You've done it! You've passed your exams and got your place at university or college. You've spent the last few weeks buying new clothes and saying goodbye to your friends. Your mum and dad have just left after driving you to your hall of residence. You've hung your clothes in the wardrobe, arranged your CDs on the shelf and stuck your posters on the walls. What next?
Making friends
It's easy to think that all the other students are going to be more fun, more intelligent and more self-confident than you. But most of them will be feeling just like you when they first arrive - anxious, lonely and a bit homesick. The thing to remember about starting your Higher Education course is that you are all in the same boat. It's easy to make friends - as long as you're willing to try.
Freshers' week
Most institutions will ask you to arrive a few days before term starts so you can take part in what's called 'Freshers' Week' or 'Intro Week'. You will be given guided tours of all the main places on campus and asked to fill in countless forms to register you as a student. You'll get the chance to collect your student loan cheque, open a bank account, meet other first year students and get your bearings before most of the older students return. There is usually a 'Freshers' Fair' where all the clubs and societies have stalls and will try to persuade you to become a member. There may even be a 'Freshers' Disco' to give you a further chance to meet people.
New ways of learning
You may think that Higher Education is going to be just like your Advanced level course - but a bit harder. In fact, the teaching and learning styles often vary from those you've been used to. Instead of lessons you are likely to have lectures (where a lecturer stands up in front of a large group of students and talks for about an hour), tutorials (a small discussion group of students led by a tutor) or seminars (a slightly larger group where one of the students presents a paper for group discussions).
Lecture group sizes can be much larger than the class sizes you're used to now - sometimes between 100 and 200 people. Contact with lecturers or tutors is likely to be more fleeting and distant than with your present teachers. Above all, you will have to work much more on your own. This means you will have to take greater control over planning and completing work. This is particularly true for arts, humanities and social science students who may only have a few hours of time-tabled teaching each week. The rest of the time will be spent doing reading and research and writing essays.
Handling money
Maybe for the first time you will have to manage your own finance. Add up your total income from your parents, loan, part-time job for each term and work out what you need to cover the basics - food, clothes, accommodation, bus/train fares, books, entertainment. You may also want to insure any possessions you intend taking e.g. computers, stereos etc, as these could be costly to replace if they are stolen. Decide how much money you can allow yourself each week and stick to it. Try to avoid getting into further debt.
Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll
Once you are over eighteen and have left home you will have to make adult decisions about how you wish to spend your free time. Don't forget that there are health and legal dangers associated with some activities. If you get into trouble - get help straight away from your student health, welfare or counselling service.
Counselling services
You may think that all students have a great time from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. This is not always the case and problems like being lonely and homesick are much more common than is often admitted. Everyone has periods of unhappiness. Try talking to your friends - you may find that they sometimes feel the same and this in itself can be reassuring. Give yourself time to settle in. All change is stressful as well as exciting so don't be surprised if it takes you time to adjust. If you become really depressed don't just grin and bear it - ask for help. Your personal tutor may be able to advise you, especially if there is a problem with your course. Most universities and colleges run counselling services where you can find someone to talk to and give you practical help.
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