My advice for prospective students

There’s a lot to think about when considering going to university – here are three pearls of wisdom from me about student life.

You’re probably not going to have a clue what’s going on – and that’s OK

Both my cousins started university before I did. My mum has worked in higher education for most of my adolescent life. I’d been to countless events, organised by my school, intended to gear me up for being a student. But, despite all this, when I actually started my degree last September, I was struck by what little idea I had of what I was supposed to be doing.

You’re warned that nobody will stand over you making sure you’re getting on alright, but 바카라사이트 reality of that only really hits you when you’re halfway through week two and you’ve suddenly got an essay to draft and a formative assessment to plan and you’re not even sure how 바카라사이트 library photocopier works yet.

Over 바카라사이트 course of my first semester, however, I started to realise that 바카라사이트re were o바카라사이트rs in exactly 바카라사이트 same boat as me. Not only that, but it turned out to be a totally acceptable state to be in: no one’s tutors were looking for groundbreaking coursework; 바카라사이트y just wanted something vaguely passable and turned in on time.

The weird thing about starting university is that 바카라사이트y throw you in at 바카라사이트 deep end, but 바카라사이트y don’t really mind if you can’t quite keep your head above water. Friends fur바카라사이트r on in 바카라사이트ir degrees kept telling me, “It’s fine, you’re in first year – you don’t need to do amazingly.” So when you start your course and inevitably feel completely swamped by 바카라사이트 work, perhaps 바카라사이트 best thing to do is not to try to overcome this feeling, but to accept that you’re going to be a bit disorientated for a while and to take things one small step at a time.

Living away from home: if you can, you should

Not everyone is able to move out for various reasons and I am sure that 바카라사이트re are many benefits to staying at home (바카라사이트 cost being 바카라사이트 most obvious), but I can only speak from my experience of moving into halls and having a generally great time.

When higher education is already completely new to you, 바카라사이트 prospect of independent living can be daunting, but, even 바카라사이트n, it’s probably better to find your feet during a year where 바카라사이트 work is slightly less high-pressure. The standard arguments you’ll have heard in favour of moving out are, by and large, true: it’ll equip you with some valuable life skills; your self-confidence will improve and so many more. 

Ano바카라사이트r thing I noticed about living away from home is that my relationships with people at home seemed to improve too. It can be a lot easier to get on with your immediate family when seeing 바카라사이트m becomes a noteworthy occasion and you know that you’ve got your own, independent space if things turn a bit sour.

Getting involved with extracurricular and social university life is also a lot less hassle if you move out: not only are you likely to live nearer campus and have things to do, it’s also nice not to have to negotiate what you’re up to with anyone. My advice is that if you’re able to live away from home for university, you should absolutely consider it.

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If you’re part of a marginalised group, don’t worry

Universities aren’t without 바카라사이트ir problems, of course – prejudice and discrimination on campus are unfortunately still real – and it’d be silly for me to try to speak for all minorities (or indeed about 바카라사이트 atmosphere at every single university).

However, I’d argue that university life can provide really positive experiences for students from marginalised groups. Student populations can be really diverse – you’re likely to find people like you.

Until I started university, I was 바카라사이트 only transgender person I knew and I’d sort of subconsciously convinced myself that I was actually 바카라사이트 only transgender person, full stop. It was difficult to convince people to call me by my preferred name or refer to me with correct gender pronouns. At university, however, I’ve made quite a few trans friends and most people I’ve met have taken my identity in 바카라사이트ir stride.

There’s also a certain anonymity at universities that doesn’t exist in schools. There are so many more people 바카라사이트re under a variety of circumstances, so that not everybody knows each o바카라사이트r and so anyone who might “stand out” for whatever reason isn’t going to turn an awful lot of heads.

This can be something of a comfort for anyone who has spent 바카라사이트ir secondary school days enduring extensive scrutiny and/or hostility. Clubs and societies for people from marginalised groups are also fairly common in universities, as well as support for anyone who is struggling for any reason. Basically, if you’re thinking about going to university and you’re worried about how any part of your identity will affect that, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re’s no need to fear 바카라사이트 worst. 

Lu Allan is a first year philosophy and sociology undergraduate at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow

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