Almost a student: Make the most of your Summer
With the university applications sent out and confirmed, the weather getting warmer, and school term coming to an end, it’s time to enjoy your last holidays before an exciting university life! While it’s important to get some quality rest, catch up with family and make thrilling summer memories with friends, you should also dedicate some of these spare months towards preparing yourself for a new independent era. It’s totally OK to take some time out, explore your options, and not get into university straight after school, college, or sixth form. However, if you’re ready to take the next big step in your academic career, it’s best to start getting into the routine early! In this blog, I will look back to my summer before university, highlighting the most crucial steps to prepare for your new life over the summer. Summer’s here – so why not mix pleasure with business?
1. Setting up the system
Before you enroll in university, there is loads of housekeeping to complete before the Welcome week in September. When my application to Goldsmiths went through I had tons of paperwork to sign, school accounts to register for and educational platforms to set up. I would definitely suggest starting on this extra early, as in Autumn term the university registry is overwhelmed with student enquiries, so if you’re met with a technical or administrative issue (which happens quite often with the influx of new students), the best time to contact some experts at your uni would be now! Once you’ve set up your online university presence (which is crucial to the Higher Education ‘independent learning’ style), pay some of your course pages a visit and look through the curriculum, learning materials, assessments, and reading lists to get an impression of what to expect in your first year. Don’t worry about them too much though, as you will have plenty of time to study during term time. Google your academics, visit a degree show, find your ways around campus, and just grow closer to your university – the earlier you start, the smoother your first-year sail will be. A head start could never hurt!
2. Moving into your new home
Whether you decide to commute from home or move into student halls for your first year at university, setting up some essentials early is a must. While university halls will provide you with all the necessary furniture, you still need to get some spare bedsheets, towels, and your own kitchen utensils, so make sure to budget for these in advance. Make a rough list of things you will take to university from home – decorations, childhood toys, pictures, and obviously clothes! If you’re planning to stay home for the duration of your study, make sure your electronic devices are ready for some tough grind – while you can always borrow a laptop from the library and use spare equipment around campus, having some back-up options at home could save you some major hustle. You don’t need as many materials, books, and office supplies in university as you do in school, as the majority of your study is done online, on campus, or in the library full of free useful resources. If you’re doing a creative degree, most props and materials for your projects are also provided by your department (but nothing too crazy!). However, having some spare pens and notebooks and maybe reading an academic book or two before your degree could really be a useful buffer. I came to London with a suitcase full of frog plushies, a tiny towel, and 10 pairs of shoes, and had to go on a dozen emergency shop runs before my lectures. Don’t be me!
3. Relax… take it easy!
Obviously, your pre-university summer is not all just about academic prep! You just finished a major chapter of your life, sat some difficult exams, and underwent some major personal changes. Don’t forget to cut yourself some slack – lounge around in the park, take yourself on a retreat, or hop a train to Brighton for some beach fun. Our ‘Goldsmiths guides’ section will give you some great advice on sports, hobbies, and funzies to try out in the summer and recommend to your brand-new university friends in September. First year will be both fun and intense as you’re getting into a new lifestyle, so make sure you have all the energy for it. What do you think you’ll miss the most? Prioritize this in your holidays! As an international student coming from far away, I knew I would have to leave my family for quite some time during my university study, so made sure I properly reconnected with home, relatives, and old friends before leaving to the UK. I read more books in my native language, went travelling around my local region, and helped my grandma with traditional cooking more than ever. Sounds cheesy, but all this quality time is what cured my homesickness for the whole Autumn term of 2021!
