Bristol Students: Here’s How to Prepare for the Upcoming Transition to Uni

Preparing to go to university is an exciting time for any student. Not only are you about to embark on an educational path that will shape the rest of your career, but you may also be heading off to a new life and leaving your parents’ home for the first time.

Whether you’re planning to study for your degree locally in Bristol or are considering moving to a different city for your education, there’s a lot of planning to do to make sure that you’re prepared financially, emotionally, academically and practically. And since we’re all in lockdown, there’s no better time than the present to make sure that you are ready for when September rolls around.

Academic Preparation

If you’ve already got your grades and know that you definitely have a place at the university of your choice, it’s time to start preparing. Spend some time looking over what the degree course entails, do some relevant reading and speak to current and past students to help you get a better idea of what to expect. Chances are your first couple of weeks at university will consist of work to help you ease into things, but having done some prep beforehand can help you feel more confident and at ease.

Save Up

Even if you are eligible for student loans to help you afford your accommodation and other necessities, you will be surprised at how quickly your money can go when you’re at university. And, student loans don’t usually land in your bank account until freshers’ week is over to help students avoid spending it all on nights out, so if you want to go out and have fun on the first week, it’s worth having a bit of money set aside just for this. If you know where you want to live, it’s worth coming up with a budget now, so that you are under no illusions as to how much things are going to cost once you’re there. This will also help you determine whether or not you’re going to need a part-time job.

Other Practical Tips

If you’re moving to another city such as London for instance, it’s a good idea to get as much info as possible. You can request information from Uni Compare for all universities such as the University of Westminster. They are a student comparison site that allows you to learn as much as possible about the various universities that you are considering applying to or the university you have a place at. If you’ve not been able to attend an open day due to the lockdown, you can get a lot of information online to help you get a better idea of what to expect from the campus, teaching facilities and student accommodation. If you can, find social media groups with current students where you can ask questions and figure out what you’re going to need to bring; this will help you avoid wasting money on things that are already provided.

Getting ready to go to university can be nerve-wracking, but very exciting. Keep these tips in mind and make sure that you are well prepared.