THINGS TO DO BEFORE STARTING UNIVERSITY
THINGS TO DO BEFORE STARTING
UNIVERSITY
By
Chukwuma Chinaza Adaobi
Atianashie Miracle A
Catholic University College of Ghana
Now you've gained a place at
university, it's certainly worth following our checklist of the things you'll
need to buy and do to help the move run as smoothly as possible
There's a lot to put into place the summer before
starting university and this can seem like a daunting task. Creating a
checklist and knowing exactly what needs to be done and when is a good way to
help you relax.
Read on to find out how to get started. Some of the
items on this to-do list may not be the most exciting, but all are essential in
ensuring your new student life begins without a hitch.
1. ARRANGE YOUR
ACCOMMODATION
First-year students typically opt to stay in halls
as they are protected by the university and it's an easy way to meet new people
- although privately-rented housing and off-campus university accommodation
exist as alternatives which are more popular with mature or postgraduate
students.
Universities offer different types of accommodation
to suit a variety of needs. These include a mixture of catered/self-catered,
sociable/quiet and single/mixed gender halls.
IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR
PREFERENCES
It's never too early to start thinking about your
preferences, as many institutions allocate their halls on a first come, first
served basis. Get in touch with your university's accommodation office to book
onto an accommodation open day and explore your options.
To get started, read our guide on what you need to
know about student accommodation.
2. SORT OUT YOUR FINANCES
Your finances need to be in order before fresher's
week. This may seem like the least exciting task in preparing for university,
but it's the most important.
You'll firstly need to set up a student bank
account. Many of the major banks offer these with added attractive incentives
such as free NUS Extra or 16-25 railcards, but what you're ideally looking for
is who offers the best overdraft facilities. Some banks will make daily charges
if you enter your overdraft, so be wary of these and always read the small
print.
If you're planning on receiving government-funded
student finance, you next need to get in touch with Student Finance to get the
ball rolling. Securing student finance is a lengthy process, so make this a
priority.
Once these measures are in place and you know how
much funding you're entitled to on top of any family allowances and part-time
job earnings, you can budget your day-to-day life accordingly. This should
include allowances for amenities (food, bills, course materials), as well as
luxuries (clothes, socialising, visits home), to avoid landing yourself in
financial trouble later in the term.
3. Decide what to take
'If you're moving away from home, make sure you've
got all the living equipment you need,' says Clive Sheridan, third year
Criminology student at the University of Bedfordshire. He suggests keeping an
eye out for bargains. 'Go to shops like Wilko - they do good student discounts
around September.'
Find out what's provided at your accommodation to
avoid making unnecessary purchases, and check how much storage you'll have -
there's no point taking things you don't have the space to keep.
If you're taking a laptop, tablet or any other
gadgets, look into insurance - whether that's through your bank, family home
insurance or cover provided by the company you bought the gadget from.
With the bigger items to consider, you might forget
to pick up the little things. 'Make a list of everything you need to buy and
take it with you,' says Clive. Items such as stationery, pain relief and
cleaning products are easily forgotten, so by keeping organized you won't be
left short of any essentials.
Take a look at our guide to packing when you're
deciding what to take to university.
4. ORGANIZE A RAILCARD
A 16-25 railcard, taking a third off the price of
all train fares, could save you some serious cash if you're planning on
visiting home or friends at other universities throughout the term. The card
costs just £70 for three years.
It's not always necessary to take a car to
university. If you have one, parking is limited, and you'll be subject to an
expensive permit if you leave it on campus. Public transport will keep you
well-linked, especially in bigger cities.
5. GET READING
Many universities put their reading lists online
weeks before their courses begin, or will send you the details via email. This
will give you an idea of what to expect from your workload, and getting a head
start on reading will build your confidence for lectures.
You don't need to own every book on the list -
identify the core texts and buy these. Any others you need will be available to
borrow from your university library or to buy from former students for a
fraction of their original retail price.
6. ARRANGE A HEALTH CHECK
Arrange a health check with your GP before you
leave home to ensure you're starting university in the best health possible.
Sorting out any ailments before you make the move
will mean you're less likely to suffer from fresher’s flu - the illness most
first-year students experience as a result of a lack of sleep, exercise, poor
diet and being around hundreds of new people.
7. GET TO KNOW THE AREA
Use your spare time once you've moved in to locate
your nearest train station, local shops and GP surgery, as well as your campus
library, students' union and lecture buildings.
This is a great opportunity to get to know your
housemates by arranging to make these trips together – as they'll need to know
where these things are too. The task will feel less daunting if you're not
going alone.
8. LEARN TO COOK
Ask for help with making your favorite meals while
you're still at home - you'll be glad you did once you're fending for yourself.
Student cookbooks, available in bookshops and online, focus on using simple
ingredients and cooking on a budget.
Shopping cheaply is easier than you think - the
Co-Op offers a 10% discount to holders of a valid NUS card, and own-brand food
from the supermarket is often of the same quality as more expensive branded
alternatives.
9. SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY
AND FRIENDS
Spend quality time with your loved ones in the
summer before university. Depending on how far you're travelling for
university, you may not be able to see them for a few months. While you'll be
doing lots of exciting things and meeting new people in your first term,
homesickness is normal and might kick in once you've settled.
Recent memories of good times, and photos or
mementos to keep in your room, are a good way to combat these feelings. Visit
what to do when you're feeling homesick for more help on getting out of a
slump.
JUST ENJOY IT. GET INVOLVED IN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
10. GET INVOLVED IN FRESHERS'
WEEK
The welcome week is full of events designed to help
you settle into university life, so find out how to make the most of fresher’s
week. Your students' union will host fairs to join societies and sports teams,
and your course department might hold an icebreaker session in this time to
introduce you to your peers and lecturers.
While you don't have any course commitments you can
immerse yourself in these activities and make sure you're well-prepared to
start your degree. According to Clive, organization is key. 'Check the line-up
of fresher’s events and what's going on so you don’t miss out on anything,' he
recommends. Make sure you know in advance when you have to be somewhere. This
will help with planning your time in the long run.
'Lastly, just enjoy it,' he says. 'University is
where you'll make friends for life, so enjoy it and get involved in as much as
you can.'
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