Making the most of the university experience

Aaron Porter

Name:Aaron Porter
Title: Chief Columnist
Joined: Sept 2011
Occupation: HE consultant, freelance journalist, former President of the NUS
Aaron's Full Profile

Heading to university for the first time is usually one of those rare moments that bring together a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Excitement at the prospect of starting a new lifestyle, meeting new friends and a whole host of upcoming opportunities. Trepidation at whether you’ll fit in, cope with the workload and increasingly concerns about finance and debt. So how do you make the most of your university experience?

When I made my way up the M1 to settle into halls of residence at the University of Leicester where I’d accepted a place in their English department, it was an exciting move and the first time I’d lived away from home. The beginning of a journey to start fending for myself; cleaning, shopping and cooking. Ok, so I cheated with the cooking by moving into catered halls. But, as it was for me and so many other new undergraduate students, the transition to university is the first big step on the road to adulthood.

One of the most exciting things about going to university is the chance to mix, live and interact with an assortment of other students drawn from the far flung corners of the globe, from all sorts of backgrounds, races and interests. Most universities will arrange an induction programme, and the students’ union will probably organise a freshers’ fair and welcome activities. Whilst for some, weeks like this are practically the reason they choose to go to university, for others it can seem alien and overwhelming. Believe it or not I arrived at university fairly shy and introverted but the importance of mixing with others during freshers’ and into the first term helped me to come out of my shell and really settle into my university, which quickly felt like home.

It was probably the range of students’ union societies, sports clubs and activities which helped smooth my transition. Although the temptation was to sign up for every club I had a vague interest in, I quickly settled for two or three which I wanted to make a serious contribution to. I started writing for the student newspaper and got involved in running the Junior Common Room football team. But the truth is I could have signed up for anything from hockey to student radio to ultimate frisbee.

Of course my motivation to get involved in clubs and societies was borne out of an interest in keeping myself busy on top of my academic study and finding another way of meeting new people. But I was already starting to think about what else could go on my CV. In an environment where the jobs market is still tough, employers are looking at the experience students pick up alongside and on top of their academic study. Often key attributes like team work, communication, organisation and leadership are best honed in student-led volunteering and activity and can give you the edge when it comes to applying for jobs even if three years may seem like a long way off at the time. Crucially though, it should be because you enjoy it and want to either try something new or maintain something you enjoy already.

Finally, I’d recommend some advice I was given by a teacher at school, “the more you put in, the more you get out.” I certainly sought to live by that rule at school, and then at university, and felt I had a much richer, rounded and enjoyable experience as a consequence. The overwhelming majority of graduates cite their time at university as the best few years of their life and I hope that’s how every new student will eventually be able to look back at their time as a student once they graduate.

Top Tips:

1. Don’t be scared to introduce yourself to others on your course, accommodation and on campus generally. You won’t remember every name, but nor will they. Just keep asking.
2. Try and keep down costs by seeing if you can buy set texts in a second hand book shop. Remember some courses are very specific about certain editions, for others it is less important.
3. Check out the freshers’ fair and welcome activity, consider trying something completely new.
4. It’s perfectly normal to feel lonely or a little homesick at some point. Don’t keep it to yourself, see if you can grab a cup of tea with someone or consider speaking to someone in the students’ union or university welfare/support.
5. Schedule a weekend to return home after a few weeks. You’ll want to re-charge and probably remind your family what you look like.

Aaron Porter is a freelance journalist, broadcaster and education consultant. He was previously President of the National Union of Students 2010-11 during the high profile tuition fee debate. He tweets at @AaronPorter.