My University Advice

As someone who has been to university twice and once during a global pandemic, it's safe to sayI have some university experience and as I have been there, I know full well the struggle it is to be a university student. That's why I thought I'd share my insight and advice to help any of you in university whether you're a fresher or in your final year or just thinking about going to university, this one's for you. 

1. Be yourself

I cannot stress this enough, but the beauty of university is you can be yourself. Trust me you're going to meet people from all over the country and possibly abroad too, just be yourself. Some people may have the same interests you do and you may meet your new best friend. Everyone can tell if you're trying to be someone you're not. You may as well embrace the person you are and eventually you'll find your people. 

2. Attend your lectures

A 9am lecture is quite possibly the worst feeling in the world. Especially if it's on a Wednesday and the night before was half price drinks. However, it's really important to attend your lectures. Even though attendance is not monitored as strictly as it was when you were in school. Your lecturers will start to notice if you're not attending as much. Especially if you start getting into a pattern of skipping lectures once every two weeks. From my personal experience, they do notice and eventually a scary looking email will appear in your inbox putting your whole degree into question. My advice is to attend all your lecturers because it allows you to not only build a working relationship with your lecturer, but also your fellow coursemates. 

3. Group projects suck, but don't be the bad one

Whether you like it or not. You may be forced into a group project that is crucial to passing a module. It sucks even more if that group project is working with people you don't particularly know. My biggest advice is to be a good team player. Make the effort to participate. Write the minutes for meetings, get organised and put your ideas forward. Don't rely on one person to do all the work. Don't attend a group meeting once or twice throughout the whole module. If you put in the effort then it will make life easier and if everyone puts in the effort, everything will be okay. I've been in a group project where one guy barely showed up to any meetings, was asked to do some work for the project and didn't do it, then had the nerve for the final presentation and showed up, but literally didn't have a speaking role because he literally contributed nothing. My biggest tip is don't be that guy because unfortunately at the end of a group project, there is a peer review where your group has to evaluate every member and their contribution and I'm sorry to say, they will be very honest if you did nothing to contribute. I know group projects suck and nobody really wants to do it, but at the end of the day, it's gotta be done and you may as well be the best group member as you may have someone who does nothing to help or maybe more than one person and yes it's very frustrating, but at least you can get your revenge with the peer review. 

4. Tidy up after yourself

I feel it's a given in student accommodation that there is a flatmate who is the messiest person you'll ever meet. I'm not just talking about being slightly lazy when it comes to washing up, but I'm talking about making no actual effort to clean up at all. I know in university it's the first time living without your parents, but surely you must have been taught to respect other people and one of those ways is to respect the shared accommodation. Nobody cares what your bedroom looks like, but if you leave the kitchen a mess then that's disrespectful because nobody wants to cook dinner while surrounded by someone else's dirty dishes and food splatter on the hob. It's gross. Don't even get me started on the shared bathroom. I was grateful for my own ensuite when I did my masters because sharing a bathroom is almost traumatising. Imagine wanting to have a shower only to find hair stuck to the walls or the plug. I don't care if it's hair from the top of the head, when it's in a wet clump in the shower, it's disgusting. I can't believe people like this exist, but please just tidy up after yourself. Leave the kitchen tidy for the next person to use it and please leave the bathroom clean after using it. The last thing anyone wants when they want to get clean and the bathroom is dirty. It's not even about being lazy, it's about respecting your fellow flatmates by being a decent person and tidying up after yourself.

5. Don't be scared of your lecturers

Now as a shy, awkward person. To me teachers and lecturers were scary people because they mark your work and can tell you off, but in my first year I learned that your lecturers aren't all that scary. If anything they can be a big help to you. It does seem like you're on your own a bit when it comes to your work, but actually you're not on your own. If you're struggling and don't really know what to do for your assignments, email your lecturers and be honest with them. They won't tell you what to write or the answers, but they will point you in the right direction whether it's what library book you need. Another thing is give them a draft of your work. Even if you bullet point some sections you're thinking about writing. It shows them you're making an effort and actually care about your work. They'll be able to tell you if you're going in the wrong direction or if you're on the right path. Your lecturers are one of the biggest assets to have when doing your degree. If you have a good relationship with your lecturer then it will get you far. If you ask for help, they will help you, but you need to make the first move. Even if it's by email first, this may lead to a face to face meeting, but at least you've gotten over the first hurdle by asking for help. Guaranteed a lot of students get better marks because they spoke to their lecturers and got their advice so don't be afraid to talk to your lecturers about anything. They will help you. 

6. Make the most of it

Unfortunately, university goes by really quickly and before you know it, you're writing a dissertation. University definitely feels like this bubble and as soon as you're out of university, it's time to face reality. Enjoy your time in university, it's the best time to try new experiences and if you're in a different place, go out and explore nearby cities you wouldn't have been able to while you were at home. Honestly, I don't regret going to university and made some amazing memories there. I did fall into a bit of a depression in my third year, but I got through it and I'm here now with two degrees to my name. Just make the most of your time at university because it will all be over in a flash or if you're like me and get a masters two years after finishing university. That was a whole different thing as it was during a pandemic, but still an interesting experience that I don't regret. Just have fun and you will get through it. Trust me. 

There we have it, that's my advice for university. I hope they were helpful to any of you at university or thinking of going to university. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and I'll be back again soon with another post. 

See you then.

Megan x 

*This is not a sponsored post* 

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