Before I started university, I had a lot of worries that either never ended up happening or did happen and ultimately weren’t worth worrying about. Whether it was about my studies, friendships, or general living, my mind was very good at finding things to stress over, even when they weren’t likely to happen.
Studies
A big thing I wish I had known before starting at the University of Northampton is that lectures aren’t usually held in large lecture halls. Instead, they tend to take place in classrooms of around 30 people at most. This means lecturers often get to know you on an individual basis, which makes it much easier to engage with the content or ask questions, even about things that aren’t explicitly related to your studies.
In my experience of previous education settings, even when they say “there aren’t any stupid questions,” there often are. At university, however, you are expected and encouraged to speak to lecturers and academic librarians if you need help, as there is no expectation for you to know anything before starting.
Socially
In more social terms, I wish I had known the realities of living in shared accommodation. Online, it is often portrayed as a horrible experience, with awful housemates, disgusting living spaces, and silverfish. While it’s true that you can’t control who your flatmates are, shared accommodation isn’t the same as living with family. You don’t have to interact with anyone if you don’t want to, and you can speak up if people are doing things that frustrate you.
Personally, I don’t spend much time with my flatmates. Either I have my earphones in, I’m in my own room, or I’m out. If the flat ever gets too bad, Residential Life will step in and tell people to clean up, meaning it never becomes unmanageable.
Additionally, I wish I had known how much freedom coming to university gives you. Being able to wake up, go to sleep, go out, or stay in whenever you choose is incredibly freeing, yet also stressful. There is very rarely anything you have to do if you truly don’t want to. At university, you are your own boss, and it’s great.
Find out more about what student life is like at UON
