Category Archives: Preparing for University

Dear new student…

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by Nevena (Student Blogger: BSc Hons Business Studies (Industry))

Welcome on Board! I presume everyone around you is excited about your new journey and asks questions about your feelings on the issue. Yes, it is a change, indeed. But don’t worry if you can’t find the right words to describe how you are feeling. Immerse yourself in the summer and the freedom you have now in order to give yourself the opportunity to gain strength for the colder weather that awaits you in Lancaster. Here are a few things to help you prepare:

Lesson #1

The weather is not as bad as you might think. There may be more rain than you have been used to, especially if you are coming from a sunny country like Spain or Italy. Don’t let the fog and wind discourage you and steal away from your enthusiasm. After all, the weather is only a small detail from the larger picture and October will be pretty sunny, I’ve checked the forecast for you J

Lesson #2

Prepare to be organised. Once you come to university, you will feel the weight of so many more responsibilities, having to live on your own and cope with your studies. It won’t be easy, but it’s something everyone has the ability to master. Once you arrive in England if you are coming from a different country, or once your parents drive you to the campus of the university in early October with a car full of belongings, you will be given the keys to a room that is supposed to become your new home. You will open the door at some of the floors of the university accommodation and you will see this small space that will look pretty plain. However, you have the power to transform it! Empty your suitcase and decide what other objects will make this space feel more comfy (*pillows, rugs, photos, lights, posters are just the first ideas that come to my mind). Any place can feel like home so just use your creativity!

Lesson #3

After you arrive, you will have one week to get yourself introduced to the new place and many of the new people. Or in other words, during Fresher’s week, you’ll be occupied with activities all the time and you won’t be able to remember half of the names of new people you meet. But what’s important is that you will have time to settle down.

Lesson #4

The real dilemma most students go through in their first week is what societies and activities to join. There is an event at the end of Fresher’s week, called Fresher’s Fair where all the societies try to gain new members. If you are a very proactive person or if you have a lot of enthusiasm to try something new, there are high chances you end up signing up for 6,7 or even 10 different societies. The truth is, you won’t have time for all of them. Societies are a way to meet like-minded people with identical interests as you, but you need to sit down and prioritize what really brings you joy. It is unrealistic to think that you are Superman or Superwoman and can manage doing everything, so choose 2 or 3 that really stand out to you.

(*you can get a glimpse on all the societies here https://lusu.co.uk/societies  where all of them have a brief description; however, wait until the fair until you make a decision)

Lesson #5

ASK. ASK. ASK! Asking questions can be scary to some people, but it can be the shortest way to making a decision in many cases, especially in the beginning when everything will be new to you. Ask older students, ask fresher reps, ask university staff: everyone is there to help you. Forget any fears you may have and step out of your comfort zone to get someone else’s impression who has already been through that.

 

It’s still summer, but university time is slowly approaching. Until then, enjoy yourself, your family and friends, and come fresh, energetic, and open for the new experiences to come in October. And don’t forget about the #lessons as they might save you some nerve breakages in the beginning of your school year.

Essential study tools

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by Ruth (Student Blogger: BA Hons History)

‘Essentials’- it’s a tricky place to start, as everyone has different tools, tricks and tips that they use for studying. But if you’re reading this hopelessly, scrambling for some sort of list to follow, in order to know at least a little of what to get, I hope this helps.

Paper and Notebooks (specifically A4 spiral bound ones)

Now, this may seem obvious but bring paper to uni. Many students underestimate the amount of notes you will make at university. While, you may be dead set on making your notes solidly only using your laptop, don’t underestimate the power of the pen and paper. I find it easier to make notes and follow lectures by physically writing it down. The words flow better and it is quicker to correct. This is why, the first essential has to be a serious amount of paper. Either in notebooks or folders, whatever you prefer. And of course, a bucket of pens to go alongside.

Coloured paper/pens/whiteboards

These are a lifesaver. Having something colourful to write on or write with is so helpful and brightens up revision and lecture notes. I personally suffer from dyslexia and this can result in a degree of sensitivity to a black and white page. Hence coloured paper, especially muted colours such as pastel blue, green or purple are a brilliant backdrop for planning essays, mind maps and writing key notes. Coloured paper is so helpful that, during revision last year, I bought coloured whiteboards. These muted coloured boards were so useful to study off as they not only lessen the glare that white paper and boards often have, but small whiteboards are endlessly helpful for revision. They are now something that I, and now after using mine, my friends, recommend massively. Although at the start of the year revision might not be something to focus on particularly, it is still important to have it at the back of your mind. Especially as some courses do regular tests, which can be intimidating without the right tools. Having a whiteboard enables you to go over key pieces of information again and again in different ways. And it also helps limit the destruction of the rainforest by not using endless amounts of paper.

Laptop- with all the software

Use this blogpost as your reminder. Take advantage of all the software you are offered by the University. One of the main software options they offer is global autocorrect, which spell checks any word you type on any application used on your laptop. This is so useful for emails and anything typed on the internet. There is also Read & Write Gold, which reads word documents and chunks of text out loud to you. I like to use this specifically for essays as getting the programme to read it out load is a way of checking sentence length, punctuation and grammar. There are so many different types of software that are on offer. Check what is out there and what caters to your particular needs.

These are the things, I only managed to get together a few months after university had started, that I wished I’d got organised before. As a result, I hope this list helps you be more organised, ready for the start of university….

Making the most of university resources

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by Sara (Student Blogger: BA Hons Linguistics)

Universities operate differently to schools and colleges – no uniform is just the start of it. Take a look at the following tips to empower yourself with a few key facts before you jump in. Some key bits of know-how will free you up to worry about the really important stuff like what to wear to Sugar!

Moodle

All of the resources for your degree will be available online through Moodle, AKA the Student Portal. Under ‘Modules’ you will find your courses and everything your lecturers and co-coordinators have chosen to share with you such as reading lists and documents to help with things like referencing in essays (citations will be your bestie). A scroll through Moodle might be all you need to clarify important dates or tasks. Notifications will keep you up-to-date so you don’t forget about deadlines.

The Library

The sparkly new library at Lancaster is an amazing tool if you know how to use it. Online, you can use the search tool to find out which books are available in the library as hard copies and often you can also access entire books online and download or print some chapters. To check out a book, use the search tool to find the book and which floor it is on and under which letter (the letters correspond to subjects). Take the book to a scanning station where screens sit above various trays. You will need to scan your library/ID card and then scan the barcode on the inside cover of your book, following the on-screen instructions. To return a book, simply scan the barcode again after selecting the ‘Return’ option and place it in the appropriate tray. If you feel unsure, go with some friends who have done it before or ask the staff there and soon you’ll be a pro.

Printing

You can use your library/ID card to print from any printer at the university. You can send documents from university computers directly to your printing account. The document is then stored there until you approach a printer, scan your ID card and select the document to print (although it will time out in one hour). Credit can be added to your account online by finding ‘Printing’ on Moodle under ‘Other Services’. You can also see how much your printing will cost and just how many trees you have killed which always brightens my day if I haven’t killed that many. Alternatively, there are a few machines for turning cash into printing credit around the library. You can also print from your personal computer by adding documents to the WebPrint feature online.

The App

The iLancaster app is an incredibly valuable shortcut to a bunch of places and it is constantly being updated and improved. You can use it to view detailed course and exam timetables, locate buildings around campus on a map, access your interactive transcript, the library and your printing account and see PC availability (to save you braving the walk from your flat purely on faith) amongst other features. The app will also send you announcements, like Moodle, so you are informed when new marks have been published on your transcript following assessments, for example.

In summary…

All these resources make studying at Lancaster super manageable. They might seem very foreign at first, but only at first, and you’ll become totally comfortable really quickly. If you don’t know, just ask! There are tutorials and introductions during Welcome Week as well. First year as a whole is about getting used to the cogs in the university machine and based on my experience, everyone will be happy to help you out. Good luck!

Adjusting to university life

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by Catherine (Student Blogger: BSc Computer Science)

The adjustment to university life can be testing. You may think you get enough lectures at home, but at university you will have several lectures a week. It is important to aim for full attendance. That being said, if you miss the odd one, whether you’re ill or don’t remember any of last night after receiving an iconic Sugarhouse stamp, you won’t spontaneously combust. Just don’t let it become a regular occurrence. You will want to be able to enjoy your free time rather than spending it catching up and struggling to resurface from a sea of lecture notes.

Sometimes lectures can feel fast-paced and you’ll want to rush to write everything down. Don’t. Your hand won’t thank you for it and when it comes to revision for exams most people can’t revise from hundreds of pages of scrawled notes. It may take some practice, but try to note down any key points or formulas as well as anything you find interesting and would like to study further outside of the lecture.

Make a study schedule and stick to it. This may not sound very appealing as you’d much rather spend your free time on your hobbies or hanging out with friends. The extra time spent going over work will make you understand lecture content more clearly and make your future work easier, thus you will find your course material more enjoyable. You will also feel more confident in your abilities and will be saved from cramming in too much work in the weeks leading to exams.

If your course has some coursework elements, work these into your study schedule and try to start as soon as the task is set. Before you begin you can’t be sure of what issues you may encounter or if something in your personal life might set you back a day or two. Starting work the night before its due leaves you with a very short timescale to correct any errors, meaning your grades won’t be as high as they could have been had you started earlier.

You may feel well-prepared for the term with your colour-coordinated folders and more pens than students in the Gregg’s queue at lunch time, but don’t forget to consider your mental preparation. You will be more engaged in your lectures if you had a refreshing night’s sleep and feel confident for the day ahead; if you have any issues with your mental well-being contact your college’s welfare team.

At the beginning of your first year you will be appointed an academic advisor, who you should meet regularly to discuss your academic progress and any issues you are facing. Get to know your lecturers also. While it is difficult for them to remember everyone by name, if you make an impression they will know who you are. Engage in their lectures by answering questions and if you’re struggling, ask some of your own; feel confident in yourself to do so. If you get an answer wrong you may feel embarrassed, but you have no reason to be; chances are some of your fellow students would have answered the same, and so long as you didn’t accidentally call your lecturer ‘mum’ no-one will take much notice.

University is more mature and fast-paced than previous education; finding a good balance between study and leisure and having confidence in yourself are the keys to success.