I think that as we make our move from college to university we have this list in our head. This can sometimes be realistic. Many of us have older brothers and sisters and family members to help us prepare, but for some they don’t have anyone. But that’s okay! For the next few hundred words I will be your temporary ‘big sister’, preparing you for the upcoming journey.
Now I can imagine that you’ve probably completed your A-levels and finished UCAS. I can imagine all you want to do is relax and have lots of fun before you head to university. You totally should! This is your period of rest before you move on to the next phase of your life, so you should definitely take advantage of the time you have.
The main changes
But I promised you some advise on the changes you will be facing, so here we go. As your temporary ‘big sister’ I am happy to advise you on some of the changes that you may see as you make the transition between college and university. First of all, the largest change that you will face is academics. You are transitioning between general college courses to in depth exploration, which can initially seem daunting. But you will manage. Make sure you make use of your time and lecturers – they are your best support. Believe me this was something I had to learn.
Another big life change many of you will have to make is having to move out of your family home to university accommodation. I know that some of you will be commuting from your homes, but nevertheless, you will have to face some changes as you make the college to university transition.
Many of you may be living in accommodation where you will have to cook your own food and clean your ensuite, which for some may be something that they are not really used to. But the thing is, you can learn. There are so many resources online such as YouTube videos, online blogs and websites which teach you these skills. A piece of advice I would offer is that you practice before you come to university. There are multiple online resources that can offer some guidance on delicious food recipes.
Finding support
I understand that it is easy for me to sit and tell you all the ways in which your life can change, so I thought that I would be honest with my experience. The first few weeks of university were quite overwhelming to me. I have definitely had moments in the beginning, but here are some of the things that I did to make my life easier.
I went to speak to my college Head/Deputy. This was really useful to me as my college deputy signposted me to GP surgeries, counselling services and even independent cinemas. This was a huge help as it helped me to navigate the first few weeks in a new city. Furthermore, the Open Door service offered by the university is a great support for any potential students that are facing any mental or physical conditions that may affect them.
In my experience, the support of Open Doors and my college Head have been really important in helping me navigate the change between college and university. But another way to help navigate the change is to talk to the people around you. If you ever feel like you’re struggling, just know that there are loads of other people around you that are going through the same transition. Just know that no matter what – you’re not alone.
I hope that I have managed to prepare you for your upcoming journey from college to university. But as this is ‘big sisterly’ advice, the biggest thing you must know is to make the most of it! This is your time to live your life to the absolute fullest.
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