My University Experience

I have seen quite a few posts going around about peoples different University experiences and I thought I would tell your about mine! I was never one of those kids who wanted to go to Uni. I have such a low attention span and I have come to terms with that, I get distracted very easily and I never thought I could handle 3 years of studying the same thing. It was actually my Dad who convinced me to go, it killed him that I wasn’t going to be the first graduate in the family and begrudgingly I agreed to do it. I have to say my first year was a nightmare…

I made the ultimate mistake in choosing a Uni based on it’s proximity to my then boyfriend. I started at Wolverhampton Uni and was based in the Walsall campus which quite honestly was in the middle of nowhere. Coming from Central London and being able to walk to Oxford Street from my house this was a huge culture shock. I stuck it out for over 9 months until I finally gave in and admitted how miserable I was to my Mum and Dad. My relationship had died a very slow and painful death and I just felt crap and completely demotivated. It was around this time my Mum and Dad were planning a move to Canterbury. They had tired of London living and fallen in love with Canterbury after I insisted they went there for the day. They had found a house and moved and I had returned ‘home’ feeling a bit disenchanted with the whole Uni idea. Whilst organising my move from Wolverhampton I had a little look at whether they offered my course anywhere in Canterbury. I found out they did and that it was a much smaller more intimate Uni and this seemed perfect for me. The head of the department called me to discuss the situation and was able to offer me a place but it meant starting from the 1st year again as I didn’t have enough similar modules to carry over from Wolverhampton.

I decided to just go for it and I have to say it was the best decision I have ever made. The experience was life changing but you know what? I almost gave up after just my first month. I had moved into student accommodation (I know I know my parents lived in Canterbury why wouldn’t I live at home!? But I wanted to have the full Uni experience!) and due to some admin mistake half of the people due to move into my halls hadn’t been placed so I was alone for about 2 weeks! Meeting everyone on my course was very nervewracking and some of the friendships I made didn’t last because a lot of people left after the first month, finding Uni wasn’t for them! The next three years were without doubt years I will never forget, ok for a few different reasons. I had my heart broken, I made amazing friends, I lost terrible friends. I argued, I had a stalker, I got rubbish marks, I got brilliant marks, I met people from all over the world and I met some people who will always be in my heart and I hope in my life. 

Do…chat to everyone you meet, some of the best friends I met were people I would never have imagined I could be friends with.

Don’t….waste your time on romance! I wish I had listened to my mum, dad, friends, relatives etc on this one. Any REAL relationship will continue outside of Uni. Anyone who takes your time away from your degree or from your full Uni experience just isn’t worth it. Trust me I really could write the book on this one!

Do…join every club and society you can. It seems naff now but it gives you a real sense of being ‘included’ and gives you the chance to meet people with similar interests outside of halls and your course.

Don’t…be afraid to change your course or even Uni. If it doesn’t feel right then don’t spend any more time than you need to, putting that right. Uni’s are used to people swapping and moving about and will be able to help you with anything like this!

Do…ask for help! Like I said before they are there to help and (most) staff members and course tutors will want to help you fulfill your full potential!

Don’t…pay for expensive books. Speak to some of the second year students from your degree and offer to buy the books from them when they move into third year, trust me they will want the money and you will save a fortune!

Do…have fun! Go out on every night out that involves fancy dress and humiliating escapades. Seriously some of the best memories I have of Uni are breaking my toe on school disco night, falling asleep in a very undignified drunken state on student night at the local nightclub and my favourite declaring my drunken love via text which surpisingly was word perfect which made my excuse of being drunk look a lot like a lie :S 

Don’t…forget to take care of yourself. That means loading up on fruit, veg and as much sleep as you can. Oh and safe sex…this is just an obvious one, don’t be a moron and risk your health and future over a drunken fumble with a random. It really won’t make you feel good about yourself and the time you waste at the walk in clinic is time you could be spending on your degree!

Now the most important 2 things I could tell you:

1. Study your backside off. No matter how ‘cool’ it seems to not bother or to miss lectures just don’t. I did this alot because I had some family problems (my mum was very poorly) and I acted out by not studying, going out every night and not turning up to lectures. I wish I could turn the clock back and ask the Uni for some support, slow down and re-prioritise, so learn from my mistakes!

2. Your first few months at Uni will be the hardest. You will be homesick and will feel like a loser and like you will never fit in or have a good time but trust me, you will look back and barely remember those months. What you will remember is that the people who went home every week either ended up leaving or never really fitting in because they missed out on all the bonding sessions. You will defo remember the random late night chats, surprise nights out and attempts at ‘family life’ (think student Sunday Dinners and Christmas!)

If I could give the Uni ‘me’ any advice it would have been to let go a bit, not to stress so much over things you can’t control, live in the moment and don’t waste your time on anything that makes you cry more than it makes you smile!

I hope this has been kind of useful and sorry if it has been a bit more wordy than usual!

How were your Uni experiences?

Are you off to Uni? If you have any questions for me then comment on here or email me if you fancy a more private chat!!

Charlotte

xx