28/09/12 - Freshers Week Extravaganza 4: Studying

[I am so sorry I missed yesterday's blog post - I had one half-written and intended to finish it, but I've been struck down by the dreaded Freshers flu and just was not up to it.]

And of course we can't forget the most important aspect of university, the reason you're there in the first place, what you worked so hard for all those years of high school: a higher education.  As important as all the other stuff is - the independence, the socialising, the new experiences - ultimately a degree should be what you're focussed on.  It's an easy thing to lose sight of.  I won't deny that I often do the same.  I know the temptation to roll over and smack that alarm clock into submission after a heavy night.  I know the feeling of dread when you look out the window and see the torrential rain/driving wind/dangerous icy aftermath of snow, and the urge to return to your nice warm bed with a cup of tea.  I know the leap of joy when you realise that your lecturer puts all their lecture notes, word for word, online and you never have to leave your bedroom again.  But believe me, you'll regret all those lie-ins come results day.

Most first year courses only require you to get at least 40% in all your assessments in order to progress to second year.  I know there are a lot of discrepancies between different universities and different courses, but the majority operate this system.  My main piece of advice is do not use this as a set-in-stone rule.  If you focus on scraping 40% in first year, second and third will come as quite a shock.  I can't count the number of times I've heard, and even said myself, "If I get forty, I'll be happy.  I only need forty."  It becomes every fresher's mantra.  And yes, there will be some essays that you worry will only just get you that much-coveted forty.  Nine times out of ten, it's never that bad.  If you've put in even a little bit of effort, you should do better than barely passing.

Keeping your notes organised is key.  My personal system is to use an A5 simple reporter's notebook in lectures, making sure I put the date and module title at the top of each new set of notes or I get really confused.  Then I write all the notes up neatly on A4 lined paper before separating them into a different ring-binder for every module.  I do my best to keep on top of this, or my notes are all messy and it makes revising and essay-writing really tough.  Personally, I find that writing and rewriting information gets it embedded in my brain, but use whichever method is easiest for you (and if you have any handy note-taking tips, leave them in the comments!)

I feel like a hypocrite with this next point but try and do your work in advance of the deadline.  Pretty obvious, I know.  But it's a rule I have never abided by.  It's one of my worst habits.  I'm always the girl doing marathon sessions in the library, downing Relentless and black coffee with Pro Plus, and sobbing silently into a pile of textbooks.  I will reluctantly admit to pulling all-nighters before a deadline, and last year I wrote two 2,500 word essays in the space of forty-eight hours.  That was horrendous.  This is the point of this piece of advice: do not make my mistakes.  It's not big, it's not clever, and it will leave you looking zombie-fied for days afterwards.  

I find that keeping track of deadlines and other commitments is easiest when you have a calendar or diary to make note of everything in.  At the Freshers Fair, my university provides huge wall-planner posters which a lot of people take and never use, but without mine I would be a lost cause.  I keep it above my desk and write everything on it.  I also have upwards of two diaries on the go at any time - my academic planner from uni, my personal handbag diary with social commitments, and another one just to be on the safe side!

Everyone reacts differently to certain methods of revision or organisation - I won't get into the whole visual learner, kinetic learner, blah blah that they always shoved down your throat in school...but it's true!  These are just my personal tips and I've tried to keep the advice as general as possible.  Please share your own handy hints in the comments, and let's help everyone have a wonderfully productive year!

26/09/12 - Freshers Week Extravaganza 3: Socialising

This aspect of university life is the one that most people look forward to and focus on, especially in Freshers Week.  And I won't deny it; it's an essential part of the university experience.  You can enjoy your newfound freedom without worrying about what time you get home or waking your parents up with your drunken stumblings.  The opportunities for socialising will be endless - themed club nights, events every night at your Student Union, cheap drinks.  It will probably be hard to resist.  And I'm not saying you should resist.  

I love a night out.  Yes, I'm a bit of a geek and spend a lot of time on the Internet.  Yes, I'm quite a girly girl sometimes and don't like the thought of a stranger pouring drinks down my new dress.  But ultimately, I like to let my hair down on a night out as much as the next person...in fact, I am writing this in the early hours of the morning with a full face of make-up and aching feet from killer heels (I had a quiet one, hence my legible typing!)  And let's be honest, I'm a (sort of) Scouser at heart.  We have a reputation to uphold!  But, despite all that, I can appreciate that there are some people who aren't like me.  Some people can't think of anything worse than going to a darkened, noisy room with a bunch of inebriated idiots who are undoubtedly being obnoxious.  Some people just don't like alcohol or the idea and practise of getting out of control.  If you are one of these people, don't worry.  Not everyone will want to go out every night of Freshers.  The girls I lived with in first year all skipped one night out to eat brownies and watch 'The Parent Trap'...and it was one of the best nights we had; a chance to actually get to know your new housemates rather than just getting drunk with them.  Don't feel pressured into doing anything you don't want to - it may be tough to get away without some gentle (or otherwise) teasing if you choose to stay in.  But I regularly choose a night in front of the telly over a night on the tiles.  There's nothing wrong with it, particularly when you're feeling knackered or are running out of cash.

When you do venture to out on a drinking extravaganza - which is likely to happen unless you are bless with an iron will for self control - just...be careful, yeah?  I don't want this to turn into one of those PSHE videos you get in school about drinking in moderation and all the bad stuff that happens when you get drunk.  Those videos make valid points and it always pays to be sensible...but everyone knows it isn't always that easy.  I will grudgingly admit - and my friends will tell you with glee - that I have made some bad decisions and made a fool of myself whilst under the influence.  Most of us have at one point or another.  And I don't recommend it.  Particularly not in Freshers Week.  A bad reputation is easy to gain and difficult to shake.  Nicknames and anecdotes relating to things you'd rather forget will not go away.  Trust me, your drunken antics will haunt you for years to come.  I am still reminded of things that I did two years ago, and I constantly remind my friend of a certain incident at a house party back when we were in high school.  This stuff isn't easily forgotten...especially when it's funny.  So I'm going to get the dull stuff out of the way here: never get in an unmarked taxi, stick with a friend (and random guys who seem lovely are not friends), use protection, drink lots of water, don't walk home alone, always have your key, etc etc.  You know the drill.

Don't be afraid of fancy dress.  It's all part and parcel on the university experience.  There will be obscene amounts of opportunity to put on a silly outfit and hit a club.  Most SU clubs do themed nights once a week, encouraging you to wear anything from school uniform to your pyjamas to the guise of an extra on The Only Way Is Essex.  And it's so much fun!  Personally, I don't understand people who don't like fancy dress...although I know there are those people out there.  I feel like it makes getting ready to go out easier - you already know what you're going to wear and it doesn't matter if you look funny, because everyone will.  So embrace it.  You can pull a costume together out of a few bits and pieces you have lying around, so it doesn't have to be an expensive or time-consuming habit.

Hallowe'en 2010

Toga party

UV/Neon

Favourite musicals social

Back to School theme

Northern Monkeys vs Southern Fairies social

Hallowe'en 2011

999 themed night

See?  So much fun!

If you have any handy hints for staying safe as well as having a good time and making the most of Freshers Week, leave them below!  Also, let me know what fancy dress themes you've taken part in...it's always interesting to see what different universities do.

25/09/12 - Freshers Week Extravaganza 2: Eating

Believe me, the food at university is one of the biggest shocks to your system.  Or at least, it was to mine.  Going from having my parents cooking plenty of delicious food at mealtimes and cupboards which were always well-stocked, to a grotty shared kitchen where things consistently went missing and catered halls which were more akin to school dinners than real food and where the only vegetarian option tended to be pasta or chips?  Not fun.  Especially not for someone like me, who would rather have a goat's cheese and beetroot salad than a Pot Noodle and baked beans.  

This is NOT cooking!

Healthy eating can be a struggle in your first year of university.  I found that the freedom of living away from my parents seemed to equal the freedom to order takeaways and live primarily off ice lollies and crisps.  This is probably the reason I put on so much weight in my freshers year - that, and the alcohol...but that's another point for another blog post.  And then when I went home at Christmas and was confronted with all the lovely home-cooked food and other trappings that the festive season brings...well, it was becoming a problem.  After Christmas, I did join the gym and gave up crisps, my biggest vice, for Lent which helped a little.  But overall, it was not an attractive year in Hannah Land - I gained a stone, give or take, just in my first few months of uni and didn't drop it again until the summer.  

My main advice would be:

• Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by the abundance of takeaway menus you will find everywhere coupled with the money that appears in your bank account every term nearly as magically as the food used to appear in the fridge at home.  Give yourself a few weeks of excitement and then try and settle into a routine.  I know the temptation will be strong, particularly if you're not in catered halls and have to feed yourself every night.  The occasional hungover McDonald's breakfast or late night cheesy chips won't kill you - although both those options turn my stomach - but trust me, in the long-run your waistline and your skin will thank you.

• Buy a wok.  You can stirfry anything.

• Never go food shopping when you're hungry.  It is a recipe for disaster - everything you see that's on offer will seem like an amazing purchase, and when you get home you'll be left with a cupboard full of Jaffa Cakes, pre-packaged cake mix and weird flavoured Pringles...and not a lot else.

• On a similar note, always make a shopping list of the essentials you need.  Work out what you need before you go and try to stick to it as closely as possible.  And don't forget to shop around to find the cheapest way of buying things; you may be used to your branded ketchup at home, but supermarkets' own brands work out much cheaper and are often just as nice.

• If possible, travel further afield.  Although the little convenience supermarket at the end of the road may be the quickest way of doing your weekly shop, they are always much more expensive than larger city centre or retail park branches, and the stock is much more limited.  Either man up and get the bus, fork out for a taxi (extortionate) or make sure you have friends who own cars - I love you, Charlie and Charlotte!

• Be realistic.  Yes, bulk-buying frozen ready-meals because they're on a great deal sounds logical, but when you get home to a tiny freezer you share with eight other people (again, just my own experience) and try to shove it all in, the bargain soon begins to look a bit silly. 

• Don't be snobby.  This is something I have had to learn myself.  To this day, I admit to being a bit of a snob when it comes to certain types of food - mostly bread and cheese.  But face facts: you simply can't afford to be.  Doing your week's shop at your local Lidl or Aldi may seem like a blow to your reputation from which you may never recover, but it's sometimes the only way.  And it will grow on you - Lidl is a haven for bizarre cheap food, but they also stock loads of popular brands at a fraction of the price you'd pay other places.

And don't think just because you're not living at home means that you'll be deprived of all your favourite meals - just learn to cook them yourself.  My Quorn chilli, in my opinion, is now of a standard to rival my dad's...and that is saying something.  I am of the opinion that everyone can cook, just not everyone knows how to.  To help you along on this task, I will be posting regular student-friendly (i.e. cost-effective!), healthy and super-duper easy recipes on here for you to try out.  The best things to cook are ones you can make a lot of and freeze or refrigerate the leftovers - it's possible to feed yourself for a week from a minimum of ingredients if you know what you're doing. If anyone has any healthy recipes or money-saving suggestions, please leave them in the comments!

24/09/12 - Freshers Week Extravaganza 1: Cohabiting

For most students, the first year of university will be the first time they've lived with anyone other than their families.  So living on your own for the first time can be scary.  But what's scarier than that?  Living with strangers.  Because that's what you're doing.  Unless you've somehow managed to wangle accommodation with someone you already know (unlikely, although it does happen), this is something you can't avoid.  And it's a shock to the system, I won't pretend it isn't.  But it can also be the best thing you've ever done.

The key to cohabiting, I've found, is to keep calm.  In all situations.  Things will go wrong.  People will argue, people will drink too much and make fools of themselves, stuff will get said in the heat of the moment that no one means.  Your cutlery will go missing, someone will use the last of the milk and not buy a new one - it's not the end of the world.  And if you kick off about everything, you'll gain a reputation as that person who kicks off about stuff and then people will be scared of you.  I've seen it happen.  It's a rule you can apply to life in general, not just living with people - very few things are worth getting worked up about.  But every flat has a nutter and I can guarantee that there will be someone who gets in a flap about every little thing.  You will learn to tolerate this, as you have no other choice.  Take a deep breath, turn the other cheek and don't allow yourself to get dragged into conflict over something silly like an unwashed plate.  Of course, don't let anyone take advantage of you, but just try and keep things in perspective.  This isn't like having a spat with your siblings or your parents - these people don't love you unconditionally and won't forgive so easily.

Another thing you will learn is that a cup of tea (or coffee, whichever is your poison of choice) has the ability to solve all ills.  It can be an ice-breaker on the first day, a peace offering after a dispute or a hangover cure.  If you put the kettle on, make sure to ask anyone who is around if they want a brew.  It takes an extra thirty seconds to stick a tea bag in a mug for them and it can make the world of difference.  I can't count the number of DMCs (Deep Meaningful Conversations) I've had with people over a hot beverage at all hours of the day and night, and those are the moments that bond friendships.  To this day, my housemates and I get back from a night out and stick the kettle on while we wolf down our Subways and dissect the events of the evening.

Two rules in one!

Be respectful.  Again, a rule for life.  If you know that your immediate neighbour has an early lecture on a Thursday, try not to make too much noise on Wednesday night.  If you need to borrow something, be it an egg or a fork or anything, ask first.  Clean up after yourself.  Don't be the person who always finishes the milk and never buys it.  Try not to leave crumbs in the communal butter.  Simple as that.  It's common courtesy.

If you do need to address an issue - despite being the world's least confrontational person, I realise that sometimes you can't just let stuff roll off your back, particularly when people aren't offering you the same respect you're giving them - do it in a reasonable way.  Remember you have to live with these people for a whole year, so don't make any enemies.  Don't rant and rave without giving the other person a chance to explain and for the love of God, pick your moment.  Not when someone's rushing off for a lecture, not when someone's hungover and not when you're in the pub surrounded by a huge group of your friends.  This was the tactic favoured by a girl I lived with in first year - rather than talk to you about a problem when you both had a spare moment, she would announce it to all and sundry which made the person on the receiving end of that complaint feel about this big.  It was unnecessary and made her look like a total bitch.

For second year, I decided to live with five of the seven other girls I shared a floor with in halls and other than one who caused a huge drama and ultimately moved out and of whom we no longer speak, we very rarely have any conflicts.  I recognise that I am very very lucky in this respect and I do appreciate how blessed I am to have such great friends to live with...and if they read this, I'll never live it down!  Living with people you get along with makes the world of difference to your university experience, but by following these tips you can try and make living with anyone as painless as possible.

If you have any other tips on cohabiting, or even any tales of woe about housemates from hell (I have plenty from first year, I have been very restrained!), share them in the comments below!