Hi!
We're back with some more Freshers Myths to bust for you, seeing as the new Freshers will be preparing soon!
1) Your lectures will be the Holy Grail of information.
Lectures are really important to attend but most people expect to understand everything in a lecture and waltz out feeling like Einstein. This isn't always the case. We've both been sat in numerous lectures where we have listened to the tutor for nearly two hours and are still clueless. The important thing to remember is - this is okay! If you read around the subject when you get back (not too much, we understand Netflix is calling your name) you'll be able to give yourself more of an idea of the subject.
2) Be organised
We've all said it since Year 11 - "Next year, I'll be WAY more organised". But now is the time you have to follow up on that. Folders and files are your new best friends. When you're sat two days before an exam and can't find that slide from lecture 7 that you desperately need; you'll be thanking the folder. The simplest way to get organised is to separate your notes into modules. That way you can keep all of the related work together without ending up with random doodles getting in the way.
3) Don't immediately join the uni gymThey may offer "student rates" but chances are, you can find much cheaper deal elsewhere. Also, really think about if you're going to use it. Can you really be bothered to go to the gym after back to back lectures and seminars? There are much more cost effective ways to keep healthy and in shape - like workout apps and even jogging around the local park.
4) "I can live off junk food!"
It's all well and good buying a 24 pack of crisps and nine zillion biscuits but trust us - after two weeks you'll be begging your parents to bring you a multi-pack of sweetcorn. We've been there! After a few weeks, you'll settle into an eating habit more and hopefully become more healthy.
5) You will miss your familyOkay so they seemed really annoying and uncool all the way through college but now you're going to be living away from them all. Weirdly, since moving away to uni, we've both become a lot closer to our families and visit them regularly. Don't be in a hurry to push your parents out the door; you'll miss them more than you think.
Hope this helps!
E&S :)
Tuesday 24 March 2015
Friday 6 March 2015
Uni Fees
Hi!
Ed Miliband announced his plans this week to cut tuition fees to £6000 a year, and in light of this, we thought we'd discuss the costs of uni from the eyes of students.
Although the government do provide a maintenance loan (and sometimes a grant if you qualify), this is means tested and can mean that you will receive a lot less than your friends simply because your household income is greater. In theory, this should work, as higher income families should have more expendable money in order to help support their kids through uni. However, with the cost of virtually EVERYTHING going up, it doesn't work out that way.
One of the major things we had to consider before applying to uni was the cost of accommodation. University halls are a popular choice for freshers because you're surrounded by people who are in your year and potentially on your course. Halls are great (we both spent our freshers year in halls) but they can be very expensive. Our halls are privately owned by a separate company which unfortunately bumps up the price. Some of the halls at uni can be very reasonably priced but be prepared to pay a lot if you want more modern facilities.
Although I'd love it if tuition costs were cut, I think the government need to seriously consider other costs first, like altering the maintenance loan and lowering uni accommodation. Currently, I will leave university in 2018 with £36,000 worth of debt in tuition fees alone. It sounds terrifying when I say it like that but I don't actually have to start paying it back until I earn over £21,000 a year. The bad news is, there's no guarantee I'll get a job straight out of uni, and even if I do, I won't be earning anywhere near that! This is good news for me (yay) but not so good news for the government. If my loans aren't paid back then the government loses out. I'll have a degree but with unemployment figures for young people being so high, it will take a while before I earn enough to pay it back.
Lets hope they figure something out soon, so more people can afford to get degrees and their dream jobs!
E&S
Ed Miliband announced his plans this week to cut tuition fees to £6000 a year, and in light of this, we thought we'd discuss the costs of uni from the eyes of students.
Although the government do provide a maintenance loan (and sometimes a grant if you qualify), this is means tested and can mean that you will receive a lot less than your friends simply because your household income is greater. In theory, this should work, as higher income families should have more expendable money in order to help support their kids through uni. However, with the cost of virtually EVERYTHING going up, it doesn't work out that way.
One of the major things we had to consider before applying to uni was the cost of accommodation. University halls are a popular choice for freshers because you're surrounded by people who are in your year and potentially on your course. Halls are great (we both spent our freshers year in halls) but they can be very expensive. Our halls are privately owned by a separate company which unfortunately bumps up the price. Some of the halls at uni can be very reasonably priced but be prepared to pay a lot if you want more modern facilities.
Although I'd love it if tuition costs were cut, I think the government need to seriously consider other costs first, like altering the maintenance loan and lowering uni accommodation. Currently, I will leave university in 2018 with £36,000 worth of debt in tuition fees alone. It sounds terrifying when I say it like that but I don't actually have to start paying it back until I earn over £21,000 a year. The bad news is, there's no guarantee I'll get a job straight out of uni, and even if I do, I won't be earning anywhere near that! This is good news for me (yay) but not so good news for the government. If my loans aren't paid back then the government loses out. I'll have a degree but with unemployment figures for young people being so high, it will take a while before I earn enough to pay it back.
Lets hope they figure something out soon, so more people can afford to get degrees and their dream jobs!
E&S
Monday 2 March 2015
Mythbusters: Freshers edition
Hi!
As it is approaching decision time for a lot of this year's Freshers, we thought we'd bust some common Freshers myths for you.
1) You won't meet your best friends on a night out
Not everyone you meet in Freshers week will be a keeper. Once the hangover has worn off and you can think clearly, you'll find out that "hilarious" laugh is actually worse than nails on a chalkboard and that "perfume" is just BO. You will meet some genuinely great friends while you're settling in, but don't cling to the first people you meet while you're half drunk.
2) Flatmates
Flatmates can be a bit like Marmite - you'll either love them or hate them. With flatmates, the main thing to remember is compromise. Okay so they might have wild parties and you might leave the kitchen messy but arguing about every little thing will lead to a horrible living environment. I've been quite lucky as my flatmates are great but a lot of my friends have struggled to get on with theirs. Just remember, everyone's got a different way of doing things and that's okay.
3) Freshers week isn't just for drinking
I know, shocking right? Freshers week is home to some of the biggest and best club nights of the year and you don't want to miss out. But don't forget you actually need to attend your uni induction too. Some of the most important information is given out within that first week and you don't want to be the plum who misses out.
4) Getting stuck in
Try as many societies, taster sessions and open events as you can. Your uni will probably hold some sort of societies fair where you can go along and sign up. It's great to meet people who are studying different topics and making new friends who aren't on your course. You've no excuse not to join either, as there's something for everyone - from debating clubs to pole dancing!
5) Sign up with a doctor IMMEDIATELY
Fresher's Flu is probably the worst I've ever felt. A culmination of early morning lectures, late night drinking, very little sleep and a few dodgy kebabs will ultimately lead to the worst cold/flu/deathbed situation ever. Make sure you are signed up to a doctor so you can get an appointment if you need one, rather than having to wait a few weeks for your registration documents to be processed.
Hope this helps :)
E&S
As it is approaching decision time for a lot of this year's Freshers, we thought we'd bust some common Freshers myths for you.
1) You won't meet your best friends on a night out
Not everyone you meet in Freshers week will be a keeper. Once the hangover has worn off and you can think clearly, you'll find out that "hilarious" laugh is actually worse than nails on a chalkboard and that "perfume" is just BO. You will meet some genuinely great friends while you're settling in, but don't cling to the first people you meet while you're half drunk.
2) Flatmates
Flatmates can be a bit like Marmite - you'll either love them or hate them. With flatmates, the main thing to remember is compromise. Okay so they might have wild parties and you might leave the kitchen messy but arguing about every little thing will lead to a horrible living environment. I've been quite lucky as my flatmates are great but a lot of my friends have struggled to get on with theirs. Just remember, everyone's got a different way of doing things and that's okay.
3) Freshers week isn't just for drinking
I know, shocking right? Freshers week is home to some of the biggest and best club nights of the year and you don't want to miss out. But don't forget you actually need to attend your uni induction too. Some of the most important information is given out within that first week and you don't want to be the plum who misses out.
4) Getting stuck in
Try as many societies, taster sessions and open events as you can. Your uni will probably hold some sort of societies fair where you can go along and sign up. It's great to meet people who are studying different topics and making new friends who aren't on your course. You've no excuse not to join either, as there's something for everyone - from debating clubs to pole dancing!
5) Sign up with a doctor IMMEDIATELY
Fresher's Flu is probably the worst I've ever felt. A culmination of early morning lectures, late night drinking, very little sleep and a few dodgy kebabs will ultimately lead to the worst cold/flu/deathbed situation ever. Make sure you are signed up to a doctor so you can get an appointment if you need one, rather than having to wait a few weeks for your registration documents to be processed.
Hope this helps :)
E&S
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