Starting university can be fun, exciting and amazing, but it can also be completely terrifying and as I found out, no amount of googling “what will Uni be like” will put a stop to that.
Here are just a few of the struggles I faced and some tips on how I overcame them in my first few weeks at the University of Worcester.
- Not getting lost…
One of the first problems I found with starting university was finding my way around. My sense of direction is not brilliant and Worcester is not as small as I thought….
For the first few weeks at least, google maps on your phone will probably be your best friend and don’t be afraid to use it. Aside from my phone, another thing I’ve found useful is to go out and about around Worcester and just walk to see what you might discover.
Worcester has many hidden gems (like the cathedral) which are worth a look at. It also helps to know where the best restaurants, bars, clubs and shops are!
It doesn’t matter if you do get lost in your wondering, because you never know what you might find when you do, including important shortcuts for walking between campuses!
- The amount of work
One rumour which always goes around sixth-form or college is that the first year of your degree will be much easier. (This got me through my last year of A-levels!).
At risk of crushing any dreams, I’ll admit that this rumour may be slightly stretching the truth.
Of course, one plus to your first year at Uni is that there aren’t any teachers standing over your shoulder reminding you of your looming coursework deadline. The downside to this is that there aren’t any teachers standing over your shoulder reminding you of your looming coursework deadline.
There is a lot of work in Uni and anyone is kidding themselves if they say that there isn’t; but if you keep up with the work and stay organised there’s no reason that you won’t be completely fine.
Balancing work and going out with Uni mates is a lot easier than you might have thought if you just stay organised.
- Moving away from home.
Of course, moving away from home is daunting and I struggled with this a lot. I’ve left my parents, my brothers, my dogs, my friends and my boyfriend at home and the first few weeks weren’t easy.
Just remember though that no one is expecting you to just be okay will all this change, it’s new and it’s big and it’s scary.
At the end of the day, your friends will still be your friends and as much as any website recommends against it, if you work for it, your partner will still be your partner.
It’s okay to be sad and to miss home, that’s just a natural part of all of this.
So, when you’re feeling low, phone home, talk to the people you miss and make the most of the time that you spend at home because it’ll become one of the most special things to you and it will get easier as you settle into a routine and get used to being a student in Worcester.
Worcester Student Life 