{"id":5501,"date":"2019-11-27T10:55:32","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T10:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/?p=5501"},"modified":"2019-11-27T10:55:34","modified_gmt":"2019-11-27T10:55:34","slug":"whats-uni-really-like-busting-the-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/2019\/11\/27\/whats-uni-really-like-busting-the-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s Uni Really Like? Busting the Myths"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hi! I\u2019m Rebecca, I\u2019m in my second year of studying history. I\u2019m here to bust a few myths about living and working at university and tell you what it\u2019s really like being here at York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth 1: It\u2019s all work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The biggest thing I worried about before coming to uni was how much work I was going to have. Was I going to spend every waking hour doing reading and essays? Was it going to be like A-Levels multiplied by 100? The answer is no! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, a huge reason of why you\u2019re at uni is for your degree, but that doesn\u2019t mean that there\u2019s no time for anything else. University is more than just a bigger version of school, it\u2019s also somewhere that you can socialise, try out new things, and volunteer in your local area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a member of the musical theatre society<\/a>, I\u2019m on my college committee, and I work at the university as a student ambassador, among other things – and I still have time to do my degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A performance with the Musical Theatre Society<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth 2: Every night is a party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest uni myths is that you go out every night and get drunk, especially during Freshers\u2019 Week, but that\u2019s definitely not the case. Some people do go out most nights, of course, but a lot of people (myself included!) don\u2019t bother very often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During those first few weeks, it can feel like there\u2019s so much pressure to go out every night. But one of the things I learnt early on is that going out and drinking is not the be-all and end-all of uni. Some of the best bonding experiences I\u2019ve had with my friends have been during a movie night, playing board games, or talking in the kitchen. So if you don\u2019t drink, or you don\u2019t want to go out, don\u2019t worry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth 3: Freshers\u2019 Week is your only chance to make friends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Freshers\u2019 Week is always a bit crazy for everyone. You\u2019re dealing with living away from home, being in a new environment, and learning the ropes of university. All while also feeling like you have to make friends with everyone you talk to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of people get worried that if they don\u2019t make friends during Freshers\u2019 Week that\u2019s it. But, in reality, it\u2019s very different! Some of the people you meet in the first few weeks might become your best friends, but often a lot of them won\u2019t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Societies and the college system make meeting new people after Freshers\u2019 really easy, and often you\u2019ll have a lot more in common with people in societies than those in your house!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myth 4: You\u2019ll live on Pot Noodle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you haven\u2019t thought a lot about cooking yet, but it\u2019s probably worth starting to! Beans on toast are great and all, but they can get a bit boring night after night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need some ideas, there are loads of websites and cookbooks available for students that can give you advice on batch cooking, how to budget, and how to eat healthily – and it can be enjoyable! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My friends and I often cook at the same time, and sometimes we cook for each other, too. You can learn some important life skills and have a lot of fun by swapping from instant noodles!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cooking with friends<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Myth 5: You have to get everything right<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another huge thing I was worried about at uni was getting everything perfect. What if I wasn\u2019t clever enough? If I didn\u2019t make friends? What if I messed up my budgeting? If I couldn\u2019t cook? Now I wish I\u2019d known not to stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uni is a learning experience, and no one gets it right the first time (or ever, really)! We all make mistakes, and that\u2019s what makes uni such a great place to be. You\u2019re surrounded by other people all in the same boat, and you muddle through together and support each other when things don\u2019t go the way you want them to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopefully, that’s given you a new way of looking at university. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To sum up my top tips:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n