Preparing for university
- Thread starter red rose
- Start date
marty21
One on one? You're crazy.
Tea said:i agree. but i felt people would rather make and have shit friends then no friends. maybe each to its own. i didn't outrightly went and be friendly but i had some, not a horde though.
it's difficult at college initially to meet people you really like, so as others have said, don't be too concerned if you don't really like anyone, you will find like-minded souls, and these can turn into life long friends, i met people in my first year (1984) i saw them last week at a 40th birthday party
Idris2002
Stay Alive in '25
All pretty good advice here. Some things I'd add.
1. Get hold of some 'how to study' book. Follow its advice. Hit the ground running and build up your work habits from day one. I was a crammer at uni - I'd sit up the night before with the textbook. This wasn't much help with courswork that required consistent effort throughout the term. Learn how to take notes from books and papers.
2. Don't bother with those other subjects - do Social Anthropology.
3. About drugs. Cannabis is proven to damage memory - not what you want as a student. There is persuasive evidence of a link between cannabis use and psychotic behaviour - and I don't mean in a good way. If you have any history of mental illness in the family, don't touch it with a bargepole. A psychotic episode is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. In general most people inside the drug bubble look like arseholes to those outside. (cue lots of people going 'mammy, mammy, the nasty anthropologist said our lifestyle wasn't perfect').
4. If you're in a shared house and your name is on the phone bill, electricity, you'll have to learn to be firm, even confrontational, to make sure you're not left holding the financial baby.
5. If you fancy someone tell them. Don't be afraid of rejection. But don't develop a crush on your lecturer or tutor. And if you're female especially DO NOT have an affair with a staff member. Whatever line of bullshit he may feed you, trust me it's bullshit. I've seen this more than once. Adds: And it's a good idea to find out what your uni's sexual harassment procedures are. Don't deal with it via a whispering campaign, as I once saw.
6. Take up a sport - even if you hate 'jocks'. I've recently taken up running and wish I'd done it years ago. 50% of your oxygen intake goes to your brain - it can only help
7. Join SWSS. Only joking! You don't have to be leftwing, but where politics are concerned, don't be like the kid I had in Dublin who said 'what's the point of doing anything, nothing ever changes'. A lad of 19 shouldn't be talking like that.
8. When introduced to people, shake their hand, and repeat their names. This will help you remember them later, and will assist you in making friends.
1. Get hold of some 'how to study' book. Follow its advice. Hit the ground running and build up your work habits from day one. I was a crammer at uni - I'd sit up the night before with the textbook. This wasn't much help with courswork that required consistent effort throughout the term. Learn how to take notes from books and papers.
2. Don't bother with those other subjects - do Social Anthropology.
3. About drugs. Cannabis is proven to damage memory - not what you want as a student. There is persuasive evidence of a link between cannabis use and psychotic behaviour - and I don't mean in a good way. If you have any history of mental illness in the family, don't touch it with a bargepole. A psychotic episode is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. In general most people inside the drug bubble look like arseholes to those outside. (cue lots of people going 'mammy, mammy, the nasty anthropologist said our lifestyle wasn't perfect').
4. If you're in a shared house and your name is on the phone bill, electricity, you'll have to learn to be firm, even confrontational, to make sure you're not left holding the financial baby.
5. If you fancy someone tell them. Don't be afraid of rejection. But don't develop a crush on your lecturer or tutor. And if you're female especially DO NOT have an affair with a staff member. Whatever line of bullshit he may feed you, trust me it's bullshit. I've seen this more than once. Adds: And it's a good idea to find out what your uni's sexual harassment procedures are. Don't deal with it via a whispering campaign, as I once saw.
6. Take up a sport - even if you hate 'jocks'. I've recently taken up running and wish I'd done it years ago. 50% of your oxygen intake goes to your brain - it can only help
7. Join SWSS. Only joking! You don't have to be leftwing, but where politics are concerned, don't be like the kid I had in Dublin who said 'what's the point of doing anything, nothing ever changes'. A lad of 19 shouldn't be talking like that.
8. When introduced to people, shake their hand, and repeat their names. This will help you remember them later, and will assist you in making friends.
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
Red Rose if your just moving to the other side of town you don't need to make big plans.
I was gunna say DRUGS! take enough to supply yourself for a term and to flog on to your fellow students, why get a job when you can flog dope!
Not the best advice ignore me.
I was gunna say DRUGS! take enough to supply yourself for a term and to flog on to your fellow students, why get a job when you can flog dope!
Not the best advice ignore me.
subversplat
writer of wrongs
Drugs is always a good moneyspinner, and a way to make lots of friends very quickly. If you get in there quickly enough at the start of term, you'll have the place stiched up before anyone else can get their foot in
See the "Dealers" thread in the drugs forum for tips how to be a good dealer
See the "Dealers" thread in the drugs forum for tips how to be a good dealer
subversplat
writer of wrongs
Say that to my mates who never had to spend a penny of their student loans the entire time they were studying!Idris2002 said:More bad advice.
Whether your personal ethics will let you do that sort of thing is up to each individual, but there's no word of a lie that it earns you lots of dosh and you get to meet a lot of people, both good and bad sorts.
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
red rose said:
I'm starting uni this october too, but being a wimp and staying in london!
unless you're going to the university of outer mongolia (
), I'd say just take a toothbush, lots of spare socks, and a means of accessing your shiny new student overdraft; this should cover you for everything else!
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
red rose said:
Flavour
hang the bankers
*considers selling drugs*
good advice people, i'm also going to uni in sept and a bit worried... sure i'll be fine though, if anything i'm a bit too sure of myself, people would probably be easier to befriend if i wasn't so confident.
i think i'll take an Anarcho-Maoist stance in political talks, just to piss people off and be more alternative than they are. i'm going to get so sick of fucking socialists at uni...
good advice people, i'm also going to uni in sept and a bit worried... sure i'll be fine though, if anything i'm a bit too sure of myself, people would probably be easier to befriend if i wasn't so confident.
i think i'll take an Anarcho-Maoist stance in political talks, just to piss people off and be more alternative than they are. i'm going to get so sick of fucking socialists at uni...
Balbi
Hey, Dean Yager!
Where you off to Flavs?
Couple of tips from my first year;
1) Make sure you work out exactly how long it takes to get up, dressed and to wherever you need to be within the first few days. Then half that amount of time because you're going to end up waking up late so many times
2) Have a chat with any friendly second/third years at freshers fair and try and work out which pubs/clubs are the real shitholes and to be avoided. Then go and visit all of them, just to check like.
3) Don't try and spot anyone who looks like an urbanite, because every single fucking student does anyway
Oh yeah, have a brilliant time
Couple of tips from my first year;
1) Make sure you work out exactly how long it takes to get up, dressed and to wherever you need to be within the first few days. Then half that amount of time because you're going to end up waking up late so many times
2) Have a chat with any friendly second/third years at freshers fair and try and work out which pubs/clubs are the real shitholes and to be avoided. Then go and visit all of them, just to check like.
3) Don't try and spot anyone who looks like an urbanite, because every single fucking student does anyway
Oh yeah, have a brilliant time
TheLostProphet said:3) Don't try and spot anyone who looks like an urbanite, because every single fucking student does anyway
Oh yeah, have a brilliant time
Then again, I did discover someone who is an urbanite whose daughter was on my course. Even more freaky. Especially when the mother makes posts about the daughter (but rr knows what that is like I think?
)Stobart Stopper
Well-Known Member
This thread should be made into a sticky.IMO>
kained&able
Here for the football.
Cash covertors and pound shops are your friend.
Don't take to much at the start as you will only take 10 times the ammount of stuff you need and will never use most of it(but your flat mates will the fucking cunts!)
Take couple of plates knives/forks and anything you reckon will actully be arsed to cook with. Make sure you have some tea/drink with you as well you will need it after moving in. Then just buy anything esle as and when you find you need it.
Rest is just transplanting your room and stuff you can't be without into a room.
dave
Don't take to much at the start as you will only take 10 times the ammount of stuff you need and will never use most of it(but your flat mates will the fucking cunts!)
Take couple of plates knives/forks and anything you reckon will actully be arsed to cook with. Make sure you have some tea/drink with you as well you will need it after moving in. Then just buy anything esle as and when you find you need it.
Rest is just transplanting your room and stuff you can't be without into a room.
dave
aqua
made of cheese and gin
if you can, club together with your house mates and buy in bulk - it is cheaper but does mean you have to get on with them
if you don't have transport, use online delivery from supermarkets and split the delivery cost between you and your housemates (keeps you from buying impulse purchases too)
do remember to eat, its really important
if you feel lonely TELL SOMEONE - chances are whoever you speak to understands cos they've been there or will help you anyway OR PHONE YOUR FRIENDS (and if you can't afford that ask them to ring you back)
make a division between work and life. if your in halls your study area is also your social area and it can be easy to let the two affect each other
GO TO TUTORIALS - current research is suggesting a BIG difference in exam performance - no real surprise but you are there to get a degree after all
but most of all have a fucking ball
if you don't have transport, use online delivery from supermarkets and split the delivery cost between you and your housemates (keeps you from buying impulse purchases too)
do remember to eat, its really important
if you feel lonely TELL SOMEONE - chances are whoever you speak to understands cos they've been there or will help you anyway OR PHONE YOUR FRIENDS (and if you can't afford that ask them to ring you back)
make a division between work and life. if your in halls your study area is also your social area and it can be easy to let the two affect each other
GO TO TUTORIALS - current research is suggesting a BIG difference in exam performance - no real surprise but you are there to get a degree after all
but most of all have a fucking ball
Phototropic
Active Member
Amazingly enoughn and I know it sounds crazy, but actually do the reading. I had this peice of advive many a time but sadly I never listened to it.
Despite what they tell you, you can go mental in your first year, it's cool.
Get any support you need sorted out as quickly as possible.
Try not to get converted to Islam or the SWP. (uni contextual of course)
I didn't live in halls but if I had I would have bought some ear plugs, a frying pan and possibly an extendable baton.
Learn to cook. Too many students spend an unnessary fortune of food because they can't cook (and there is a certain poster here who know's what I am talking about).
Turn up to stuff even if you are just going to fall asleep. Work problems are made easier if you can at least prove you turned up to stuff.
Despite what they tell you, you can go mental in your first year, it's cool.
Get any support you need sorted out as quickly as possible.
Try not to get converted to Islam or the SWP. (uni contextual of course)
I didn't live in halls but if I had I would have bought some ear plugs, a frying pan and possibly an extendable baton.
Learn to cook. Too many students spend an unnessary fortune of food because they can't cook (and there is a certain poster here who know's what I am talking about
).Turn up to stuff even if you are just going to fall asleep. Work problems are made easier if you can at least prove you turned up to stuff.
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Take aboard everything Idris has said - some of the most sensible advice on the thread.
Don't deal unless you're happy being woken up in the early hours by someone saying 'Well, I know X, who knows Y who knows you and they said I could get a teenth off you for £7.50 on tick' - students are generally shite drugs buyers and will try and palm off dodgy cheques, all be asking for tick after wk6 of term...I know all this because I did deal for my first 2 terms at uni. If you really need £££ (and if you want a life you probably will) and parental indulgence isn't an option, get a job in retail or something. You'll only be doing it for a max of 3 years so you'll at least have that thought to keep you going behind the tills (again, personal experience there)
You will spend half the first year shaking off people you met in the first term who are twats. Everyone does it cos you want to get to know as many people as possible in the first term so as not to feel alone.
Go to lectures. It's what you're there for after all.
As Photo says, avoid the SWP, Islam, Xtian Army and others preying on the isolated and lonely.
You should make it a priority to learn the following things over the summer:
1. How to use a washing machine i.e. separate light/dark colours, that the 95degree wash will fuck over anything that isn't cotton etc
2. That putting silver foil in a microwave will FUCK IT UP
3. That baking a potato in a microwave DOESN'T take 2 hours (both of the above happened to a girl in my halls on our 2nd day)
Don't deal unless you're happy being woken up in the early hours by someone saying 'Well, I know X, who knows Y who knows you and they said I could get a teenth off you for £7.50 on tick' - students are generally shite drugs buyers and will try and palm off dodgy cheques, all be asking for tick after wk6 of term...I know all this because I did deal for my first 2 terms at uni. If you really need £££ (and if you want a life you probably will) and parental indulgence isn't an option, get a job in retail or something. You'll only be doing it for a max of 3 years so you'll at least have that thought to keep you going behind the tills (again, personal experience there)
You will spend half the first year shaking off people you met in the first term who are twats. Everyone does it cos you want to get to know as many people as possible in the first term so as not to feel alone.
Go to lectures. It's what you're there for after all.
As Photo says, avoid the SWP, Islam, Xtian Army and others preying on the isolated and lonely.
You should make it a priority to learn the following things over the summer:
1. How to use a washing machine i.e. separate light/dark colours, that the 95degree wash will fuck over anything that isn't cotton etc
2. That putting silver foil in a microwave will FUCK IT UP
3. That baking a potato in a microwave DOESN'T take 2 hours (both of the above happened to a girl in my halls on our 2nd day)
nogoodboyo
New Member
Going to lectures etc is worth doing, especially if you're not doing any other work. Some of it will sink in... that's what I found anyway, so when I started to get a bit concerned in my third year (this was all final term assessed) I realised I wasn't completely clueless. The moral was - go to stuff even if it seems pointless at the time. It's still the most painless way forward.
Phototropic
Active Member
kyser_soze said:
Out of interest when you were at Goldsmiths did they hold the discover Islam things next door to the student bar? Despite the amsuing irony iy can be damn annoying.
Idris2002
Stay Alive in '25
Like a poster above says, go to the tutorials - but do participate. You don't have to have the definitive answer to everything. All you have to do is do your bit to keep the conversation and debate going.
There's nothing worse than tumbleweed blowing down the middle of the tutoiral room.
And in general, good luck - I'm actually quite envious of people going off to discover it for the first time.
AND DON'T DO OR DEAL DRUGS.
There's nothing worse than tumbleweed blowing down the middle of the tutoiral room.
And in general, good luck - I'm actually quite envious of people going off to discover it for the first time.
AND DON'T DO OR DEAL DRUGS.
soluble duck
kappa antagonist
Im off to uni this year aswell, Sussex
I think I share all the doubts expressed so far, basically because im a pretty shy person, and dont exactly force myself to make friends etc, so I can imagine either not making friends, out of shyness, or getting pissed and stoned to combat said shyness and making a tit out of myself.
oh well spose i'll just have to wait and see
I think I share all the doubts expressed so far, basically because im a pretty shy person, and dont exactly force myself to make friends etc, so I can imagine either not making friends, out of shyness, or getting pissed and stoned to combat said shyness and making a tit out of myself.
oh well spose i'll just have to wait and see
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
Kidda said:is anyone actually going to uni for the course or just a big piss up?
all this advice of 'go to lectures' i feel old to soon cos thats what i was intending to do
aghhhhh when did i turn into a swot
You haven't!! The difference is that in 3 years when some of the posters who are going this year will be variously panicing/moaning/complaining that their uni has fucked them over when they've got a disseration to submit in 2 hours and they haven't written it.
soluble duck
kappa antagonist
ermmm i am going to uni for the course, to learn about things etc etc, but its the stuff that goes with uni that is the worrying part for me, because lectures, lessons, work- thats all pretty straightforward in that it is structured, but making friends isnt
soluble duck said:
making friends will be easy, dont stress it.
everytime you sit there and think you dont have the confidence to make friends, there will be loads of people on your campus thinking the same thing.
did you go through school and college with NO friends whatsoever? i doubt it. but you didnt know those people when you started.
I remember it being nerve wracking when i started college because i didnt know anybody. Then I remember being in a packed pub spending most of the night hugging loads of people, when we left, because we were going to miss each other.
if your that worried try and track down some urbanites who live where your heading too, and organise a meet.
So if it starts getting to you, you can get out for a pint or two for a bit.
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