Hello all!
Today’s post I
bring you all of the wondering questions you may have as prospecting university
students or for those just generally interested! The thought of university can
be daunting, exciting, promising, a range of emotions and I think there are a
few key things people think about before going so I hope this post answers some
of these mysteries!
Now then, I
have been at The University of Hertfordshire for 6 months now and I have to say
time has FLOWN by shockingly fast…my first year is almost finished! When the
university application process started, I was not applying and for years I had
always believed that I would not hold a degree under my belt or say that I have
done the whole ‘uni experience’ but halfway through this marathon of everyone
doing their personal statements and making their 5 vital choices I had a moment
of madness…I have to go. Personally, I have known the career I want for a few
years now and after extensive research and asking around I found out that
university was the easiest way forward for me so that is what I chose…and boy
was I scared!
Living away
from home / Home sickness
This was not
one of the major things I worried about shockingly, as I felt ready to move out
of my family home for a bit of independence and adventure alongside the
reassurance that I could get back to London within half an hour! I live in
halls and it has to be said, there are pros and cons:
However, I am
glad I have moved into halls as it does give you some more independence and
responsibility although it is clear some people do not deal with that
well…(There have been 3 fires this year), apart from this though, a lot of
flats in my block socialise with each other and a lot of the time people from
your course will live around you, so you will always be surrounded by familiar
faces.
A lot of people
though, found this more troubling and alongside this of course is home
sickness. I know a few people who have found it harder being away from home and
it is not something you can comfort exactly…all they want is to go home! But it
passes with time, distractions and uni itself. For me, I speak to my mum
everyday so homesickness was not a massive issue for me, of course there was
the one or two blue days but you have to remember that you are in the same
position as about 19,000 other students! This is what brings me onto my next
point…
Friends
“What if I make
no friends?!” The big worry…also the most inaccurate worry to have because come
on, you are living in a flat of new people; I live with 11 other people and
there’s always going to be someone in the kitchen, just getting in or sitting
in the corridor to get a better Wi-Fi connection! So chances are, you are forced to make friends!
Of course, not
everyone will choose to live on campus and in halls so will commute but
you are on a brand-new course with a range of different people! Chances are you
will probably sit next to someone a couple of times in a lecture, form a mutual
bond for each other, maybe even classify as friends…but never learn their name.
Yeah this does happen. Even so, I have a few flatmates who are friends with commuters and they come to our flat all the time for pre-drinks
(highlight of the week no?) and they still love it! So whoever you are, whatever you study, chances
are, you will be stuck with someone somehow!
Financial
situation
 |
| Too much term you mean! |
Loans, rent,
food, life. It is all money yes but worry not. There are lots of services
universities can offer to help with money troubles! For example, our uni has a
programme in which you can borrow a set loan if you cannot afford your rent or
daily living so long as it is paid within a specific time frame! Also, do your
research! You might be entitled to a certain governmental loan or bursary…there
is an annual bursary for being veggie! So, do your research, check what you are
meant to get…as well as that though try not to shop to high end, Aldi is quite
the life saver for most of us! (Alcohol and pizza is cheap)
Social life
Of course,
everyone thinks of university as a year of going out, going to lectures a bit
worse for wear and being poor (but not too poor than you cannot afford a night
out). This is somewhat true but it all depends where you go! For example, our
university is in a small town in Hertfordshire and our only club is the SU
called The Forum, a very decent night out yes…but the only one.
This also
depends on who you hang out with too actually, I have flatmates that are always
up for a night out, some who come if they finish all of their work and some who
do not go out at all, you just gotta find your match! Our university has their
main student night on Wednesday (as well as Monday, Friday and Saturday) which
is called Cheeky Wednesday, Always themed, £1.50 jagerbombs and 2 dance floors.
This is the real highlight of the week.
I hope this
stretch of a post was relatable for some and enlightening for most! I’ll be
bringing back more music based and review type posts soon so keep an eye out
for those! Thanks for reading!
Until next
time,
Shannon xx
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