Being a new graduate - chuffff ( see last post), I thought I'd take the time to sit down and go through some important (non-academic) things that I've learned at university.
You won't meet your best friends on the first day I was quite lucky, as on the first day in my first lesson, I met someone who I considered to be my closest friend at uni. At least for the first year and a half. Halfway through second year, I switched courses, and although this sounds like a massive deal, I really only remained in the same department, so I didn't think it'd make that much of a difference. However, this meant all of my classes were different, even if we were both on the same modules. So I was alone again.
Don't go into your first class thinking you're going to meet your uni BFFL immediately. I didn't meet people who I now consider to be my closest uni friends until my third, yes THIRD year. And even then, none of them are even in my department, never mind on my course, or even in my year.
Make time for a social life Another blunder I made when attending university. I'm quite lucky in the sense that I have quite established relationships at home, so I used to come home from uni every day, excited to hang out with my home friends.
It wasn't until my third year that I realised that going out on a Wednesday night is PART of the uni experience! I'm so lucky to have been able to live at home, rent free, for my three years at university. However, living a 20 minute drive away, or 45 minutes on public transport, isn't much good on a night out, when taxis cost a bomb and the buses are off.
People will let you sleep on their floors! And providing this week's fancy dress isn't burlesque, you can still go to uni the next day.
It's okay to leave assignments until the last possible moment In my first year, university was really all I cared about. I'd get books out of the library a good 3-4 weeks in advance of handing my essay in. I'd write an essay, spend a day looking over it, take a break, then look back, making 100% sure I'd written my best work.
In my second year, books arrived about 2 weeks before deadlines, I'd write an essay in one go, maaaaybe giving it a quick proof-read before deadline day.
Third year. Books were taken out on the week, if not the DAY the essay was due to be submitted. I'd write the essay in one go the night before, and hand it in before never looking at it again.
It is okay to leave things until the last minute. Some people work better that way. By all means take 4 weeks to write an essay, but if you know you can do it in a day, even the night before, do not fret about it. Do it your way.
Work wherever you feel most comfortable I used to panic when writing an essay because I'd see people talking about going to the library, spending hours upon hours upon hours in there, and getting their work done. Looking back, I needn't have worried.
I tried going to the library once, and it took me about 4 hours to write 500 words. Writing at home, I found was so much easier, so much more comfortable, and generally so much quieter.
I'm now finished my degree and I've written a grand total of two assignments in the library, and have only actually been into the main university library three times.
Don't worry if you're not going to the library as much as everyone else. They're probably just sitting chatting to each other all day.
Branch out a little Talk to random people, actually sit next to someone for a change instead of leaving the conventional one seat gap in a lecture, join a society or sports team. It will change your outlook on university life, I promise you!
Your calendar is your friend Whether its writing in deadlines, important lectures, tutorials, meetings, or even scheduling the next night out, it's bloody helpful.
It's difficult to keep track of what's going on all of the time at uni, because there's literally so much going on. Typing or writing things into a calendar, the important and the not-so-important, really frees your mind to think about other things. Your phone will remind you what you need to do today, all you need to think about is putting one foot in front of the other.
The university are there to help you It took me embarrassingly long to realise this. My uni were incredibly hands on with schemes, programmes, and placements. We had a Facebook group with all of the possible placements and job opportunities in each field. There was a blogging scheme, in which I know of a few people that took advantage of, merely documenting their uni experience, and getting paid for it. A series of lectures with special guests from all over the industry, coming in to discuss how they achieved their dreams with students.
Make an effort to attend literally anything that appeals to you. Jump in feet first. Make an impression on lecturers, ask questions, get involved with university schemes such as student representatives and ambassadors.
Take risks I realised upon leaving university that my student life didn't involve many risks. I didn't talk to many people. I didn't do anything out of my comfort zone. Only a few of the modules I chose over the course of my three years really reflected my ambitions.
Even if you have a remote inkling about something. Even if you've thought about doing it once. Just go for it.
Don't take it too seriously By all means, work tooth and nail to get the grades you want/need for a job, but student life is all about enjoying yourself while you're doing it. Working 9-5 is nothing like rolling out of bed at 12pm, traipsing to a lecture for 2 and being home and back in bed by 3. Really, it's not.
Live it up and enjoy it while you can.
And take full advantage of your student discount.
Thursday 10 July 2014, 12:30pm
