How to survive first year of uni

For all the students either planning to go to university or currently in the first year of their studies. University will be the best few years of your life but it also will come with stress.

But fear not I have some advice that I have used to minimise the stress during my first year.

The most important thing I found is budgeting yourself, which is extremely important in order to keep up with rent and being able to afford food.

I would recommend taking a note of the money going out and coming in, by doing this you can then work out a budget.

It also doesn’t hurt to save a little as it will help support yourself in the years to come.

I would also get a part- time job, as it will help provide a little extra income and provide you with skills that you can apply to any job.

I would also recommend that you buy a weekly planner which can be found in a range of different stores such as B&M. They can be extremely useful in terms of organisation, whether its keeping track of you shopping or general tasks.

Make use of your calendar on your phone and add in any important events that must not be forgotten, by doing so you don’t have to spend money on a calendar and this one can go with you where ever you go.

Stationary is extremely important for note taking and revision so I recommend investing in some notebooks and notepads, it’s also important to make sure to have plenty of pens and pencils.

Notebooks from the works

 

Now I know that the last tip many seem fairly obvious but many students actually forgot this step!

For the courses that have exams upon exams, I would create a revision timetable this way you can break up your revision into reasonable sized chunks to make it seem less daunting.

Now being a student does have its perks as your entitled to student discount!

I found although there are many different free apps available that give discounts at selected stores such as Unidays, having the NUS card is still useful as it provides discounts on a range of things and can be used for up to 3 years without renewal.

Unidays app

However, the NUS card is not free and can only be used in selected stores.Student events are held not only at the university’s student union but often in bars and nightclubs in the surrounding area.

By paying close attention to the reviews of the venue on their Facebook page you will soon find out if it’s a waste of money going or if it will be a good night out!

I would also recommend having a Halloween costume and Christmas jumper ready to go as many events are held around these times of the year.

 

I spoke to Naomi Sigsworth and Reema Rabheru, two student at Newcastle University about any tips they picked up from first year having moved away from home.

Naomi said ‘budgeting is very important make sure to set aside the money you need for rent before arranging how much you spend on everything else, because rent is the most important.

‘I would also make sure to remember not to worry if you don’t get on with your flat mates as you’re bound to make friends on your course or otherwise. I would also suggest that you don’t go home every weekend, if you do you will get used to it and feel homesick more often.

I didn’t go home for 3 weeks after starting uni without going home so I could get used to it. But if you feel like you need to go home then do, especially if you are ill even for a few days as there is nothing worse than not being home and being ill’

Reema added ‘when you get to your accommodation I would hang pictures up and make it feel really cosy and homely. Also most people you meet in fresher’s you won’t stay friends with so don’t feel like your stuck with certain people until you leave uni.’