Day 2// Tips

The second day of the blogging challenge is TIPS. I was thinking to myself what do I know a lot about to warrant me giving tips on it. Then I realised, what is really fresh in my mind is my first year at University, which is rapidly coming to an end. Before I started University, I was constantly reading guides, tips and lists published by students on forums and blogs about going to Uni. Now however, I know for myself. I know that I should have not shared my saucepans with my flat mates so they get incredibly scratched and unusable and I know that the vegetable streamer I thought would be very useful, really isn't - I have never used it.

So here are my top 10 tips for starting University. (In no particular order.)

1. Don't try and take EVERYTHING 
Any typical girl has loads of clothes, which is fair enough but believe me, your Uni room will not have space for your entire wardrobe. There's no point in trying to take everything with you, I sent back a couple of boxes of things with my parents, there simply wasn't the room. Plus half of what I did keep I haven't even used or worn. 

2. Don't hide in your room on the first night
So you’re scared, alone and nervous. You don't know these strange people that your parents have left you with. Well funnily enough, everyone is in the same boat and the best way to solve this is to get out in the kitchen or communal space and get chatting. On my first night, I was shattered and all set for an early night but it's really important you make the effort with your new flat mates because they may or may not become your closest friends at Uni. Once I got chatting to my flat mates, we went to the student union, got drunk, went to a club, got a bit more drunk and the rest is history.

3. Take plenty of photos and home comforts. 
Being in a strange place, and moving away from home for the first time can be extremely daunting. Personally, I found having cushions from home, photographs and pictures very comforting and made settling in much easier. That’s why it’s also important to unpack and settle in to your room as soon as possible. If you do it before your parents leave, they’ll help you. My mum hung up and folded all my clothes for me –excellent!

4. Take essentials like oven gloves.
As obvious as this may sound, it's amazing how easily people forget things like this. When it comes to getting the pizza out the oven, you suddenly remember what the answer was when your parents ask you: "Is there anything you've forgotten?"

5. Save all your lose change.
Every time it came to having to wash my clothes I never had any change to use in the machines. This made the whole having to do my own washing a whole lot more annoying in the fact I had to go all the way to the shop to change up a note before being able to actually start. The worst part of living on your own: Having to wash your clothes - and pay for it!

6. Take a doorstop.
Ages before I even thought about what to take to Uni with me, people told me I would need a doorstop. As un-exciting as that sounds it's proved very useful. Most of the doors in Halls of Residence close behind you. This is all well and good when you want some time to yourself but also very un-social. For the first few weeks I propped my door open and that way it was much easier to get to know everyone. It's a lot easier to approach an open door than an un-open door. Besides who wants to get ready for a night out on their own?

7. Buy cheap glasses, plates, mugs etc.
Nothing lasts very long in a halls of residence kitchen, I can tell you. I have probably been through about 10 different glasses and I know for a fact I have one less plate - and I know whom to blame! I never really care when things get broken because I bought it all cheap, if you take anything valuable in terms of kitchen stuff, I guarantee it will be broken at some point. Lets face it, everyone gets little bit drunk now and then and knocks things flying, it's been done a lot in my kitchen.

8. Don't try and do EVERYTHING in fresher’s week. 
Fresher’s week is amazing and I wont deny that, the first week or fortnight are the most important for getting to know people and places but it is also extremely tiring and overwhelming. A lot of people will try and do everything, go to every social event and get drunk every night - there seems to be that emphasis on fresher’s week but there is a lot more to in than that. Personally I went out about 3 times the first week and the other nights I spent with my flat mates socializing in halls, you get to know people a lot better that way and you don't embarrass yourself with your drunk habits straight away. You know what I mean, the emotional bit, the disappearing act, the violent stage and the paralytic ending. 

9. Get involved with groups, societies and clubs.
If there is one thing I regret not doing, it's failing to join a club. Universities provide all sorts of social activities other than drinking (though that usually comes in to it one way or another.) It's a brilliant way to meet people and when you are sick of being in the flat it gives you something to do and somewhere to go maybe a couple of nights a week. 

10.  Be prepared to have your sleeping pattern ruined.
For some reason students find it a good idea to sit up to all hours, chatting, drinking and watching really pointless crap on the Internet. Why going to bed every night at 2am seems like a good idea I will never know but it seems to be the way it goes. Even when you do manage an early night, there is plenty of noise around to ruin that for you. That’s halls for you! So if you like your sleep you’d better be prepared to have to wear earplugs.