Hello!

So September/October is approaching and lots of you will be starting UNIVERSITY! Eeek!!
Being a fairly recent graduate (wow, don't I feel old!) I felt sharing some tips for freshers would be good. Adjusting to a new city, place and people can be overwhelming, exciting and daunting all at the same time. Hopefully, some of my tips can prove useful for you!

Just a quick point, these are only my opinion and many tips are targeted for those who are moving out. 

1) Create a packing/shopping list.
This is very important.. you will surprised at how much you will be taking and what things you'll need that you didn't think you would. The key to this is planning; if you plan before hand it will save any possible crisis when you get there ("Oh no, I forgot my towels"). Also, not all places have the same things (e.g. a toaster, iron), so check by contacting your accommodation. This might be different if you are living in catered halls. You may also need a few passport photos (for your student ID etc) and relative documents (just in case), e.g. your UCAS letter.

2) Don't be afraid to make friends!
I cannot stress the importance of this. Remember, pretty much everyone is in the same boat as you.. it will be a new environment for everyone. Everyone will want to make friends, so don't be afraid to go out there and strike up a conversation with 'that person on my course'.

3) Make peace with your flatmates. 
This carries on with the previous point. If you are living in halls or any accommodation with new people, it will be best for everyone involved to get on with each other, especially if you're in shared bathrooms. Flat mate troubles can be very problematic, so if you have a good understanding and are friendly from the start, your first year living with them will go much more smoothly. You might even find your flat mates become your main friends during uni; even friends for life. Mine certainly did!

4) Join societies and/or sports clubs.
This is a fantastic way of meeting new people and making friends. Some of the people you'll meet there might turn out to be friends for life. It's also a great way of keeping busy, and who knows.. learning a new skill! You could even take up a sport you've always wanted to do. Try something new, something you wouldn't even think you'd be good at. It'll also give you a break from studying and any other stress you might have. Live the uni experience to the full by doing things that develop you as a person.

5) Eat well.
I can understand that fast-food can be very appealing, especially if you don't like cooking. But, not only is all that pizza and those chicken wings unhealthy, they are very costly too (in the long-term). Think about how much you could be saving. Also, don't be shocked if you put on a ridiculous amount of weight if all you eat is a burger every day. Be smart with your food choices, you'll need the energy to stay active and.. study (yes, you'll have to study).

6) Sleep at appropriate times.
Don't miss your lectures because you didn't sleep when you should have. You need your sleep, but at the right times. And you also need to attend your classes. Constant sleep deprivation will only slow you down in the long term.

7) Learn to budget.
Money doesn't grow on trees and neither does your student loan. Just because you have a healthy account balance when your student loan comes in doesn't give you the right to freely spend it on ridiculous things. That money is there to last you for a number of months, not weeks. Learn to budget and write down your spending to get an estimate of how much you use per week, and how to reduce unecessary buying. Remember, you need money for food, so maybe forget that Topshop dress you saw. Also, not everyone gets a grant/bursary (I certainly did NOT!!) so look after your money! You will probably have to fit in accommodation fees too!

8) Label your items/food.
Somebody is BOUND to steal some your milk in the fridge, as with your cutlery. Make sure you label anything that is put in a communal area. Yes you can't label cutlery, but keep them in a locked draw and put them away soon after washing up. People do steal and of course won't admit to it. Similarly, don't use other peoples stuff without their permission!

9) Sign up to your local surgery/doctors! 
Fresher's flu is a lot more common than you think. And you don't even know when you might get ill, so make sure you are registered!

10) Trust wisely.
Making friends with everyone you know is fine, but, don't trust everyone. The company you are in can affect your decisions largely, so BE WISE. Don't forget your morals and what you believe in. Spontaneity is good, but don't make decisions that you know you'll regret later. 

11) Stay true to yourself.
Be yourself. Don't change who you are to please others or fit in. At uni, there is a chance you WILL find someone who'll want to be your friend, so don't waste your time on people who don't appreciate you. There are so many people that it's impossible to not make friends! After all, uni is about developing you, not changing you. It's a chance to grow and understand who you are better than ever.

12) Accept that people change.
This is something you won't realise till a little later, but you should be aware of the fact that PEOPLE DO CHANGE. Maybe it's not more of them 'changing', but more of them 'revealing their true selves'. So, like I said earlier, trust wisely. Who you thought is your best friend might actually not be after all. That is a harsh truth - you'll learn that yourselves.

13) STUDY!
Yes, you WILL have to study. Don't forget why you are at university in the first place. Be lenient with yourself, that's fine, but don't compromise your education. Make sure you don't leave your work to the last minute because IT WILL COME BACK AND BITE YOU. There's no point in having all the fun in the world if you're geared towards a fail.

Just imagine yourself on your graduation day, receiving your degree, and how much you want to work to achieve that.. the hard work will then come automatically! During my final exams I just kept that goal in mind and didn't think of anything else.. then I just worked and worked and worked like there was no tomorrow!

14) Stay positive
Please remember that there is always help available if you need it. If you are feeling low/sad/anxious, make sure you tell someone about it. Things will get better. Talk to your personal tutor or someone you can trust, help is always available.

15) MOST IMPORTANTLY! HAVE FUN!
University can be the best time of your life. I can only begin to express how much I miss everything during that time. There will be ups and downs but it will be a great learning experience. You'll discover yourself in many ways and grow as an individual. Make sure you're having fun, staying safe and appreciating your time there. Those years of your youthful life won't come back, so live it to its fullest. Do things you wouldn't do otherwise and respect every moment. Make sure your uni life is something you want to remember for the rest of your life!

My BSc graduation! Proud moment!