Are you a student who is going to be starting the first year of university this academic year? Read on to find out more about how you can prepare for your first year.
My experience
Starting university as a first year student is a very new and different experience, you may feel worried, scared or unprepared for university. This is very normal, so you should not worry! Being prepared for what is to come is the key to making your first year run as smoothly as possible. I would recommend you start chatting to other new first years through social media platforms and group chats, make plans to meet up with students on other courses, sort out your finances, be academically prepared by reading up on your course and sign up to societies. It’s all about knowing what to expect!
To make sure you are ready to become a first year university student, here’s how you can prepare for your first year!
Get connected
Social media platforms are a great way to communicate with others and make sure you are in the loop about your university. Participate in the group chats and get to know others, you can find this information by going onto the university’s official pages on social media and from there you will be able to find out everything you need to know about freshers week, buying tickets for events, welcome week timetables for your chosen degree course and also get advice on university prep!
Not only will joining social media groups help you stay informed, but, it will also give you the opportunity to connect with other first year students who are in the same boat as you. This way, when you move into your flat and start your course you will have already got to know the people who you will be living and studying with.
Read up on your course
Get ahead by reading up on your course – see if you can get hold of reading lists. After you have enrolled onto your course, these reading lists maybe available on your VLE platform and for me it was on Blackboard. But if you don’t have access to your VLE platform you can email your programme leader or lecturers for a copy of the reading lists before the term starts. This way you can stay ahead. In addition, depending on your course you might also have access to your programme specification booklet, which gives you the exact details of the modules that you will be studying each year and their assessments. This can also be found on the VLE platform or again by emailing your programme leader or lecturers. I would highly recommend obtaining both of these materials if you are able to!
Learn to budget
Living away from home definitely does come at a cost and even with various student uni discounts it all still adds up! Although for many living in halls, utility bills and internet are included in the rent, but if you are planning on watching live TV you will still need to pay for a TV license.
No matter where you live, you will still need to factor in cost of food, toiletries, laundry, course materials, transport, and of course nights out, before using your student loans for spontaneous spending sprees. Make budgeting a priority as this will definitely help you when you graduate.
Sign up to societies
Societies are a great way to socialise with other students in different courses at university, this will allow you to settle in more quickly. Sign up to societies that you know that you might be interested in, there is no harm in trying. Nobody will force you to attend events if you don’t enjoy it.
More information on fresher’s week and course timetables can be found by clicking on the following links, below.
Freshers https://freshers.lincolnsu.com/
Welcome Week Course Timetables https://welcomeweek.lincoln.ac.uk/#
Know what to expect, be organised, plan ahead with your studies and make the most of university life as these times will not come again!
Good luck!
About the author
