Students, Let's talk uni

Entering my third year (I know I cannot believe it either) at the University of Strathclyde, all those uncertainties and worries I held about what my University experience would be like feel like a distant memory. But for the last few weeks before leaving for Glasgow quite honestly, I was terrified. University is a completely new adventure and chapter in your life that to be perfectly truthful is pretty difficult to understand until you experience it for yourself. There are, however, some things that I wish I had known prior to my first year of university and moving out in general. Over the next five blogs, I am going to share my tips and tricks on how to cope with uni life that I have gathered from my journey so far. 

First of all, my biggest worry was making friends, I’m sure most of you can agree but this is something that can make or break your uni experience. The thought of moving into a flat with five other strangers is incredibly daunting, but everyone is in the same situation. Within only a few weeks, it was as if I had known my flatmates and course mates for years and years. Even finding myself having a similar sense of comfort and familiarity with them as I had with my friends from home, something that I did not think would come so quick. I can’t explain how it happens but certainly, if you are open and willing to make new friends, other people will be too. At Strathclyde in particular, there is a focus on matching together flats with similar interests and personalities. I wish I had placed more trust in the uni for doing this. 

 

Anyway, another few tips I found were to embrace every opportunity you have (as cliche as it sounds). Even if it means going to something you do not particularly want or feel like doing. You have to put yourself out there and by doing so you will meet so many others in the same boat. Another way to meet people is obviously through your classes, make sure you join your course/ classes group chats – see what others are saying, even if it just makes some names a bit more familiar. I am in no way saying that my experience was as plain sailing as this may sound but these few things definitely did help me. 

 

I was told by several people before starting uni that clubs and societies were one of the best ways of meeting people. However, I wish I hadn’t placed so much pressure on this statement. As after joining two different clubs I realised they really weren’t for me. I think this just shows that everyone’s uni experience is so so different and you need to try things out, if they don’t work, try something else. And before long you will have made so many connections and friends for life. 

 

In first year, being homesick is something that doesn’t last forever. If you are like me and love being at home, it is definitely something that comes and goes. However, being in a routine and having good friends makes this so much easier. Even now in my third year, I feel myself missing home (especially all the home-cooked meals, roast dinners and pups but who wouldn’t?!). Moving away from home, moving to a new area, meeting new people… it’s a lot! And it’s completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. Keeping myself busy and regular phone calls to my mum and dad definitely helped me out for sure.

Next blog: Top Hacks To Become A Top Student Money-Saver