Ellie is a third year student currently studying Archaeology at the University of York.
Top tips for new students
Push yourself to join new clubs and try new sports- there are so many societies and clubs at university that you’ve never heard of, so you might find something you love.
You do not need to pack or buy lots of new things to take with you. It is more effort to lug all your belongings up and down from university especially if you are travelling by train…pack light!
First-year may not count for anything, but don’t sit back or leave things until the last minute when it comes to academic work.
Do not rush into choosing second-year accommodation in the first month of first year. You get pushed together with people in freshers, but it takes a couple of months to work out who you are good friends with. Don’t rush the process- who you live with is much more important than what the house is like!
Enjoy your time. Do things you want to do, go out with your friends (if that’s what you like), sit at home with your housemates and dance in the kitchen, go to tourist places in your university town/city or go for evening walks. Fill your time equally with things you enjoy, don’t spend the whole time on academics. University is an experience, not a job! (But do hand in all your work on time, otherwise, that is a waste of 3 years!)
What do you love most about university?
Studying something I am interested in and being taught by world-class academics is obviously high on the list. But living in a city with my friends, surrounded by other people who enjoy what I do is a lot of fun. I like the independence and ability to just say yes to doing things like going out in the evenings, visiting a city on a day trip or ordering food, and staying in to watch a film. It makes the day a lot more interesting!
What was the hardest part about going to university?
I didn’t find anything about going to university particularly difficult (other than cramming all of my things into the car- it was like a traumatic game of Tetris…). So I’m going to say that the hardest part of being at university is feeling as though you never have time to get everything done, I have not become much better at prioritising the genuinely important things like essays. But I always make time for eating, exercising, and socialising, because they are as important to me!
Advice for new students
Being thrown into a new environment can be scary, but you settle in much quicker than you’d think. Do not stress too much, be nice to everyone and get a comfy pair of shoes because running to lectures is a daily occurrence and you don’t want blisters added to the list of stressful things!
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