University Thoughts & Advice | Guest Post
Saturday, November 05, 2016
Hope you're all feeling good.
My names Chloe, 22, and I'm a UK based blogger. I
have my own blog called Chloe Chats where I love to blog about general advice
on feeling healthy, happy and good, University posts as I've finished my final
year now and I know how nervous it can be going to University or little things
that might scare you whilst you are there, lifestyle, and some beauty and
fashion posts, a bit of everything really! I love writing in a chatty way on my
blog, which is a big reason to why I chose the name Chloe Chats!
I
felt as I completed University in the summer of this year and I enjoy giving
advice and helping others that I would give my general thoughts and advice on
my University experience as a whole. I hope this can help those starting
University next year, or help those that have recently started or even those in
their second or third year (or more depending on your degree length). I feel
like if I had this sort of thing before I started University I wouldn't have
freaked out as much as I did, and also any worries I had throughout my years
reading someone's experience or advice was extremely helpful to me.
Here's a few thoughts and top tips...
Preparing for University:
I feel like there's not much you can do to prepare for something that you've
never done before. Obviously there's the preparation of all the stuff you're
going to take and maybe some extra research for the course you're going to
start, but preparing for University life is something you've just got to do in
the moment. One of the biggest things that I got into my head was that everyone
is in the same situation as you, so believe me, you won't be the only one
feeling a mixture of nerves, excitement, and so on. I've always said that if
there was something that you wanted to improve on while you were at
school/college like being more talkative or putting yourself out there to make
new friends, it can be hard to do in a place you've been at for years, but
going to a completely new place, with no one at all who you know it can be a
lot easier to do. But a massive tip from me if you're going off to live in
halls, is on moving in day keep your door open, just put something under it or
anything to keep it wedged open. This is a really good way for you and your new
flatmates to get talking straight away rather than closing your door all day
and having that confidence to then open your door and walk out and meet
everyone, it can be quite daunting! But as I said, everyone's in the same
situation and everyone will feel nervous to get talking to everyone but once
you introduce yourself and your parents go it's fine, trust me!
Having anxiety:
This
could be a whole new blog post because there's so much to talk about but I do
suffer with anxiety, it's not the highest form of anxiety (if that's how you
think of it), but it can cause me some horrible problems. I had moments where I
just couldn't go out anywhere, even if I'd been invited to something, sometimes
it got so bad that I just couldn't leave my room. The thought of opening my
door and stepping out into the hallway was even too much for me. It happened
more than I would have liked, but there was things that I did to help me. A
really good tip that helped me is having someone to talk to. I know when you
first start you won't be extremely close to anyone, but if you have a best
friend from back home, a boyfriend, or a family member that you're close to,
they're only a phone/skype call away and if you're feeling so anxious and
are struggling with things like not being able to leave your room, or attend
your lectures then talk to them, it can always make you feel at ease hearing a
familiar voice. Of course, if it is affecting you by stopping you from going to
lectures or seminar's then there are various people you can go to for help, but
the main one for that would be to talk to the University. My uni had someone
who you could go talk to about this, so I'm sure most other university's will
as well, and also talk to your personal tutor (if you have one of them), or a
course lecturer and explain to them why you're attendance might not be as good
as you want it to be. There's so many more tips and experiences of my own that
I can go on about but I feel like that's definitely a whole blog post than just
a small paragraph.
Join societies that interest you:
It can be hard making friends, and sometimes it can be hard making friends in
your lectures especially if your sitting in huge lecture hall where you kind of
just have to listen for a few hours rather than sitting around in groups at a
table. At universities there will always be loads of societies, and most of the
time there will definitely be one that you're interested in. Again, signing up
and going along to a society's session can be daunting, you're putting yourself
through the same thing of entering a room with a bunch of strangers. But this
time you all love the same thing... conversation topics will be super easy, you
just talk about whatever the topic of the society is. And usually because you
are interested in the same thing that all these people are, you'll become
really good friends. I would probably say that this is one thing that I do
regret a little, I did join a few societies, and also set my own one up (which
by going to one in your first year can inspire you to do so, and also very good
for your CV). I'd say I held myself back a little, and only went to ones that I
knew a friend was going to because I was nervous to go to something completely
by myself.
The step up from first year to second year:
I kind of spent my first year more having fun and less doing work, I wouldn't
advise that but now I've just told you. I did have a lot of fun in first year,
but I also always made sure all my assignments were completed at a good enough
level and handed in on time. I got some really good grades in first year, and I
also thought, wow I feel like I'm barely putting effort into this and I'm doing
pretty good. I mean, I probably felt I was writing rubbish essays because I can
be quite negative on myself, but in actual fact I was writing them quite well.
So after first year I thought, I'm doing pretty well, this is going to be not
too bad... and then second year began. They say that first year of university
is kind of similar to college or sixth form because they want to ease you into
it, and for most students the marks you get for first year doesn't go to your
overall result when you finish university. Second year goes into university
mode, it's hard. Third year is even harder, but at the time I didn't realise
the step up from first year to second would be that big. So my advice to anyone
in first year is to keep that in mind, use your summer wisely, obviously have
some fun because you deserve it but I think doing a bit of research especially
towards the end when you're about to begin again, it's good to get your mind
set into a working mode.
I hope this has been helpful advice, I do like to go on... I am quite chatty. I hope at least one of these points have helped ease someone into university life.
Thank
you for reading! Here are my social media links: Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin and Blog
I'll see you soon
Kimberley Jessica
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