Things I Wish I Knew in My First Year at University

I came to the University of Chester (UoC) to study English Literature and French. The first year at university is a difficult time to navigate, especially when there’s a lot of pressure to make it great, find the perfect friendship group and make it feel exactly like it does in films! Although some people really do have that experience, others might react differently and take a while to get used to the changes – I know that was the case for me. Even though I’m now in my fourth year and I have very fond memories of my first year at Chester, I can still remember that initial feeling of being in at the deep end and dealing with homesickness.

I’ve put together a list of things I wish I’d known in my first year at University, so hopefully incoming students can learn from my first-year experience.

Making Friends

• Don’t worry if you haven’t found your people in the first year, there’s still so much time to do that. It’s only in my final year that I’ve really made firm friendships that I know will last beyond University.
  
  
• You can make friends without nights out and drinking if that’s not your thing. Chester has many options of cafes to meet for a coffee. My personal favourites are Jaunty Goat and 200 Degrees Coffee. I also love shopping and going for walks on the Chester City Walls with my friends.
  
  
• Don’t hesitate to be the person who reaches out and initiates plans! It can be scary because we don’t want to be rejected, but you never know how much the other person might want to ask you the same question.
  
  
• Joining a society can be another great way to meet like-minded people, as it guarantees you already have a common interest. There’s an A-Z of Societies on the Chester Students’ Union website to help you find a society that appeals to you.

What to Bring

• You don’t need to pack up your whole room when you’re moving to university. I would recommend being selective with your favourite clothes and shoes, bringing some personal items to add that personal touch to your room. Other than this, you can always buy things, such as fairy lights and posters, when you get to Chester. There are plenty of shops like Poundland and Home Bargains, where you can do this on a budget. It makes packing up at the end of the year so much easier.
  
  
• You won’t use half of the stationery supplies that you bring – most of the work will take place online – but I would recommend a planner and some pens if you like to organise your time that way, to help you keep track of deadlines. And if you do make paper notes, bring some notebooks and folders to organise them.

Mental Health

• Go easy on yourself during a huge life change. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Wellbeing and Mental Health team, and find out what other student support is available at UoC. Make sure you engage with your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) and have regular tutorials – I always try to have one lined up once a fortnight. You can check who your PAT is in the right-hand column on your personal Moodle page. Also, make sure you have a support system, whether it’s your parents/guardians, or friends from home or at University.

• Don’t fall into the trap of self-comparison, especially not based on social media, as you’re only seeing the highlights of everyone’s lives. It’s okay for each day to look different, and bad/low-energy days are inevitable. Every day won’t involve going to the gym and being productive, and you don’t have to feel guilty about that! Finding the balance between rest and productivity is important.

• University is, for the majority of people, our first time away from home for an extended period. It’s natural to miss home and your loved ones, and sometimes you might need to take time for yourself, but it’s wise to ensure you’re not isolating yourself and try to get out and involved too.

Budgeting

• For many of us, this is the first time we have a large sum of money and have to learn to budget. Although a lot of it can go towards rent, in cheaper accommodation, we can have quite a bit left over, and I definitely wish I’d spent that more wisely in hindsight. It can be hard to balance spending on groceries and social activities, whilst trying to keep some savings. I now use the Notion app to track my monthly spending and see where I can cut down. Everyone works with different systems, but I’d recommend finding something that works for you.

• Make use of the Aldi on Parkgate Road for the food shop – there’s such a price difference and it’s convenient too.

• UoC also has Student Money Advisers who are on hand to help you manage your money and learn helpful budgeting skills.