University: First Year Over

Well my (second) first year is over. All I can say this year has been amazing. Worcester is an amazing city.
I just wanted to re-cap on the year and get ready for the second year. This year has seen a lot of changes for me. Most for the better

I would recommend Worcester University to anyone, the campus is beautiful, it blends in to the surrounding area rather then standing out. The campus is only a ten minute drive from the Malvern hills. A fifteen minute from town, and a five minute walk from supermarkets and a bowling alley.

The rooms on campus are of a high quality from the traditional to the super en-suite. The rooms are big and less prison like as some university halls look like. The windows are massive, which creates a light airy environment.  I loved my room, it was cosy, I don't know why. People are lovely, not just on campus but off as well. I met some amazing people this year, through my course and in my halls.

The teaching/course was really good, being part of the business school was definitely beneficial. The lecturers were interested, the work was marked quickly, and the rooms were perfect for group discussions. Lectures weren't like you expect, more about discussion then just sitting there and listening.

I stepped out of my comfort zone when it came to going out, I never went out before moving to Worcester. Then I realised its more about who you are with then where you are. The key for me was to pre-drink, I felt more comforable out, drunk people become less annoying when you are one of them. And it also makes it cheaper.

Collage of various magazines, shakespeare, and ttickets

I was on the third floor, overlooking other halls

Little things make it feel like home

Overview of the room

Highlights of  first year;
Meeting some amazing people
Stepping out my comfort zone
Relaxing
Becoming myself
Loosing weight
Having the best friends a girl could ask for
Finding a house
Learning something new
Passing first year
Moving to Worcester

Weightloss

Karaoke every Friday night

Weighting at the train station

Monday nights out

Your going to need some costumers


Thank You :)

University Guide: Moving Out

Moving out day will be stressful and emotional. There's no way around it. For most people this is going to be your first time leaving home. It's the first step.

So I decided to learn from my experience and hopefully help someone.

First thing, is get everyone ready the night before. This means you don't have to panic on the day about forgetting something, pack everything in the car ready to go in the morning.

Have all the paper work you know you need in one place.

Print the enrolment certificate, 

Have your ID, one photo, and one written

The confirmation of your place 

Your room number, so you can collect your keys

When you get to the Uni it's going to be busy, and you don't want to be looking for everything when your collecting keys and you student card.

Smile :)

Say the long Goodbyes to your family the night before, if your like me it'll be hard. And moving day is going to be a long day.

You will probably get emotional. That is completely fine and normal. Everyone is in the same boat, and once you start talking to other students, you'll find most people had a little cry on the first day. Don't worry this doesn't last forever you'll forget how you feel after the first couple of weeks, when nerves have subsided.

Try and enjoy it, even though your moving away, see it as the next step. Your not leaving forever, your just taking the next step in your life.

It's going to be a blast

When you arrive you'll be greeted by wardens, they're there to direct and help you not get lost on campus. They will also be looking after you drug your first year, in case anything does go wrong. 

You'll be directed in to a big hall with all the other nervous freshers, this is where you'll get your student ID and keys. They'll be different stations, and there will be signs so don't panic. 

You'll probably also receive a welcome pack of some sort, with some freebies, and a guide to university. 

Then it's time to find your room, don't worry the wardens will direct you as to where park and unload. 

Some universities will have trollies, so you won't have to carry your things back and forth. Others won't. 

You'll make friends for life 

Now it's time to unpack 

What I suggest is to try and unpack with your family, it will make you more calm. They can help you so you don't have to do it by yourself later on.

Also if you've forgotten anything a great idea would be to go to town with your family, they can help you pick up anything else you need, and you get acquainted with the town before they leave. It will make you feel more comfortable about your new surroundings. 

It's cliche by now but keep the door open. It's inviting and people will be passing by a lot on the first day.

Smile nothings the end of the world 

Smile, make a good impression. No one hates being smiled at, you can't go wrong.

Talk to people when you arrive, this is the first chance to get to know the people you'll be living with for the next year, and maybe more.

When your family has left the most social room will be the kitchen, and this will follow for the rest of the year. Everyone will migrate there for there first hellos to everyone and you'll probably have a meeting of some sort to introduce yourselves. 

Get ready for a week of "what course are you on?" "Where are you from?"

Get ready for your freshers week to be amazing!

University Guide: Packing

Packing for Uni is boring, there's no sugar coating it. It's like any other packing, except times 4. But it's got to be done. It's easier to to organise it, and do it in small segments instead of all at once. Hope some of these tips help.

Start by putting some music on. It helps make things speed up. Makes it less of a chore. 

Have my face during freshers 

One use bags not boxes. 

Boxes may seem like the best option at first but when your packing those into the back of a car it's going to fill up quickly. The big shopper bags are what I used and found them to be great. You can fit a lot in them and they're more flexible then boxes. When you're unpacked you can just fold them and use them for other things, or hide them away till the end of the year comes around. 

Take a weekend bag/ suitcase as well. These come in to use when you're going back on weekends and holidays. Or just taking all your washing back for your parents. 

This is what it looks like if you lack everything you want. Too much

Pack as you go

You're going to want to start packing as you buy things. This makes the final pack less stressful. What I did was take things out of there boxes/ if they came in them. They take up too much space and you're going to be left with a lot of rubbish when you get there. 

Don't pack like this

Pack by room

I suggest to pack things by room. It makes it easier on the other side. So separate things into piles, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom. Put heavy things on the bottom, but not all in one bag. Remember you're going to have to carry these up stairs. 

When your packing think or when your unpacking. Have things that your going to put on your desk on the top, this will probably be the first thing you do. Then shelves, wall, draws, wardrobe. 

Wide open spaces 

Save space 

If you've got fragile things instead of using newspaper or bubble wrap, use your clothes. This takes up less space and is more protected during the ride. 

If you're taking under bed storage, or any kind of storage for your room, pack things inside them instead of leaving them empty.

Don't take all your books and DVDs. Take your favourite or ones you haven't read yet. You're likely to be having to much fun to spend much time in your room anyway.

If you can get away with buying things when you get to Uni. On the first day, your parents could stay for a few hours, you could go into town. By things you need then, save space in the car. 

One thing Id suggest is pack light. Remember that everything you take will have to come back (unless you look into storage) and your going to collect stuff over the year. Stick to what you need to start of with, then what you want. You can always go pick things up when you go back for the weekend, if you find you need more things. Don't pack your whole room!

Haliena Brown

Astra Christina 

University Guide: What To Take

This blog is all about the essentials for moving to university. I was so stressed and all the lists I found online were endless and seemed to include pointless things. So I thought I'd make me own list for everyone that doesn't want to end up with useless things filling up there rooms.

For everything that is going to be in a public area like the Kitchen or Bathroom I'd suggest going cheaper rather then extravagant. I learnt from experience that things go missing get wrecked and you don't want to waste money. It's annoying trust me!

In the kitchen

Kitchen

Pots - I'd say three is enough, they sell sets of three at Argos for £10.99 

Frying pan - A medium sized one will do 

Wooden/Metal Stirring Spoon 

Potato Masher 

Strainer 

Can opener/bottle opener - get one that can do both, Poundland 

Towels - I'd say two is enough. They're going to get dirty unless you lock them away, you can get a pack for a pound in most places  

Places I'd recommend for university things, 
Argos, Wilkinsons, B&M and even Poundland. 

For these things, though plain sets are cheaper, you may want to look into buying in specific colours. This is so you can easily recognise your things, and others know that they are yours too.

Also I found two of each is enough. 

Plates 

Bowls 

Cups 

Cutlery - 12 Piece set is the best option, they will go missing, you can get packs for £2.00 at Argos and Tesco

Things to buy when you get there as a flat -

Washing up liquid 

Wash cloths 

Sponges 

Drying Rack - this isn't an essential but will provide easy drying and plates won't just be lying by the sink if you don't dry them immediately

Make it feel like home

Bedroom

Though you can just transfer you home bedding from home to Uni, it is much easier to buy a new set as you won't have to bring it back for weekends and holidays.

I got my bed set from home bargains, not the most glamorous shop. But it did save me money as I had to buy everything myself.

Duvet - I'd suggest a medium tog, as this will do through winter and summer. You can also pick up a duck feather duvet from most places, and they are the most comfortable. 

Pillows - however many you usually have, you can get packs of one and two from most home shops.

Duvet and Pillow cover set - I suggest buying two of these, whilst you wash and dry one set you have a spare

Laptop or PC

Monitor/TV - I'd suggest not watching live tv, as you will have to buy a TV Licence, and most TV programmes are available online after they have been on TV.

TV Licence - if you're going to be watching live TV you need one. It's illegal not to have one.

Drying Rack - Cheaper if you don't have the change for the on site drying machines.

Laundry Bag - I'd suggest a bag rather then basket, you can put it away, and it's easier to carry to the washing place

Lamp - Most Uni's have them if not I'd suggest buying one, you will inevitably be working during the night and its less harsh then the bedroom light 

Photos - Print photos off that you take at uni and stick them up, and take photos from home to make your room more homely

Posters - if you are aloud to stick things on your wall take advantage and transform you cell like room in to your personal space, show of your personality it's a great conversation started

Speakers - Theyll be useful when studying and pre-drinking

Headphones - If you need to study and its loud they'll help

Bath Towels - 3 will do 

Trying to work

Clothes 

I made the big mistake of taking most of my wardrobe with me, I'd suggest to not do this. Take things you wear at home, don't think that you'll wear things at Uni you don't at home. You won't. When you're in the halls it's much like being at home, you'll probably lounge around in hoodies.

I'd say some staples are;

Hoodies 

Sweats/Joggers

A onesie

Costumes - if you're into going out and have costumes, I'd suggest taking them they'll come in use at some point 

Printer - Its easier to have your own, but you can use the universities

Books 

If your course requires you to have books, you will be sent a reading list.

Although you may want to buy all the books in preparation I'd suggest buying them after you move into university. You probably won't need them during the freshers week, and you lectures will probably tell you what books you need ASAP and ones you don't need.

Most books will be available to rent at the library, and if your factuality has a notice board old students may be selling there books for a cheap price.

If you do buy the books, I suggest buying them of amazon, used books come at a third of the price most of the time.

Stationary 

It's not like school you won't need a lot

DIARY/Calendar - You will need to keep on top of deadlines, events, work so get one.

Notepad

Pens

Sticky Notes

Folder 

Highlighters

Optional 

Dividers 

Blue Tac

Pins 

Cork Board - if your room doesn't have one 

Wouldn't want to miss moments like these

Extra

Camera - It's easier to use your phone, but for special occasions you may want to use a camera

Games console - Good for rainy days when there's nothing else to do

DVD player - Movie nights are cheap and fun

Extension Lead 

The list may seem long but you most likely have most of the things already. Don't spend all your money at this stage. Hope it helps :) 

Haliena Brown

Astra Christina

University Guide: Results

First off well done. Welcome to a series tackling the stress following the first year of university. Hope it helps :) 

After you have received your results, you are likely to receive a welcome pack from the university you have a place at.

This welcome pack will include all the information that you need to know before you go. This will probably include you new student ID and a password for you to log on to the university's 'portal'. You will be given instructions on how to enrol, which will need to be done before you attend the university.

    

   Enrolment 

Is a simple process and shouldn't be stressed about. You will have to accept the terms and conditions of the university. I know most people usually ignore the terms and conditions when accepting them, but this is one time I would suggest reading them. It will outline the procedures of the university, what you can and can't do, can and can't bring when you move in. It lists the actions that will be taken if you don't follow the rules, which include fines, and being withdrawn. Again don't stress, university is supposed to be a great experience they aren't trying to scare you, they are trying the create the best environment they can for all students. So take note. 

In most situations you will have to fill out a few details regarding contact, and emergency contact. You are also likely to be given your student email, you may want to take the chance of forwarding your emails to the account you use most. This is also most likely to be the time you choose your modules, if your course offers any. 

You will be given a brief introduction to the choices you have, if your not sure contact one of the admissions team and they can inform you further on what to do. Again don't stress, it's not the end of the world if you can't decide go away and think about it, you will usually be given at least a week to decide. So don't rush it. 

Once you have accepted the terms and conditions, and filled out all the details necessary. 

You will be officially enrolled to the university

                                         

               Bad example but you get the point, smile

  

      Student ID 

It is around this time you will be asked to send in your student ID photograph. Choose wisely this is what you will be showing to other students, the student union, and to get any student offers. You will want to follow any procedures that the university has given you in order for you photograph to be accepted. 

It is treated much like a passport photograph, though slightly less strict.

• You'll want to have a high quality image,  not pix-elated. 
• A clear background, white is possible.
• Your face is clear, you can smile though :)
• You will want to frame the picture so it cuts of at your shoulders
• You may want to get someone else to take it to make it easier
• Upload it and send it off
• You will probably receive confirmation that it is acceptable, or not

And you're done.

     

    Contacting Other Students

Once you've received your welcome pack and enrolled, it's the perfect time to start looking for other students going to the same university, or on the same course, or even in the same accommodation.

Most universities will have an array of social media sites you can look up

Facebook is the most used site for contact other students, just search your university and several pages should appear.

Freshers;

Every university should have a page set up by the student union for freshers. This is the most likely page to start talking to other people, many students will post looking for people on the same course, so it won't be hard to find someone on yours!

Talking to other students makes the whole process a lot less stressful and less nerve racking. 

Don't be scared to contact people, most will be relieved to know someone else. 
Remember everyone is in the same situation.

It is also the place you will receive the information on freshers week; special offers, events, nights outs. 

The student union;

This is the place you'll receive updates on any events happening, and will most likely receive the timetable for freshers week.

This time table will include the freshers fair, societies fairs, so make time for these. 

The official page;

This is the page where the university will give updates on any information you need to know so follow the group.

        

                               

My room 

 Accommodation

If you haven't sorted it out before you should look into it. If the university of choice is further then you can travel, you can apply for accommodation. 

Don't stress, but do apply. 

Most university's will have enough rooms for all first years that wish to live in halls. 

The application process is usually simple.

You will be given the prices and amenities of the various halls on site, which will usually include, standard, standard plus, and en-suite. Plus variations between universities. 

These will vary in price so take into account what you can afford when applying, though student loans are built to cover this, they may not cover the most expensive places. 

Prices usually vary from £70-140. Though you may want to live in luxury don't put yourself in a position where it leaves you with nothing to live on

When it comes to applying, you will be asked to provide, a first, second and third choice. Much like the UCAS process. This is so that if your first choice is full up the university has other options, and though all efforts are made to give students there first choice this is not always possible. 

Once you have sent your application off, and received an offer. You will be given usually 7 days to accept the offer you have been given, and pay the deposit. Unfortunately the deposit is not optional. Though if you are finding yourself really stuck I would look into contacting the accommodation team, and going through your options. 

Once the deposit is paid your place is secure and will be able to collect your keys when you move in. This is also the time you will want to set up the direct debits for the accommodation payments. You can choose to pay it all up front, in three or six instalments. The most popular option is the three instalments, as this will align with the three instalments of your loans. So you won't have a chance to spend it. 

You're Done!

When this is all done you're all set for university on the paper work side. Follow for blogs on, packing, moving, freshers week, and first year.

Do not stress about it. Universities have experienced every situation and student. Your problems will not be new to them, and they can solve them. 

You just need to ask.

Haliena Brown 

Astra Christina
Photo credit: google, university website, my own.