16th August 2012: Judgement Day

What uni are you at and what are you studying?

 

Simms I'm just quite homely, and don't think I'd enjoy living on my own, I'm a boring 18 year old, don't really drink/ go out partying + save a fortune!

 

But...but...you sound just like simms did back then...

 

I was the same. I thought id really struggle away from home, I didn't drink or go out much. But I thought why not give it a go. It's such a good life experience, I feel like I don't appreciate enough how lucky i was to get into cardiff.

It sucks that you guys pay extra, but I would happily pay 9k a year for the uni experiance.

 

That was the old simms. He died at the hands of new simms!

 

If you genuinely don't think you'd be able to hack it away from home for 3 years, then going to uni locally could be a good option.

Saying that though, half (or most) of uni is the social part. Your first year especially is all about settling in to your new surroundings and pace, and making lots of friends to see you through the next 3 years of your life. If you're living at home during your first year, you will save money, but it's very important that you go all out to meet people during the day. Make sure you go along the clubs and societies freshers fair. Join a club or two. Trust me, you find a good society with the right bunch of people and it will pay dividends.

 

Yeah my plan is to do that, I really want to go abroad for a term/year to USA or Australia. Then I'll get used to being on my own etc...

I think my problem is, I'm quite 'ladish' sounds gay but yeah, but without the getting drunk and being a douchebag. I've never met anyone other boy who likes the same things as me but doesn't like getting drunk/partying too. I think I could handle living on my own, but I'd end up hanging out with people I didn't really like haha.

 

That's all part of it. The randomness of the first year being with strangers, really helped me trust people and get used to being with people i dont usually hang out with.

 

Are you able to move into halls in first year and if you don't like it move back home after a couple of months?

 

Yeah, I think what puts me off is both my brother and sister really struggled when at uni and I'm very similar to them. I also have a gf i've been with for 3 years which was a factor.

 

Not now, I could second year though, but I think I'd rather go abroad.

 

If you are genuinely serious about doing a year abroad, the cut off date for applying can be really quite soon into the year I think. Speak to your personal academic tutor, or someone like that if it's something you want to do. Also be aware that you will need to get at least 55% or roundabouts for the year to be able to go.

Have those 2 points in mind come the end of freshers week, and you're laughing. I wish I'd done a year abroad, and I really think you should do it! Great idea!

One more thing, as long as you understand the point of first year, you will be laughing. Just don't work overly hard - there's absolutely no need to (all most uni's want is 40%, and it doesn't affect your final grade come the end).

 

Thanks for the advice ED!

 

At leeds studying japanese and german. Going to Tokyo in a month for a year to study there as part of my course

 

Hah!

I want to do a year abroad, maybe not to study but to travel in america or canada or something after my degree.

Thing is with travelling in the 2nd year, you make all friends in the first year, then a year without them and by the time you come back they've moved on living with others in houses and you'll have to restart from year 1 again making new friends etc.

 

If you've got the social skills and confidence to handle a year abroad, you can handle your final year back in the UK, meeting new people again etc. That's the way to look at it I think.

 

Oh yeh totally, but Its easier coming back after the trip having known people for 3 years and you can be friends again, then 1 year on 1 year off 1 year on again.

And who knows maybe the people i knew for 3 would come with me. It's just a preference. Or I might do a masters in canada or something.

 

Yes, but that shouldn't really be a factor in your decision. It's a year abroad, full of possibilities, girls, opportunities and memories. That will beat a year back at a uni in the UK. You can only really do a year abroad in your 2nd year anyway, so you will most likely only have known your buddies at your uni in the UK for one year only.

You really shouldn't try to get friends to do a year abroad with you IMO. It's about your experience, not theirs. If they want to do it, fine, but unless they're dancing at the thought of it, chances are they're not really 100% up for it, and will hold you back, whilst having a less than brilliant time themselves. Also, being out there yourself only encourages you to really get involved, and you need that belief to make the most of, and ultimately enjoy your year abroad.

 

Oh no I wouldnt get people do to a year abroad, I just meant maybe a summer of travelling rather than do any study over there.

I think I'd love it, but it does suck in america not being able to go to a pub and drink if you're under 21.

 

Don't know my grades yet but I'm into Birmingham! Best of luck everybody.

 

me too. Well done pal

 

Got D, E, U. Fantastic...

 

Remember:

The vast majority of employers aren't fussed about what university you went to or what your grades were, they care about what you did when you were there. You can come out with a third and be vastly more employable than somebody with a first who didn't do anything. Go out, get involved in the union, organise things, go abroad, show initiative.

Don't get hung up on academia, it is only of a secondary importance. I found that out afterwards handily. Lots of graduate jobs specifically state that if you don't meet the academic requirement they may still accept you based solely upon your extra curicular activities which are almost always far more relevant to business. I spent months writing a dissertation which recieved 80% - completely irrelevent to the real world. Use your time to go out and do things which make you stand out as a person. You will have a better experience and come out the other side with job offers falling out of your ears.

 

Did you get in?

 

Congrats to those who got their results.

YK - Head over to the brum uni facebook page and make a post and you'll get loads of friend requests from excitable girls who also just got in :naughty:

When you get your halls offer go to the page and its usually in the discussion bit and see if you can meet any of your flatmates etc before you move in. Add neighbours too on facebook and get chatting.

 

Did not get the results that I wanted. Now comes the waiting for priority remarks...

 

Was just messing. I didn't get C, D, U but I didn't get into my first choice Lincoln but did get into Chichester despite only getting BCD when I needed BCC with B in Media (The C was in Media). God knows how I did it, plenty of inept teaching and horrific exams but I'm,in!

 

Nice one don. I did the exact same trick on my parents when I told them.

 

Ended up with A*A,A(mistake online,hopefully still an A) god knows how I did that. Can finally concentrate on Palace :naughty:

Cheers for the tips Simms, looking forward to that, heard the girls at Birmingham are quite decent.

 

Nice one.

One of the reason I chose cardiff was I heard that Valley girls come down for the weekend, and don't book hotel rooms and just get off with guys to have somewhere to stay overnight

 

Haha currently looking for the Chichester Fresher's Group, my Uni is 70% women

 

Where is Chichester? I got AAB pretty happy with that, means I get a scholarship of £1500 too :drinking:

 

Down south coast...