Freshers season is almost upon us, the results are in and you’re officially becoming a student from September. Here are some top things you should know before you go off to uni…
University can be a bit of a shock to many students who have never lived away from home before. A sudden change in diet, sleeping patterns, stress levels and new situations all have the potential to harm a person’s well-being if it’s not being looked after!
With rapidly increasing tuition fees in the UK and the USA along with a whole host of other pressures being dumped on university students, it’s no surprise that more students than ever are seeking mental health support whilst they’re studying. The amount of students seeking counselling has risen by thousands due to anxiety and stress which could be linked to the rise in tuition costs, a study has shown. It’s not just financial stress that students are faced with.
It’s totally normal to be anxious
You’re diving headfirst into the unknown. You’ll be surrounded by unfamiliar people in an unfamiliar place. It’s bound to be nerve-wracking at first and anyone who says that they’re not is probably lying!
Loneliness
Despite living in a world where we are more connected than ever, loneliness is becoming an increasingly apparent problem for university students. Leaving your friends behind and moving to a new town is a scary enough prospect. But living in halls with absolute strangers is even more daunting especially if you suffer from social anxiety.
Constantly having to mix with new people is hard, especially when you have the other option of just hiding in your room. The best way to get around this is to sign up for university clubs and meetups… and actually turn up! It’s much easier to make new friends when you have a common interest or activity to get stuck in to. Most importantly, be yourself. You’ll settle in eventually, but it will take time to adjust. Stick with it!
It’s not all about drinking
It’s not always as easy as people make it look! Don’t get us wrong, you’ll meet new people, you’ll probably do your fair share of partying, you’ll go out dancing, you’ll go on some incredible trips and hey, you might even find the love of your life! 😍
You’re also gonna be faced with some pretty tough challenges so your best to take it all in your stride and enjoy it! If you are struggling, that’s normal. University is meant to test us, but you if feel like you can’t cope at any point, talk to someone about it. There is so much help to be accessed if you know where to look.
People are different
Some people can get away with writing their assignment the night before and still get a 2:1, others cannot. Find out your own style of learning and stick to it. Most of the time at university you are expected to self-study. This requires motivation and discipline so make sure you work hard, as well as play hard!
They actually treat you like adults.
It’s not like school – you are given deadlines and you either stick to them or you don’t. No one is going to force you to go to lectures either, you have complete responsibility for your education.
It’s worth putting in max effort.
Given the sheer amount of money you are probably paying for tuition in the US and the UK, it really is worth putting in 100% – otherwise, you are literally burning money away. That being said, if you are struggling with money, make sure you’re clued up on your university’s bursary systems and any grants you may be eligible for.
Student loan is your best friend and your worst enemy
Loads of people get through uni with the help of government funding, and this is great. At face value, it looks like free money and who doesn’t love that?! (until you see the statement three years later 😱) But before you start “makin’ it rain” remember, that’s gotta last you an entire semester and nobody likes to live on 30p ramen noodles, every day for 6 months.
You’ll learn a lot about yourself
No matter what subject you choose, you will learn a lot academically. However, you’ll probably learn the most about yourself as a person. Uni is a world of discovery and a world of firsts, just go with it and you’ll be surprised how capable you really are!
You’ll probably have the best time of your life, and sometimes the worst!
It definitely has its ups and downs, you’ll have some of the best parties but you’ll be under more pressure than ever before, try to get a good balance. One of the great things about university is that there is always a huge network of support to fall back on. You will have personal tutors, university staff, other students and your friends to support you if you need help.
Don’t forget that you can also talk anonymously to a digital mentor at Ditch the Label by joining the DTL community, we are here to help – without the worry of judgement.
You’ll be sooo proud of yourself once it’s over!
…and when graduation comes, it will be one of the most memorable days of your life! Three years will have flown by, you’ll have made some of the best friends ever. You’ll have made some amazing memories and have tons of new experiences to take with you on your next adventure. (just don’t fall over at graduation!!!) 😍 Now, go get em’!
