Hi my name’s Emily and I spent three years studying Clinical Sciences BSc at the University of Bradford, and am now training to be a secondary school biology teacher. My time at university has been amazing, and I can’t wait to continue my journey.
I lived at home – with my parents and then with my partner – rather than on campus or in student housing.
Here are my top tips for you, if you’re thinking of doing the same, and for your parents!
Top tips for students:
The library is your friend – it is super tempting to go home and binge on Netflix on the sofa, however the likelihood of you doing work when there’s a fridge full of free food and a Sky package is very minimal.
It’s good to get into the habit of spending an hour or two a day in the library – do a bit of your coursework or some lecture reviewing.
There will be plenty of people from your course/team that need to do the same so you won’t be alone, this will also make exam time easier as you will have found your favourite spot with a good plug socket that’s got a nice view and is close enough to the loo for your exam studies.
Remember to bring a pre-made lunch.
You will thank me when you haven’t spent all of your first loan instalment on Subway or Ginster’s Meal Deals.
Get your head around how you need to make notes.
This may be scribbles on printouts, notes on lectures on a laptop, or (my preferred method) annotated organised notes in a notebook.
Once you crack this, not only will your studying be improved, but your bag will be a lot lighter.
No one wants to be carrying excess books or tech around with you (you will definitely need a phone charger) especially if you’ve got to get the bus!
Top tips for parents:
Take an interest. Your son/daughter may be doing a course which completely goes over your head, and you might be seeing them less, but university is exciting.
Ask about their lecture and maybe do a quick Google search about their course – this way you’ll get to see their face light up when they tell you what they’ve learnt.
Ask about their new clubs, what they think of the president or the social sec, encourage them to go to late practice and socials.
These are the friends they’ll never forget.
Don’t throw random bits of paper away – make sure they don’t need it.
Those notes could be the requirements for a coursework worth 50% of a module that they managed to scribble down in a lecture – you just never know!
Communicate with your son/daughter. You may be convinced that they’re avoiding you, but trust me they’re just adjusting to this new life.
If it is super important to you that they make dinner on Thursday night so you can talk over the week, tell them.
If we don’t know it’s important we don’t know we’ve upset you.
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