that I got a bit overwhelmed with everything and came home for a few days and it made such a difference! One of the most important things at uni is to give yourself time to recharge and to look after yourself - it sounds so simple but it is so important!
I loved starting my course because I was final able to focus my energy on one subject that I was extremely passionate about. The workload at the beginning was all new so it took about two weeks to adjust but after a while you find a rhythm and pattern that works for you and then everything falls into place!
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck for the future
Rachel (UoS Student Room Rep)
Reply 5
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hello @Radwa.s!
For me, getting ready started with learning some basic life skills. I practised cooking simple, nutritious meals so I wouldn't just rely on quick, unhealthy options. Things like doing my own laundry and trying to manage a budget for my expenses were also significant. While they might seem minor, mastering these tasks beforehand made the actual transition to independent living much smoother and less stressful. Academically, I didn't try to get ahead on the specific course material, but I did spend some time familiarising myself with the general structure and expectations of university-level study, such as how referencing works and the typical format for academic essays.
I aimed to pack in a sensible and practical way, focusing on utility and comfort without bringing too many unnecessary items. A crucial item I brought was a power strip with multiple outlets, as electrical sockets in student rooms are often limited. For the kitchen, I kept it minimal: one good frying pan, a small saucepan, a sharp knife, and a few sets of cutlery and plates.
Those initial weeks of living away from home were a mix of excitement, adaptation. Getting to know my flatmates was a significant part of this period. Those first few days were filled with unpacking, figuring out how to share communal living spaces, and engaging in casual conversations that gradually built connections. Exploring the university campus and the new city was also an adventure.
It quickly became apparent that the approach to learning was fundamentally different from school. University places a much greater emphasis on independent study and critical thinking. Lecturers introduce ideas, but you are expected to delve deeper and read widely. I quickly realised that effective time management was crucial. I had to set aside specific times each day to review notes and work on assignments. This proactive engagement with the material is important to become a high achiever.
Best regards,
Ilya,
Third year Cyber Security student from DMU
Reply 6
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hi
Firstly, congratulations on finishing your exams - this is a great achievement!
When I first moved away for University, Living alone was a big change, and this took time to get used to it. However, I had some great people in my flat, which made my transition into university life particularly comfortable. I found socialising was really easy to do within freshers week at the start of the year, as everyone is particularly friendly and wants to meet new people and make new friends.
I made sure that before I moved to University, I practiced making different meals and completing food shops by myself to ensure that I could do it effectively. I would totally recommend this to anyone else considering going to university who would be living away.
I hope this helps,
Matt
Wrexham Uni Reps
Reply 7
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hi there,
Congratulations on finishing all of your exams and I hope you have a great summer before you start university!
I thought I may as well add my advice on here too as you can never have enough advice on something like this!
1.
How did I prepare?
Joining Facebook groups is a good idea too. There will be so many people to talk to on there, and even if you don't meet any of them once you are there it is a good way to just chat to people about uni and take some of the worry away! Once results day has passed, they will become more active with people who are definitely going to that uni and when people start to get their accommodation offers you may be able to find some of the people you will be living with which is nice!
1.
What did I pack?
I definitely overpacked when I first came to uni! I had lots of things with me that I didn't need so I thought I would give a list of things I found great and things not to bring.
Things that were great:
•
Two sets of bedding/two towels. This is a great idea for when you can't wash and dry your bedding all in one day! Sometimes it is just not possible to get it all done so I found having a spare set really helpful.
•
Multiple tea towels as they get dirty quite easily so it's good to have spares to hand.
•
Tupperware for freezing food. Cooking for one person can be tricky so it's good to be able to freeze food.
•
Extension leads
•
Storage for under your bed if you have room as there may not be much storage space in the room.
Things I did not need:
•
Too many kitchen utensils! Only bring things you use often at home otherwise you will end up with lots of things you don't use.
•
Candles as you won't be allowed them.
•
Door stops as if you have a fire door you won't be allowed to use them.
•
Big items such as printers - just use the ones at Uni.
1.
What were the first dew weeks like living away?
1.
Course workload.
For my course, I found this quite manageable. I thought that the workload was easier to manage than my A levels and I think I was expecting it to be harder, so this made it an easier transition. You will probably go over things you learnt in your A levels ( if you did a similar subject) and they do ease you in well. By the time you get to exams and writing your assignments you will be much more used to the timetable and the work so it will feel a lot easier. My advice would be to ask as soon if you don't understand something as this makes it so much easier now and later down the line! It's fun though as you will be focusing on the one thing you enjoy learning about, rather than lots of GCSE's or A Levels where you may not be as interested in all of them so I am sure you will enjoy it!
I hope some of this helps and good luck at Uni!
Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂
Reply 8
Hey, congrats on finishing your exams! Thought I’d share a bit of my experience starting uni at Warwick, hope it helps.
Preparing: I mostly focused on getting the basics sorted (student finance, accommodation stuff, course structure). I joined a few group chats before term started, which helped make everything feel a bit more real and less intimidating.
Packing: Try not to overpack (easier said than done). The essentials were things like bedding, kitchen bits (just enough for one person), clothes for all seasons, and a few things that made my room feel more homely (photos, fairy lights, etc.). You can always pick up anything you forget once you’re there.
First few weeks: Freshers was intense and exciting, and a bit overwhelming at times too. Everyone’s in the same boat though, so it was surprisingly easy to strike up conversations with people, even if you’re not usually that outgoing. The biggest thing I learned early on was that it’s completely okay to say yes and no to things, and that there’s no one way to “do” uni/freshers week.
Starting the course: The workload didn’t hit me all at once. The first few weeks were more about settling in and getting used to uni-style learning. Lectures felt a bit hands-off at first compared to school, but seminars really helped me feel more engaged. The content shouldn't be too difficult, as A-Levels should have prepped you well and year 1 is likely to be a slight extension of that. Once the real content picked up (mostly in term 2), I had to get used to managing my time more independently.
Hope that helps a bit, and feel free to ask if you want more specifics! All the best.
Tianchen
Preparing: I mostly focused on getting the basics sorted (student finance, accommodation stuff, course structure). I joined a few group chats before term started, which helped make everything feel a bit more real and less intimidating.
Packing: Try not to overpack (easier said than done). The essentials were things like bedding, kitchen bits (just enough for one person), clothes for all seasons, and a few things that made my room feel more homely (photos, fairy lights, etc.). You can always pick up anything you forget once you’re there.
First few weeks: Freshers was intense and exciting, and a bit overwhelming at times too. Everyone’s in the same boat though, so it was surprisingly easy to strike up conversations with people, even if you’re not usually that outgoing. The biggest thing I learned early on was that it’s completely okay to say yes and no to things, and that there’s no one way to “do” uni/freshers week.
Starting the course: The workload didn’t hit me all at once. The first few weeks were more about settling in and getting used to uni-style learning. Lectures felt a bit hands-off at first compared to school, but seminars really helped me feel more engaged. The content shouldn't be too difficult, as A-Levels should have prepped you well and year 1 is likely to be a slight extension of that. Once the real content picked up (mostly in term 2), I had to get used to managing my time more independently.
Hope that helps a bit, and feel free to ask if you want more specifics! All the best.
Tianchen
Reply 9
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hi there!
You've already had some really good advice so I'll keep my response brief:
How did I prepare?
I learnt to cook 5 easy, cheap and yummy recipes so I wouldn't rely on eating out and spending a lot of money in the first few weeks! I also read up about what part-time jobs I could do on campus, and took a look at Bath's societies.
What did I pack?
A keepy cup, posters and photos for the wall, a diary, laptop, pencil case... a lamp I ended up not needing because my accom had one, and my favourite leather jacket. I probably didn't pack enough!
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
I personally found the first few weeks' living away the easiest and the most fun, because living independently was a novelty which I really made the most of and enjoyed. It was great to get some freedom and explore my new home. Only later on as the weeks went by did I begin to miss home, but I made a point of visiting home regularly at weekends and keeping in touch with my family.
How did it feel starting a new course and the workload?
I found it difficult to adjust because I placed very high expectations on myself and wanted to do absolutely everything I could to prepare from day 1. Please try not to have this attitude because you can easily end up feeling anxious and confused and not making the most of your first few weeks. Go to your classes and seminars/labs/workshops, do the extra reading and make some good notes/posters on it, and engage with your assignments, and you will be fine! The workload is not necessarily more difficult to manage than A-Level, it is just a lot more self-managed. You get a lot more free time which you need to manage by balancing your reading/assignment work and doing other things such as working part-time, societies and seeing friends in the SU etc.
Uni is definitely a big adjustment but it can be a very enjoyable one if you go with the right mindset: to engage with your course, get involved with things, and work hard without putting undue pressure on yourself.
Hope this adds!
University of Bath
Reply 11
Original post
by Radwa.sI've just finished my exams, and I'm planning to go to university this September. All I can really think about is results day, and to get my mind off of it, I thought I would just ask how people's experiences were starting university, moving out, and socialising. I know there are many videos about this already, but I'd like to hear from other students here.
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
How did you guys prepare?
What did you pack?
What were the first few weeks really like living away?
We hear a lot about freshers, but also, how did it feel starting a new course with the workload?
Hey, I completely understand how you’re feeling right now waiting for results can be so nerve wrecking. I was in the same position not too long ago, and I remember having so many questions about what university life would actually be like.
In terms of preparation, I tried to learn a bit about the city and the university beforehand. I also joined a few group chats and social media pages to connect with future course mates and flatmates, it helped ease the nerves a lot. Mentally, I just kept reminding myself that most people were in the same boat as me they were also new, nervous, and figuring things out.
Packing was a bit of a challenge because I wanted to bring everything, but I focused on the basics: clothes for different types of weather, some cooking essentials like pots and pans, bedding, toiletries, and a few things that made my room feel homier, like photos or a favourite blanket.
The first few weeks felt like a whirlwind but also so exciting. There were lots of social events and opportunities to meet people some felt a bit forced, but others turned into genuine friendships. I tried to say yes to things, even when I felt out of my comfort zone. Living away from home was an adjustment, but doing simple things like cooking a meal or getting to know my course mates made a big difference.
Overall, it was a mix of excitement, nerves, and learning as I went along, but that’s what made it such a valuable experience. I’d say don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have it all figured out immediately. Things fall into place with time, and there’s a lot of support out there if you need it. You’ve got this, and I hope your results go exactly how you’re hoping!
LSBU Admission Ambassador
(edited 7 months ago)
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Best Russel Group/ Top 25
- Not passionate about anything subject
- Is Loughborough actually good for politics?Why does it have lower entry requirements?
- Careers with an Economics Bsc
- Rank these unis
- can i get into universities with lower predicted grades than they require??
- Alevel or uni is harder
- Best Universities
- I hate my life choices
- Offer Holder Day - Uni of Southampton
- Brighton University Summer School
- i'm having issues with university choices
- Christmas gifts to give a uni student
- Starting Uni in mid 20s
- Guys Help.....
- university course decision
- GCSE Results day
- I feel a bit lost
- Aussie uni starts in July but only predicted scores available - what do people do
- Transferring In 2nd Year
Latest
Trending
Last reply 2 months ago
Laptop vs iPad for universityLast reply 7 months ago
living away from home for university- pros / cons, advice ?University life
15
15
Last reply 7 months ago
Should I Appeal an Academic Misconduct Finding at a UK University?Last reply 7 months ago
Will I be an outcast in uni if I don’t use social media?University life
14
13
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
