The Jump: A Levels to University

As I sat this afternoon pondering about the next stage of my life, having just finished university and diving head first into the graduate job hunt, I couldn’t help but reminisce about another time in my life when it all just seemed a bit too much. I am, of course, referring to the monumental jump from college to university.

If, like me, you attended a sixth form college, while the transition from GCSEs to A Level was still an almighty one (no more uniform?!), the blow was slightly cushioned by the fact that you were still within a relatively similar educational environment: there were still classrooms, still a canteen, still a break time and lunch hour... These all helped to make the otherwise overwhelming period of transition slightly less painful, especially if friends from your secondary school were attending the same college.

The same cannot be said, however, for university. Where there may have been a thousand or so students at your sixth form or college, at university, there are likely to be in the tens of thousands, even on a relatively small campus. Along with this comes the sudden realisation that you are now a self-sufficient, fully responsible adult in charge of your own well-being. For many of us, the move to university is our first taste of independent living: even if you’re in halls, you’re still solely responsibly for setting your own alarm, doing your own washing and cooking your own dinner. For some, it can be quite the reality check, especially if, like me, you’re used to your wonderful mum waking you up with a lovely, warm cuppa each morning.

Even more than this, as a uni student, you are one-hundred percent, totally and completely free to make your own decisions. Want to get pizza delivered for breakfast? You can. Decide last-minute that you actually do want to go out, at 2am? Go for it! You no longer answer to anyone, and sometimes – just sometimes – that can be every bit as thrilling as it sounds.

So, my top tips to help cope with the seemingly humongous jump from A Levels to university…

Firstly, I would say that there’s no better place to start than by properly decorating your new room. Whether you’re in halls or a privately rented property, there are usually rules about what you can and can’t do regarding redecoration, but you’d be surprised what you can achieve with some faux-succulents and a few strings of fairy lights. I kitted out the entirety of my first-year bedroom with homeware from Primark, and it looked fab, like something straight out of Pinterest! What’s more, it probably cost me in the region of about £30. Doing up your new room immediately makes it a tad homelier, rounding those otherwise clinically-straight edges. So, treat yourself, have a little re-organise and settle in to your new home.

If you’re a soon-to-be uni student, I know that – by now – you’ve probably been told time and time again by your family to “Get Involved!” and “Join a Club!”. Believe me, I know how annoying that can be, especially when football or cheer leading is not your thing. But, as they usually do, the parents have a point. Joining a club or society really is a fantastic way of meeting new people, especially those who share similar interests. And it’s not all hockey sticks and rugby boots. These days, there are university societies for almost everything, whether your passion is politics or performing arts. So, why not swallow your pride and give it a try? You never know who you could meet!

The final thing I’d suggest keeping in mind when starting university is that it’s important to remain true to yourself. While college was full of little cliques that it was all-to easy to fall into, university is the home of individuality, and no matter how odd you believe yourself to be, how outlandish your hair cut, how non-fashionable your fashion sense, you shan’t so much as bat an eyelid. So, if you don’t like clubbing – don’t go clubbing. If you enjoy visiting the library – visit the library. Want to join the comic book society? Go ahead and join! University is a judgement-free zone (partly because there are so many students about, it would be psychically impossible to judge them all!) so go ahead and be yourself: what’s the worst that could happen?

If, indeed, you are a soon-to-be uni student, I hope these few little tips help you out in one way or another, even if it does just give you that little push you need to admit that, really, you’d quite like to join the Ju-Jujitsu society. I hope you settle in well because, take it from me, those three years really do fly by, so make the most of them!

Bon Chance!

E x