Hi everyone,

As my time as a third-year student is approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to outline some of the best things to “do and don’t” during your time at university that I have picked up over the years. Some may be exected to you but some may be new, but I do recommend to follow this to have the best experience and education, that you are paying for! Here they are below:

• A: Do, Act properly: As this is something new, make sure to give a good first impression to your peers, teachers, everyone! It will make you more open and likeable and guarantee a socially smooth university experience.
• B: Don’t, Bottle up feelings: Again, as this is a new experience, you may be having mixed feelings about it all, make sure to speak to student services or to new and old friends to check in with your mental health.
• C: Do, Concentrate in your first year: In the UK, the first year of your degree for most does not count, but that still does not mean you should slack off as working hard in the first year will prepare you for the next 2 upcoming.
• D: Don’t, Ditch lessons: Relating to the first point, don’t ditch lessons, they are there for a reason and your paying for them!
• E: Do, Extensive research before choosing your university: Make sure you are choosing the right place for you, look at all your options and be open as the environment is key.
• F: Don’t, Fall out of touch with family and friends before university: Make sure to keep in contact with the people you love most and who helped you get to university, keep people around who know you well, even better than your new friends at university.
• G: Do, Go to freshers fair and events, ie club nights: Make sure to get out there and enjoy life! Be more social and experience new things out of your comfort zone.
• H: Don’t, Hide your true self: Make sure to always be you, don’t let this new “lifestyle” change who you really are as this is the person people want to get to know.
• I: Do, Interest yourself in societys and on-campus clubs: If clubs and nightlife are not your things, there are many on-campus things you can do to stay in the loop and be social.
• J: Don’t, “Just go with it”: Don’t give in to peer pressure from other students, everyone’s university experience will be different, make yours unique.
• K: Do, Keep calm: University will be stressful as a lot of new things will hit you all at once, keep calm, it will all calm down within time and you will get used to it.
• L: Don’t, Loose interest: Stick to your degree through thick and thin, it might be difficult and hard at first but it will all be worth it in the end.
• M: Do, Money management: This is so important, if you manage your finances right, then you can have an amazing time at university doing awesome things, but if you don’t then it can become a burden more than an experience.
• N: Don’t, Neglect basic life skills: Many people come to university and become children again as it is education, don’t be like them and be responsible.
• O: Do, Open to criticism: From anyone, university is a new experience so you need to learn from your mistakes and don’t take it personally.
• P: Don’t, postpone assignments: Make sure to them done on time, this gives you so much more free time and less stress.
• Q: Do, Question things: Make sure you know everything and take advantage of being able to ask questions about anything and everything, it will come in use as knowledge is power.
• R: Don’t, Rush: Anything. Take your time with things.
• S: Do, Show passion: If you’re at university then you know most likely what you want to do in life, work hard and succeed, show your passion in your field.
• T: Don’t, Take the experience for granted: 3-4 years of your course will go by so quickly, relish in your time there.
• U: Do, Understand what you are getting in to: University is serious, you are getting into debt and you need to know the financial responsibilities of this.
• V: Don’t, Vain: Understand everyone is at your level, no one is better or worse, be equal.
• W: Do, Want more and more out of your degree: This is a time where you pay for your education, get the most out of it.

• Don’t/do, x,y and z: Take peoples advice who have been in your position and enjoy as stated in T!

I hope you have enjoyed this post, university can be a new and stressful thing but trust me, if you follow some of these or all then you will be in a good position and surely enjoy your time at uni! Do let me know which of these you found useful or other things you would add.

Love, Kasia x