University; Dos, Don’ts and Maybes

University season is upon us and this means moving out, most of the time to a new city and environment. For some people, this might be the first time they’ve lived alone without their family and have to completely depend on themselves. It can be an exciting experience, but it can also be mortifying. Going in to my third year of university, I feel like the previous two years have taught me a lot of new things , some good and some bad but they’ve also taught me a lot about myself. I’ve gathered what I think are some of the most important Dos and Don’ts (and Maybes) that I wish I had known before I started university.

#1

DO put yourself out there- it’s a new environment and there’s plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends.

MAYBE join some clubs- most universities offer a wide range of clubs and activities you can join (some are free!)

DON’T change yourself to fit in- these are people you will be around for the next 3 years or more. Changing your persona to please people needs a lot of work and maintaining,  you don’t want to add that to your university stress.

#2

DO attend your lectures- ultimately you’re there to study, right?

MAYBE you can miss a few- missing a couple of 9am lectures won’t hurt, so long as you catch up.

DON’T make the mistake of not attending your lectures and relying on notes- especially if your lectures are not recorded, you could miss important things mentioned by lecturers that are not on the notes.

#3

DO start your assignments as early as you can- this gives you time to research, make mistakes and correct them.

DON’T leave your assignments last minute- you’re more prone to mistakes and won’t have time to perfect your work to your best ability (I can attest to this).

#4

DO learn how to budget- you’re living by yourself and are in full control of your finances, knowing how to budget will help you not having to rely on pot noodles in the long run.

MAYBE open a student account- a lot of banks offer incentives and overdraft amounts (that you can pay back in your own time with no fee) for the rainy days.

DON’T spend all your student loan at once – it comes once in three months, be wise.

#5

DO read any contracts you come across, especially accommodation related- student landlords are scammers.

MAYBE get a third party to have a look at the contracts for you if you’re unsure- second pair of eyes never hurt anyone.

DON’T sign your contracts without reading them (please).

#6

DO talk to someone when you are feeling down- it always helps to let it out. A lot of universities offer student counsellors to help students through issues they are facing. You’re paying a lot of money for fees, utilise it !

MAYBE visit family at home to get a breath of fresh air from the suffocating bubble that is university.

DON’T bottle it all in, it can get a lot and will eventually explode. It can also lead you to seek unhealthy and toxic coping mechanisms.

#7

DO keep and maintain your faith (If you are a believer)- there is a lot of things around you that could lead you astray, having something to believe in at times when you feel alone keeps you sane.

MAYBE seek a place of worship around/near your university- there’s also a lot of student unions that are religion oriented that you can join.

DON’T throw away your beliefs because other people don’t believe, or because of temptation.

Ultimately DO enjoy yourself! University is such an amazing experience and the friends that you make at university are usually for a lifetime. Remember not everyone is raised the way you were and therefore there can be challenges, but life without challenges is not a life lived.

 

Good luck to all freshers.