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Preparing for university

Muhammad

Final Year Politics and Social Policy Student

Starting your education at a university is a huge step towards your career and a significant change in your lifestyle.  There are a few tips to prepare yourself for your time at university such as developing certain life skills and academic habits.  

Firstly, you have to consider whether you will be living at home or moving away for university. Personally, I chose to move away from my home country (Singapore) to the United Kingdom to explore an independent lifestyle and learn new cultures. If you’re considering living independently,  my tip would be to learn basic skills needed such as cooking, grocery shopping and doing your own laundry. When living independently, grocery shopping trips will be an exciting part of your term time; however, you have to learn to buy food within a budget. These skills can be developed by helping out at home, how easy! 

The next aspect of your university preparation will be cultivating some habits that will help you socially and academically. My first tip for this would be to start learning how to build your network by meeting new people and following up with them from time to time. This can be done by getting involved in university outreach programmes to meet fellow students who aspire to going to university, and get a head start with making friends!  

 In terms of academic preparation, my advice would be to stay curious and engage with a wide range of readings. The reading lists at university can be really extensive and long, so getting used to reading a varied range of literature will be really helpful!  

 

Inigo

Year 3 Biotechnology Student

Be organised with your life: At university you will have to juggle work, social life, and personal development all on your own so it’s important to get used to keeping on top of things.

Be open minded: For a lot of people, university can be a bit overwhelming because of the sheer number of new opportunities and people. It’s easy to cocoon yourself away from doing things that you may have never tried before, but I found being open-minded and welcoming to new things will really enhance your university experience. 

Use the university study facilities: If you’re like me and have a difficult time being productive at home, use the university libraries and clusters. At Leeds there are 5 libraries that everyone can access, Edward Boyle and Laidlaw being the largest. They are a great place to work as there are lots of silent study areas, and group spaces where you can collaborate with course mates.  Most of them are also open 24/7 so they’re a great place for when you’ve got that big assignment due.  

Strive for balance: At university, you have complete control of your day-to-day life so it's easy to overdo it in some areas. It’s important to maintain a good balance of academic, social and personal activities so you don’t neglect your mental health. 

Don't forget to see Leeds: Make sure to explore Leeds so you can see how lively and bustling it really is. Kirkstall Market, the Corn Exchange and the Wharf are all nice areas to visit for an authentic view of Leeds. If you’re more of a countryside person, Leeds is surrounded by natural parks and forests such as the Yorkshire Dales so just hop on a quick train and enjoy. Personally, I would highly recommend checking out the small town of Saltaire just outside Leeds, it's so picturesque and there’s a huge art gallery called Salts Mill.  

Lucy

Year 2 Philosophy Student

My advice would be to learn some good recipes before you arrive at university and make sure to get all your basic kitchen staples like spices. Bring a doorstop! This really helped me at the beginning to meet people in my flat without it being too forced. 

Look at the modules on your course and see if there’s a reading list. Don’t put too much pressure on doing lots of preparation, but if there’s anything you find particularly interesting, see if it's something you can research before you start.  

Be open to joining any course and/or accommodation chats on social media. These will really help at the beginning, since everybody will be in the same boat looking for new friends.  

In my experience, you learn as you go at Uni and all students do things differently. So, don’t worry if you feel ‘unprepared’, once you start you’ll soon find your way around things.  

Stephen

Year 4 Biology Student

Get all the life admin sorted: There are a lot of steps to think about when going to university. A lot of them don’t take a long time, but still need to be done! Make sure you enrol on your first semester courses, check what reading materials/textbooks you need, register with student medical practice, and buy a 16-25 railcard (this will save a lot of money on trips to and from university!) 

Get to know the area: If it is possible, visit the university you are going to at their open days or just visit the city for a day out. Seeing where you will be spending the next few years should help calm any pre-university nerves and make you feel more at home 

Join group chats on social mediaWorried about making friends? Most universities will have group chats on Facebook for Halls of Residence and courses where you can start talking to other soon-to-be students in your position. 

Research what opportunities are available to you and take advantage of them: University can offer all sorts of opportunities from club and societies, to part-time work, to periods of studying abroad. Have a look at the university website to see what they can offer you. Make sure you explore as many opportunities as possible – don’t be afraid to get stuck in and make the most of your time at university. 

Don’t believe all the stereotypes: University can be an amazing experience and there is a stereotype that it will be the best years of your life. While it certainly is an incredible experience, don’t worry if it doesn’t meet your biggest expectations in the first few months. Moving to a new city, living on your own, making new friends, studying a new course and having all these new experiences can be very overwhelming. Don’t compare yourself to other people and their experiences. Look after yourself and you are bound to have a great time!