Heading to a new university or college can be an enormously stressful time. The looming pressure of achieving success is likely to be a heavy weight on your shoulders, but the expectation of having a great time in a new and exciting environment may occupy your mind even more frequently. Making sure you can settle into school life is absolutely essential, as feeling uncomfortable in your new surroundings can have a drastic impact upon your enjoyment levels, and your grades, too. Luckily, it needn't be as difficult as you might expect to feel at home when starting school, as there are several simple tips and tricks that you can make the most of to boost your chances of having a grand old time in every respect. Read on to uncover some of the handiest hacks that all soon-to-be students will treasure.
By Team Savant
Image: Jonathan Sanchez
Finding the Right Accommodation
One of the most important aspects of your school experience is the accommodation that you choose to stay in, as there are likely many different options that you can choose between with each offering their own unique benefits and drawbacks. Making the right decision is vital, so you must take some time to identify and research your options to pick the best of the bunch. Your university or college will likely have their own private student accommodation, which is often on campus (or nearby) for ultimate convenience. These apartments fill up fast, as they are usually the most attractive options in terms of location and price. Local landlords will also likely be renting out HMO's (houses of multiple occupation), where students can have a private room inside a shared home. Both of these options may require you to sign a long term 12 month contract, which fits well for first year students that have multiple year qualification to complete. However, if you've signed up to a part time or short course, this can pose a problem. Luckily this conundrum has been recognised and solved, as you can click here for more information on short terms stays for students who don't wish to commit to long term contracts.
Socialising & Making Friends
Making an effort to socialise and form new friendships with other people is so essential for your overall experience, as suffering through your entire qualification without having any fun will be such a miserable and lonely time. It may be very intimidating to speak with new people that you've never met before, but it will do a great deal for your confidence levels to get out of your comfort zone. Making friends with other students may also be of benefit to your course, as you can attend the library together and form study sessions in which you support each other properly. It's a good idea to say yes to making plans in your first few weeks of school (in the 'freshers' period) to go out and make friends before the hard work starts.