Six Things People Don’t Tell You About Leaving Home for University

The first week at university is the most difficult, without a doubt. Freshers’ week is supposed to be a chance for you to meet new people and have fun, but going out drinking with a bunch of strangers might not be your usual idea of fun.

The pressure to socialize every night is hard to live up to and although you might have some fun throughout the week, you’re unlikely to build strong friendships from drunken conversations in a club. It’s okay to just go out a couple of times if that’s all you feel like doing, and give yourself the chance to settle-in to your new surroundings.

Moving to university can feel like a huge move, and for those who’ve never moved away from home, it can be natural to want to take everything with you to help you feel at home in your new flat.

The thing is, university halls are notoriously small and it’s likely you’ll struggle to find space for all your belongings. You might go back home every few months during term break anyway, so keep some items for those visits and you can always bring anything else back with you as and when.

University is a huge self-development journey for every student, because you’re completely pushed out of your comfort zone. It usually starts on a somewhat rocky road, because of the pressures to fit in and socialize, but as you find your feet and get into your studies you’ll notice yourself coming into your own.

The independence from moving to university is profound and can be a really wonderful experience, just be sure not to mold into what others are doing around you and try to stay as true to yourself as you can.

Receiving your first student loan is a very exciting day. It’s a bit like getting a bonus, and you’ll no doubt want to treat yourself to a night out or go shopping. The problem with getting a big sum of money in one go is that it’s extremely hard to manage it over the whole term.

The first semester is often the hardest, because you’ll be doing lots of socializing to make friends. Hopefully you’ll get better at saving over time, but be prepared to run out of money before the second instalment. You might want to think about warning your parents in advance.

Leila Wright writes for Inspiring Interns, which help career starters and interns succeed in the workplace. To browse their graduate jobs, including mobile jobs, visit their website.

Lead image: UCLU Photosoc (Flickr)