Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing well and settling into the autumn (or spring, depending on which side of the world you're reading this from), feeling good and staying positive! I feel as though I always start these posts with an apology, but today I'm just going to say that I have been extremely busy settling in to the flow of university life and getting my bearings hence my long absence from posting. I do hope that you don't all mind too much and that today's post will be worth it. 

Now, I know that some of you are sitting in the exact same position I was in last year. UCAS applications will be officially underway and although it may seem like your exams, results and uni offers are in the distant future, the reality is that it is not so distant. The time will fly by and before you know it you'll be logging in to your UCAS Track profile in August and seeing which of your choices you're going to. I also know that a lot of you will be feeling pretty anxious about the thought of leaving high school behind and taking a huge leap into the next chapter of your life. Therefore for today's post I thought I would just give you a little insight into my experience of university life so far and the main differences between high school / college and university.

1. You will have A LOT of free time.

In sixth form you do at least 3 subjects for A-Level (in my experience but I know it varies), and you have quite a bit of free time in between classes. You can use that time for study, catching up on work or sneaking off for a coffee somewhere. In university you specialise into one course, which frees up a lot more time. Typically my hours are from 9.15-5.05 and I have three modules per semester. On a Monday I have a three hour gap between my first lecture and second lecture, a seminar straight after and then another hour long gap between that and my next lecture. If you live on campus you can just go home and relax while you wait, however if you're a commuter like myself, those hours can drag like hell, so you have to make them count. Typically you can find me in the Student's Union chatting with people or reading books and having a latte, preparing for my next class. You just have to find what's good for you and whatever passes the time the quickest, but good company is a very good start!

2. You're going to be a lot more independent.

Typically in school you're handing out information, copy it out from text books and generally have everything spoon-fed to you. Whereas at university it's all about independence and initiative. You have to take responsibility for getting assignments in on time, keeping up to date with anything you may miss (although your lecturers will probably make anything you've missed available to you online), and managing your time effectively. You need to be tuned in at all times, especially when it comes to lectures. You're not going to be told "copy this down it's important", you're going to have to listen carefully to what is being said to you and noting down whatever you think is essential for assignments and coursework. You might have the option to choose your own modules and seminars and you need to be aware of what's going to suit your time best and make sure that you're prepared and have everything you need. Your lecturer may not even keep a note of your attendance so it is crucial that you get yourself everywhere on time and that you're actually there!

3. Money management is essential!

If you're doing a course with a heavy reading list (such as myself) you're going to need to buy books and they do not come cheap. You will get a list of everything you're going to need, both recommended reading and required reading. For your required reading, I would suggest you shop about and don't just head into Waterstones and Easons with a huge list, your loan probably won't cover it! I got the majority of my required books from charity shops that specialise in books, Ebay, Amazon and The Book Depository, before I started looking on the high street. For some lectures you may just need an extract of a book, which you can either download online or your lecturer may provide solid copies or make them available online. You can also check out online data bases and your campus library for any materials. 

As for "recommended reading" i.e textbooks, they cost even more money. Most will be available to download as PDFs that you can print out to have or store on your laptop, but if you can't find them don't worry! Just get whatever you can.

If you live on campus you need to buy your own food which can also come at a cost. Be smart about how you shop, set up a budget and only buy essentials, not things that you like and want but realistically can't afford. Don't be ashamed to buy supermarket own brand foods, they are a lot cheaper and just the same as name brand things. It also may be tempting to get involved with freshers antics and own every kind of alcohol imaginable, but that stuff is not cheap (I overheard some girls talking about how they spent over £100 on alcohol alone in their first few days on campus). I would suggest you stick to drinking when you're out at events where there will usually be drinks promos on that can save you a lot of money!

4. Get involved!

It's highly likely that you may not have friends going to your university, they may be there but doing different courses and therefore not have the same hours as you do, meaning that you can be spending some time alone. But believe me when I say it is much easier to make friends in university than it is at school. Typically in school, people move up with their friends they have had since they were in nappies, making it very difficult to talk to people. At university almost everyone is in the same boat and there will be plenty of opportunities to talk to new people; induction days, meeting the people in your accommodation, talking to people in class and seminars- you're rarely going to feel left out.

Getting involved with clubs, societies and events will also provide a great means through which you can get to know new people. I know it seems scary and daunting but once you get into that situation it's going to be alright. There will be lots of support if you find it that little bit more difficult, the main hurdle will be asking for it. Lecturers will generally expect you to ask for help, they won't be as in tune with you as your high school teachers may have been but that's because your classes will be much bigger and there will be less opportunity for them to get to know you on a one-to-one basis. If you need help, have a question or are struggling you have to have the courage to ask.

5. Finally, enjoy it!

Although it seems like a scary prospect of finishing school and becoming a new student in an unfamiliar place, everything is going to be fine. You just have to embrace it, throw yourself into it and get used to a new rhythm. Engage, ask, reflect, read, attend your classes, manage your time and money and there is no way that you can't be successful in your course and enjoy your time there. 

I hope this has helped reassure some of you and given you an insight into at least what I've experienced and university so far, believe me when I say it will all be okay and you're going to be fine. 

Love as ever, 

Rachel xx