If you’re about to embark on your journey to college or university, this can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. With a new environment, experiences, increased responsibility and the pressure of working towards your future goals, you may feel quite overwhelmed. Even if you aren’t living away from home, you may be experiencing nerves about making new friends on your course!
With the right approach you can set yourself up for success while you navigate college and university life.
1. Work out your finances
Going to university does have financial costs attached to it. Yes, loans can cover things like accommodation, but factors such as your parents income and the city you’re living in can affect what you can afford. Not to mention there may be extra things to consider such as your lifestyle, medication costs, course materials and the like.
So how do you get your finances in order before going to university?
Calculate what you’ll be left with after your rent is paid. Even if you aren’t living in student accommodation – will you have enough money to travel to and from?
Once you have your total, work out how much you can live on per week until the next loan drop day
If the amount is tight, or you don’t feel like it’s liveable, what expenses can you cut? Do you need to get a part time job to supplement your income?
2. Set realistic goals
We pick our college and university courses based on what we want to achieve in our careers. Simply having a goal of “I want to get a 1st class degree” is an excellent goal to have – but how can you ensure this is achievable?
Write down a list of goals you want to achieve in your years of study. How can you break them down into small yet actionable steps that bring you closer to your goals?
3. Use your college and university resources
Your college or university is going to have tons of resources for students to use. Whether that’s additional subject-based bursaries, counselling, sports centre, state-of-the-art computer labs, career services…the list is endless.
It’s worth noting down what resources you definitely want to check out when you arrive. If you’re unsure, contact your college or university to discover what they have on offer and how you can sign up to anything you’re interested in before you’ve even arrived.
4. Get involved in activities
Whether it’s socials in your halls of residence, extra-curricular course-based activities or societies, it’s worth getting involved in a variety of things to discover new interests. Try not to feel like you need to sign up to everything, but definitely see if there’s a society or club that hosts your special interest to start with. Some of them may have their own dedicated web pages or social media channels, meaning you can get a feel of what to expect and a way to contact them for more information.
5. Step out of your comfort zone
Similarly to our last point, you’ll want to step out of your comfort zone a little bit in order to make connections and even get ahead with your course. It may be speaking to a new course peer or getting to know your dorm neighbours across your hall. These small yet character-building methods can really help open up your surroundings to what’s possible. And you never know, you may just meet your next life-long friend this way.
6. Get to know your new place
If you’re moving away from home, it’s beneficial to explore the area you’re living in. Find out where the nearest supermarkets are, train stations, shopping centres, pharmacies and anything else of interest. This can help you get your bearings and ensure you know where you need to go. Don’t want to go it alone? Ask a friend or even your new dorm buddy to come with you!
7. Keep regular contact with friends and family
It’s a fact that some students may find it tough to adjust to college and university life at first. And even if you don’t, it’s still important to maintain relationships with friends and family back home. It’s all very new and exciting when you go off to study on your course, but maintaining relationships can help keep you grounded, particularly if you do get overwhelmed.
8. Sign up to your local health services
Signing up to your local GP, dentist or other health service is incredibly important. You don’t want to scurry about if you’re already feeling unwell and aren’t a registered patient with your nearest doctor. It’s especially important in emergencies too – so eliminate the worry entirely and get signed up right away.
9. Learn a few recipes
Having a few recipes memorised can help get your nutrition in. Yes, there may be the odd night where you settle for noodles or a ready meal, but having a few simple recipes memorised can ensure you save money and eat a balanced diet. This can support your physical and mental health, stave off lethargy and perhaps even test your creativity with food! At the very least learn how to:
10. Make your environment comfortable
Navigating university life also involves ensuring your home life is a comfortable place to come back to. Whether you’re living away or remaining at home, make sure your room is a safe haven. Put up your favourite photos that inspire you, get some trinkets that remind you of your loved ones or even invest in some easy-to-care-for plants like succulents to add some green to your space.
11. Signpost support
If you have a mental health or physical condition that requires specialist care, then it’s important to signpost where you need the support from. Have numbers and places listed for your local therapist and/or clinics and have them handy so you can quickly reach for them. For example, if you tend to store most things on your phone, then use a note-taking app to have this information stored.
12. Self-care
Student life at college and university has often been synonymous with drinking culture. Whether you partake in a drink or not, it’s incredibly important to look after yourself. Stick to the limits, set boundaries, stay with friends and ensure you have quick access to food and water. In terms of general self-care, it’s important to make time for yourself when university life gets busy. Have the odd evening to yourself, watch your favourite shows, take a walk in nature, try a local food spot you’ve been meaning to try with a friend…do what makes you feel good and rejuvenating.
13. Be patient with yourself
University life is different for everyone. Some people make friends really easily; others may have difficulties gelling with others. Some may not like their course at all or feel like they want to go home. If you’re having these feelings, it’s important to seek support. Speak to your tutor or even your campus counsellor to work through your feelings and navigate the root cause. Sometimes it can be as simple as giving it a chance, whilst other times it may be a result of a deeper issue that needs addressing.
The most important thing you can do is have some form of patience. Feelings aren’t forever and they ebb and flow. Find ways to cultivate enjoyment in your university or college life, speak to your loved ones about how you’re feeling and ensure you get professional support if you feel you need it.
