Starting University?

[ValleyLines142]

I graduated in July with a BA (Hons) Geography degree from the University of the West of England (UWE). I loved every single minute of it and would do ANYTHING to go back. For those of you currently in/about to start a degree, cherish EVERY SINGLE moment as time flies by, especially final year!

Best wishes to all!

 

[Merseysider]

I'm just about to start my third year of four. I don't regret much, except being lazy in the first year and leaving assignments, presentations and essays etc alone for months. This meant I had to rush them with a week (or less) to spare and the quality suffered as a result. I would say that first year is important, but not as important as second.

I was happy to stick with my group of friends from secondary school (we all went to different unis in Manchester, quite convenient really - we even shared a house together) so didn't have the pressure of trying to join new social circles.

The most important thing for any new students reading this (in my opinion) is to pay large amounts of rent up front, ideally to cover you until the month after your next finance installment but if you can afford to pay more, great. I found it a lot easier to budget this way.

Oh and if you aren't a smoker, don't start!! It's possibly the worst life decision you can make at university.

 

[Starmill]

As a boring final year student I would say this: making friends at University without going out and getting out of your mind drunk 4 times a week might be hard work. But if you do, it's also likely to be more rewarding and long-lasting.

Drink/club culture fails to appeal in the slightest to me unfortunately, and in a place like Leeds it's nigh on inescapable. There's nothing wrong with it, and I am constantly thinking to myself that I might be missing out on something I won't have the opportunity to do again after leaving, but my biggest piece of life advice would be actually to do your best to worry about things less than I do - which is a lot. There is however a lot of good stuff out there, you just have to dig for it a bit more.

Furthermore a warm welcome to you all including the Beckket variety who continue the pizza-fest with a later Freshers week and why on earth are there so many of you all this year, you do not have to make me feel 35 already!

 

[Gathursty]

it was essentially during my time at uni that I became interested in railways (it being my form of transport to get home on a weekend) and ultimately became a member here

Story of my life. I wonder what would have happened if I studied Maths at Lampeter. Think that's the only non-rail served uni town...?

Anyway, my advice mirrors others here. Uni is a chance where you can explore yourself, and if you're lucky, others too

Do work hard as it will avoid the panic of resits and fear of failure. As for socialising, I got involved with the uni's radio station early on and loved it for the experience and friends I made there. I still keep in touch with some flatmates, and have made more friends outside of uni who I meet as often as when we are both in the North West.

Free pizza is best pizza, although Lancaster's Pizetta Republic is second best pizza.

I thought after uni I was screwed for relationships and friendships and general socialising but it still happends fortunately a la Internet and Railforums amongst others. I've reconnected with some of my old high school friends who still live in Wigan. So yes don't worry about uni. Enjoy it!

 

[DarloRich]

I disagree that university should be a moment to just spend everything.

I used it as an opportunity to build up my savings, as I had plenty of free time to work part time (was doing around 30 hrs per week) and it was all tax free. Coming out of university, you then have a pot of money which can go forward purchase a place of your own.

that is terribly sensible and boring and what i would do if i went to uni now. As an 18 yr old................

 

[sprinterguy]

Agree with this. Most disposable income you will likely ever have, especially if you have a part-time job and work the summers.

I'm surprised that this seems to have been the case for a few people. Working the summers was a necessity for me just to get by (and I received pretty much top whack from what grants and maintnenance loans were available), though admittedly I never entertained the notion of a part-time job during term time as it would have interfered far too much with my social activities.

As a full-time working young adult, I have considerably more disposable income than I ever did when I was at University, but what I now lack is time: There's a happy medium to be struck there, somewhere.

 

[Iskra]

I'm surprised that this seems to have been the case for a few people. Working the summers was a necessity for me just to get by (and I received pretty much top whack from what grants and maintnenance loans were available), though admittedly I never entertained the notion of a part-time job during term time as it would have interfered far too much with my social activities.

As a full-time working young adult, I have considerably more disposable income than I ever did when I was at University, but what I now lack is time: There's a happy medium to be struck there, somewhere.

Working was a necessity for me too, as I didn't get any grants/maintenance and my loan left me a negligible amount after rent. However, I soon found that I enjoyed working more than I did being university, and looking back it was more my job and not my degrees that got me to where I am now.

However, I did work 3/4 days a week during term time including one 16hr shift a week, plus up to 7 days a week in holidays on around £2 an hour above min wage at the time. I also got free meals when at work and sometimes free food to take home. Also, I think I paid less income tax due to being a student. So all the above, plus cheaper bills etc meant I had more money than I could spend. (Until I wasted it all on doing a Masters...)

 

[Nym]

Yeah, the summer before the 3rd year of my 1st degree I was working three jobs so I didn't need to work in my 3rd year...

2nd year I was doing 30hrs a week, Fri, Sat, Sun nights for 10hr shifts, Monday morning lectures where interesting since I came straight from work.