Every mistake you’ll make as a fresher

If there is one point in your life where you can remodel yourself and be as free as you’ll ever be as a person, its your first year at university. However, with new found freedom, comes inevitable mistakes.

• Spending way too much money in your first week – Its a classic rookie error. You just want to fit in and have fun, so you end up going to the most expensive club in the city. Or  you end up buying ridiculous things when you go for your first food shop; “I might need this tin of sausages at some point”.
• You’ll make friend with the first person you meet who does the same course as you – You’ll then realise after about a week how you really don’t get along with them, and spend the rest of your time trying to avoid them. The odd smile and wave now and then – maybe a quizzical look at your phone when you don’t recognise this person on Facebook – is as far as the friendship will go.
• Deciding to live with your whole flat in the second year – It may seem like a great idea after a month of living together, but after a year you will realise that there is at least one person who doesn’t fit in the group, or you just simply don’t get on with.
• Saying “I’ll just have a quiet one” when your friends are going out – This will inevitably turn into one of the biggest night outs you’ll ever have and that 9am lecture the next day, that you were having a “quiet one” for, will be hellish.
• Underestimating how much harder university work is – Every student assumes that work at uni will be the same as their A Levels. Even as a first year, the work load is vastly increased and staying up the night before deadlines to finish coursework will become a regular occurrence.
• You’ll get it on with someone from your course – The following days, weeks or even months will be met with awkward smiles and hellos as you try to forget that it even happened.
• You’ll invite your home friends to come and visit – This seems like a great idea, your home gang can come and party with your new friends. However, you’ll spend the whole time feeling awkward as your two lives clash together rather pathetically. home friends are for home.
• Finding a house becomes way too stressful – everyone wants to find a house before they all go, however as newbies to this you and your group will inevitably get mugged off by letting agents. The house wont be what you wanted and you’ll pay way too much for it.

Don’t listen to the stereotype, dating your flatmate is great

The phrase “don’t sh*t where you eat” was repeated to me about a hundred times in my first year. This is of course referring to being in any type of relationship with your flatmate. University folklore tells you that sleeping with your flatmate is forbidden. You treat your flatmates like family. You wouldn’t date your sister would you?

Well this stereotype is flawed. Going out with your flatmate is ace. It started with a few cheeky kisses on nights out, that we shook off as freshers fun. Then we became cuddle buddies. Until it got to the point where we hated the other one bringing anyone else back. Its at this point that you realise that maybe its time to go on a date.  All the naysayers say that it will be awkward if we break up. University is about trying something new and exciting, what is the point in worrying about the future? Besides I don’t normally look to date someone if I’m going to break up with them.

Living with your girlfriend/boyfriend may seem pretty intense, but if it ever does get too much (which it rarely does) you have the rest of your flat too hang out with and you still have your own room to lock yourself in. Even though you realise sometimes that things have got intense pretty fast – conversations like “we need some more milk” do make you think twice about the situation – it is still great. You have someone to sleep with every night, meals become cheaper and it honestly makes the relationship stronger. My girlfriend and I are on different courses and play different sports, so we still have time away from each other. It didn’t change the flat dynamic, we still all went on nights out together, just make sure everyone is on the same page.

How much?

I have come to terms that I will come out of Uni with thousands of pounds worth of debt – or at least blocked it out of my mind sufficiently to prevent nightmares. However, after tuition fees, accommodation fees, and the money needed for food and basic survival, there are unprecedented extra costs, that you will not have accounted for.

1. Societies. I am not suggesting that you shouldn’t join societies, because you most definitely should. However just be aware that it comes with extra cost. There will undoubtedly be a joining fee for your club, and then the socials themselves will cost money, whether it is going to the pub or paint balling. Then there are trips, and team kit. All of these seem relatively small expenses, however over the course of a year it seriously adds up.
2. Printing. As a history student, I know how much it costs to print endless pages of reading material and your own work. This is an unavoidable cost but an expensive one nonetheless. Just try and make sure that you print what you need and not any unnecessary extras. Also print everything double sided, as the less paper that is used the cheaper it will be – and better for the environment of course.
3. Public Transport. If you are less fortunate and do not live on/within walking distance of campus, the likelihood is that you will have to catch a bus into uni. Again this may be an unavoidable source of expense, however there are ways to make it cheaper. Buying a bicycle to ride into campus (on sunny days of course) would be cheaper in the long run. For those not interested in the extra exercise, most bus companies within university cities offer student discount on travel. Make sure to research this before starting uni as it will be a real money saver.
4. Mobile phone bills. Consider changing your contract, if possible, to something a little cheaper. Shaving £20 off of your monthly phone bill will help massively over the course of a year – it could fund a few awesome nights out…
5. Speaking of nights out, they are another expensive area of uni life, maybe even the most expensive. When buying pre drinks look for the best deals (yes I mean that naff looking bottle of Tesco value vodka). Look for the best student nights, every university city has them. The cheaper a night out is, the better.
6. Clothes. Everyone loves buying new clothes, however when on a tight budget its not the best idea to go on a shopping spree. If you are truly desperate to update your collection though you can find cheaper options. For those of you with a smartphone the app Depop is ideal for finding cheap but still fashionable clothes. It also acts as a selling base for those clothes you don’t want anymore, which is ideal if you are a little short of cash. Charity shops are also full of great brands if you look hard, and you whilst finding great clothes you can feel happy in the knowledge that your money will go to a worthy cause.

‘Gap Yaahs’ – Are they really worth it?

You haven’t got the grades? You’ve always wanted to travel? You’ve decided after a year of university studies that it isn’t for you? There are many reasons why students take gap years, but are they actually beneficial?

A gap year for many is a chance to travel and see the world, and develop as a person. For some it is a year to take a break from education, earn some money whilst others are spending, and to decide what they really want from their careers. For a smaller minority of people, gap years are forced decisions. Either their A Level grades haven’t been good enough or after a year of studying the relentless lectures and deadlines have been too much.

Gap years aren’t hugely practical, however. Financially they are obviously not cheap (if you’re travelling) and for those who plan to go to university afterwards, it may not be entirely wise. Also, deferring your entry to university may leave you out of the loop, not just in terms of your friendship group, but you will be a year behind some of your peers when looking for future employment; by taking a year out you may lack a vital years work experience. However, on the flip side, your year out gives you something that stand out on a CV. A year abroad, or volunteering is excellent to boost your resumé in such a competitive world for postgraduates.

There are excellent companies that provide gap year experiences. Real Gap Experience, for example, covers all ranges of gap year experiences, and i-to-i which offers opportunities to teach English, work with wildlife, volunteer with children and building projects in locations such as Australia, Costa Rica, China and Cambodia.

Gap years then, are very much a personal choice. It of course depends on money, your education situation and whether it is the best career choice for you. However, if these things are in the all-clear then a gap year is well worth taking. After all, what will you regret more? Not quite getting that first job straight away? Or missing out on a great experience?

 

Exactly.

How to survive exam season: 6 useful tips (possibly)

January exam season is upon us. Universities are littered with broken students, not quite sure what time of day it is and where they live. Its a tough time for everyone involved, but it is possible to make it to the end with some simple pointers*.

1. Get all your crying done before revision starts. Nobody wants wet revision notes from all your tears. Crying beforehand also preserves energy that you will need to revise furiously
2. Plan your time wisely. One of the more obvious points but still important. Planning your life around revision, and indeed what you are going to revise and when is crucial important. Just as everybody has been lectured throughout their education, its not beneficial to leave revision to the last minute, and as monotonous as this message is, its very true.
3. Sleep properly. That means early nights and late mornings. Im talking about a good 13 hours kip. None of this “go to bed early to wake up early” rubbish, how are you supposed to operate at 9am? I mean seriously.
4. DRINK. Alcohol will help numb the pain of revision and make you much happier. No, in all honestly drinking lots of fluids (non alcoholic) and eating properly – not just snacking on mozzarella dippers – is key to revision and exams. You won’t feel, and I use the colloquial term here, “blegh”.
5. Make sure to give yourself rest time from revising. Working solidly for 9 hours will just wear your brain out. If you play sport, or just enjoy the gym then make sure you carry on during exam period. Exercise is perfect for the brain to relax. Even if you’re not into that, making yourself a cuppa and watching a movie works just as well.
6. Work hard. Preparation is key for exams but revising hard is still the most valuable thing you can do. Just remember to work hard but also play much harder when exams are done. Good luck!

*N.B. some of these may not be serious.

Housing Hell

Its November. You’ve been at university for two months. Life is starting to settle down; you know where your lectures are (just about), you’ve signed up for societies, decided which flat mates you like and dislike, and the chaos of Freshers Week is a distant memory as your university studies are in full swing.

And then the letting agents swoop. Like feeding time at the zoo, they bombard unknowing first years with pamphlet after pamphlet, normally followed with a quizzical response along the lines of “Next years house? But I’ve only just got here?”.

I agree that it is important to organise your living situation in advance so that there is no panic come the following the September, and I don’t mean to generalise all letting agents into one category. However, the intensity that some letting agents initiate proceedings can be quite daunting, especially to someone who is completely new to the concept of letting a house such as a first year student. The attitude of some of these agents can make the stresses of university even worse. All I suggest is that the people in charge of these companies deal with students with a little more sympathy as they embark on a scary experience, and perhaps don’t punish them for their slight naiveness.

Furthermore, the prices of rent for some of these student digs can be well over what an average student can afford. I study in Cardiff so I am very fortunate that house prices in the capital of Wales are relatively low. However, I’ve heard from friends that live in cities such as Bath who can barely afford to live anywhere near their university campus because of the enormity of rent prices. Again I understand that house prices all over Britain are on the rise but for students who have worked hard to get to university, is it fair for them to be living in sub standard accommodation because they can’t afford anything better?

I feel that letting agents that operate in university cities have a responsibility to make the house hunting experience for first time students a less stressful overall process. Let me know what you think in the comments!

 

Cardiff University Swimming and Water Polo Team ready for the new season

The new season of BUCS fixtures is nearly upon us and nobody is more keen for it to start than the Cardiff University Swimming and Water Polo Club. The season begins for the men and ladies water polo teams in November against Imperial College of London, whilst the swimming team kick off their season with the short course BUCS championships, also in November. Following a highly successful 2014/15 season for the Club, President and first team polo player Kate Thompson is looking forward to what lies ahead; “We’re aiming for the Club to continue to improve and develop within every training session and to maintain and, indeed, build upon the high level of performance that the Club has been achieving over the past few years.”

 

Thompson is not wrong about the high level of performance that exists within the Club. Last season, the men’s polo team made it to the BUCS finals, resulting in a hard fought third place before coming second at the UPolo finals in the last matches of the season. The men’s water polo captain, Daniel Picton, adds; “after a tough season of polo we were thrilled to win a bronze medal at the BUCS finals in Leeds.” The ladies team was no exception, making it through to the BUCS semi-finals and also achieving a superb second place at the UPolo finals. Varsity also saw another victory for the men’s team with a convincing 16-3 win over Swansea University.

 

The swimming team also put in a strong performance during the year making it into the B finals at the BUCS short course championships. Despite a loss at this year’s Varsity, the men’s swimming team captain, Luke McCluskey, remains in a buoyant and positive mood for the new year; “As captain all I can ask for is full commitment from the squad so that we can be as successful as possible in BUCS and hopefully reclaim our titles at both Varsity and the Celtic championships.”

 

Both Cardiff polo teams face stiff competition in the Premier South Division in the form of first teams from Birmingham, Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford and long-term rivals, Bristol. Despite some losses to the squad over the summer, Picton is confident about building on it’s previous success; “Having retained key players and welcomed some promising new freshers I believe it is well within our ability to achieve the same level of success as last season.” Meanwhile, the swimming squad faces a tough challenge in both the long and short course championships but with freshers trials coming up shortly McCluskey is positive about the squad’s chances.

 

Cardiff University Swimming and Water Polo Club not only prides itself at succeeding in its particular sports, but is also keen to emphasise the social aspect of its Club. It’s weekly socials are as important as every training session in the pool. Kate Thompson adds; “As well as aiming high this season we want to remain a social team that is inclusive to all it’s members and allows them to make new friends whilst keeping fit.”