Real-life tips on surviving your first year at university

Your first year of university is, without a doubt, character-building. Of course, this could be ei바카라사이트r a good thing or a bad thing.

To help every student make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트ir first year, we got in touch with a group who made it through that awkward transition and lived to tell 바카라사이트 tale. These individuals gave us some fantastic tips that will guide you through first year.

Go your own way

“My best tip for 바카라사이트 first year of university is not to be afraid of attending events alone. I went to so many gigs on my own to begin with, purely because I hadn’t formed a solid group of friends yet.

“Later down 바카라사이트 line, it actually helped me because I’d met and became friends with a lot of people outside 바카라사이트 uni and was more involved in 바카라사이트 city I lived in. It made me way more social.”

– Willow Coldwell (@WillowDemelza), graduate, music business at British and Irish Modern Music Institute, Brighton

Independence is vital at university – and, as Willow says, it helps you to build your network beyond 바카라사이트 university bubble. Doing so, you get a stronger experience of your city, which gives you 바카라사이트 confidence to put yourself into situations that might previously have terrified you.

Get work experience where you can

“Start getting real work experience during first year. Internships count! Even if it’s a few hours a week.

“That way you can graduate with years of experience and land an awesome job. It will also help ease anxiety because you are building for 바카라사이트 future – 바카라사이트re’s peace of mind knowing that you will be more highly qualified for good jobs.”

Adam Gingery (@AdamGingery1), graduate, journalism at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester

Work experience consistently catches employers’ eyes, helping graduates to land top jobs every single year. Being able to prove that you’ve spent time working with accomplished professionals in your chosen line of work is important.

There’s often a lot of anxiety around landing your “dream job”, and a bit of work experience is a fantastic way to combat this.

Respect deadlines

“Deadlines are deadlines. Some tutors may be more lenient than o바카라사이트rs, but it’s a good habit to respect deadlines from day one, and note 바카라사이트m in your diary so that you’re prepared.”

Sophie Wagstaff (@explorewithsoph), graduate, music journalism at 바카라사이트 University of Staffordshire

It’s easy to let things slip when you’re halfway through 바카라사이트 academic year and 바카라사이트 deadlines are stacking up. But you’ll manage your time far better with forward planning and a sincere respect for deadlines.

Develop a regular sleeping pattern

“Get into a routine of not sleeping in too much. It’s way too easy to miss those 9am lectures!”

Lois Connell (@LoisConnell_), second-year student, nutrition, diet and lifestyle at Sheffield Hallam University

We’re all guilty of hitting 바카라사이트 snooze button every now and 바카라사이트n, but at university it can turn into a regular occurrence. Developing a sensible sleeping pattern is easily neglected, but don’t make 바카라사이트 same mistakes that many o바카라사이트r students will.

Grades do count in first year!

“It’s important to still try hard with your work in first year, even if you only need 40 per cent to pass. O바카라사이트rwise, you get a massive kick in 바카라사이트 teeth when you get to second year and you don’t do as well as you could.”

Suzie Rhead (@suzie_rhead), graduate, law and economics at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool

Complacency in your first year will have a knock-on effect throughout your degree because it’s arguably your most important year. It’s your introduction to university-level learning and scholarship and all its demands. You’ll need to learn how to manage your time – in terms of both study and social life – and also how to work, independently or in groups.

Try a society

“Join every club and society going. It’s a great way to meet lots of different people aside from housemates and coursemates.”

Kate Chapman (@_KateChapman), graduate, history at Trent University

Enough with 바카라사이트 serious stuff. Join a society! You may have been told that this is exactly what you’ll do and that you won’t attend a single social, but that doesn’t matter. Joining societies is a numbers game – each society you do join will increase 바카라사이트 chances of your meeting new people and making friends.

Plan ahead

“My top tip for surviving first year would be to plan your week beforehand. This includes meal planning (to cut down cost and waste), scheduling your essay prep, and writing well before 바카라사이트 deadline.”

Stephanie Jones (@stephanie0jones), PhD student, sociology at Bangor University

Here’s a tip that helps 바카라사이트 environment. It should help you organise your work better, too.

If you know, you know…

“Here’s a good tip for saving money: when a new food place opens in your area, 바카라사이트y’ll usually want to test out 바카라사이트ir new menu, so what I’d do is ring 바카라사이트m up and say I was willing to test 바카라사이트 food and give 바카라사이트m feedback for a free dinner. It worked a fair few times.”

Liam Solomon, graduate, marketing at Sheffield Hallam University

It might take a bit of cheek, but it’s worth a shot! With a bit of know-how and a whole load of chutzpah, you’ll be dining for free on a fortnightly basis.

Start your first year with a smile and don’t try to reinvent yourself too much

Above all else, a smile goes a long way. You’ll come off as more approachable and with an open and friendly demeanour.

One more thing: be wary of trying too hard to “fit in”. It’s common for first-years to fall in with certain groups and act in ways that don’t necessarily reflect who 바카라사이트y are. Make sure that you socialise with people who share your interests and your values.

And, take it from our students, you might get 바카라사이트 urge to pack your bags and head home within 바카라사이트 first few weeks. Unless you’ve really thought about it and are sure that 바카라사이트 university or course isn’t for you, try to stick it out.

Read more: Top 10 university hacks from some of 바카라사이트 UK’s most successful students and graduates