University Challenges

 

Starting life as a student at college or university is an exciting and challenging time. With friends to make, essays to write and money to find, you need all the help you can get. The first list of tips are from an individual student and it's how he has survived so far. The second was compiled by the Students Union at a college local to me. I hope they are helpful if you are starting college or university.
  • Most importantly, draw up a budget and stick to it - it sounds horrible but it works.

  • Make a shopping list before you go out and stick to this as well.

  • Have a few beers at home before you go out, to save you spending loads in the pub!

  • Avoid credit cards.

  • Try going home once in a while - it's free and the food is great.
  • Never buy the first round in the pub: it spoils the evening wondering when everyone else is going to buy you a drink.
And from the Students Union:
  • Try and get along with people! A little courtesy goes a long way until you figure out who your real mates are.

  • Keep in touch with old friends from home as you might need to hear a familiar friendly voice every now and then (and you can invite them across to visit you, so you look really popular!)

  • Get into a routine of setting aside some time each week for hardcore study and don't believe anyone who says the first year doesn't matter - it does!

  • When you go out in the evening, make sure your mates know where you are and that you know how you are going to get home. If you are at uni in London, you can get through to a cab firm by calling 0800 654321.

  • Here's an invaluable checklist of the basics you'll need if you're staying in halls:
    • Frying pan and 2 saucepans
    • Tin opener
    • Corkscrew/bottle opener (of course!)
    • Small kitchen knife
    • 2 big plates, 1 small and 2 bowls
    • Cutlery
    • Pillows and bedding
    • Flannel and towels
There you go! Most of the tips seem to be commonsense so should be easy to follow. The hardest ones to actually handle are those dealing with finances. Keeping to a budget is never easy, but good luck to all that need such tips in the course of their educational life.

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