Hi everyone!
I’m Eloise, currently a third year Flexible Combined Honours student studying Film and Television and Geography – random combination, right? I’m based on the Streatham Campus at the University of Exeter, but I’m originally from Sussex.
In this blog, I’ll detail the things I wish I had known before starting university and becoming a Fresher. Hopefully through my experiences, you’ll be able to make the most of your time at Exeter should you choose to study here. I’ll guide you through what I wish I had tried sooner, give you some suggestions on what to pack (and crucially, what not to pack), and tips on how to ease into adult life. Now, let’s take a walk down memory lane…
Tips for making friends…
I met several people in the first few weeks of university that are now some of my long-lasting friends . At the time, I was in on-campus halls of residence and shared a self-catered flat with nine other students – three of which became my closest friends at Exeter. Not everyone stays friends with all of their flatmates – and that is okay – but I wish I had made more of an effort in first year. There were often times I would decline movie nights to sit in my room to FaceTime friends from home instead. Despite this, I was really lucky – my flatmates were really understanding that I needed my own space at the time, but in second year (when I felt much more ready to make friends in Exeter) they were happy to reconnect and we built our friendship from there!
Tip! Buy a door stop to prop your door open so that others in your corridor know you are happy for to socialise. When the door is closed, everyone will know you don’t want to be disturbed. Also, if someone offers to socialise, say yes! Of course, when exam or deadline season approaches, be realistic in the time you can devote to socialising, but definitely try to connect with people who offer to hang out. Want to chill with people and no one is saying anything? Ask them! You never know, they might want to hang out just as much and might need a little encouragement, especially as moving to university will also be a change in lifestyle for them too.
Tips for dealing with exam stress and managing workloads…
University life can feel simultaneously very full on and very quiet. This is often because exams will be concentrated in January and/or May, and coursework is often due midterm or at the end of the semester.
Tip! Find your unique way to organise your academic work and have good time management. Making to-do lists can help the workload seem less overwhelming and more manageable as they let you clearly see everything you need to do. Some people love the practicality of digital planning; others prefer a paper version – whatever works for you!
I wish I’d made use of the Study Zone provided by the University earlier, particularly at the start of my degree. The Study Zone offers students help with adjusting to academic life, providing workshops or 1-1 sessions to assist with referencing techniques, note-taking and revision. This would have definitely got me up to speed with citing my work and find an effective revision technique quicker.
First year at university is all about trial and error, a time where you can try out new things without consequences. Although it is important to try your best, first year grades don’t count towards your overall degree classification. So if you’d like to attempt a new essay structure to see if it rewards you, or you’d like to try out a different revision technique, then first year is the time to do it!
Once you find a good structure to tackling university assignments, it becomes less stressful and more enjoyable, and hopefully this is reflected in your grades.
Tips for getting around loneliness…
In my second and third year, I lived in a studio apartment (which means I have my own bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living space, as opposed to sharing with others). It can be quite easy to feel lonely at university, especially when you don’t live with anyone. Even Freshers Week – a fun and exciting time for most people – is a common for period for many students to feel homesick. But my advice is to just get out there and do things – keep busy!
In my second and third year, I lived in a studio apartment (which means I have my own bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living space, as opposed to sharing with others). It can be quite easy to feel lonely at university, especially when you don’t live with anyone. Even Freshers Week – a fun and exciting time for most people – is a common for period for many students to feel homesick. But my advice is to just get out there and do things – keep busy!
Tip! Sign up to lots of events and explore your new home. If you keep yourself occupied, not only will this distract you from moments of feeling lonely, but you will most likely be interacting with people who have similar interests to you. Whether that be playing the same sport, joining the same society (which is like a club), or being in the same introductory lectures, you are bound to find people that appreciate the same things you do. I fortunately didn’t feel that homesick when I moved away from home, but I think that is thanks to attending as many events as I could, really getting to know the city and campus in the first few days, and signing up to societies.
I personally knew that I wanted to continue my love for skiing at university, so on my first day here I beelined for the Snowsports Exeter stand at the Freshers Fair. I’ve been a member ever since. During my time, I have gone to countless socials in the city, been to numerous training sessions, competed at several regional dry slope competitions, and been to four countries.
Things I wish I tried sooner…
Societies – for me, I wish I’d joined XTV (the student television society). This would have given me practical experience at shooting films, creating sets, and producing shows, which would have reflected the Film and Television side of my degree well. It would also have given me hands on experience with cameras and perhaps boosted my career prospects in the film industry, should I choose to work in it after graduating. So my advice would be to join societies that reflect your interests but also be courageous and try societies in things you’ve never done before, as well as those which might lend themselves well to your future career and employability.
Sports – Sports clubs are available to complete beginners, or for those who want to develop their skills, or for high performance athletes! I’m incredibly happy that I chose Snowsports in first year and was really dedicated to both training and social aspects of the club. However, I didn’t renew my membership in second year. Although my second year became busier with committee roles in other societies, I lacked the physical activity and missed out on core friendships I had built in first year. Although I am back again for my final year, I still wish I persevered with Snowsports in my second year.
Study spaces – I wish I had explored different study spaces earlier, as I often opted for the library – basic choice I know! There are so many lovely spots to check out; on the Streatham Campus for example, Reed Hall café overlooks the beautiful Italian gardens on campus, the Innovation Centre offers a lovely view over the campus from its recently renovated café, and the tables outside at Starbucks in the Forum boasts a view of the city and surrounding countryside – you can even see the cathedral with the backdrop of the Devonshire hills!
Days out – Exeter is so well connected to many quaint towns and beautiful beaches in Devon and Cornwall. I wish I explored those areas sooner, such as going for a hike at Mamhead Obelisk Viewpoint in Dartmoor National Park, visiting the seaside town of Sidmouth, or the harbour in Torquay. Now that I only have a couple months left before graduation, I have a long list of places I have yet to visit – do it sooner rather than later or you’ll be like me, desperate to tick every town off my list!
AccessAbility – this is a team of disability advisors within the umbrella of Wellbeing Services that can provide support, equipment and adjustments to ensure you excel whilst at the University of Exeter. For example, if you need extra time, a scribe or a laptop for exams, then these are the people to talk to. I wish I had used their support sooner to do more than just getting my extra exam time transferred from college. It turns out that university level academic work can highlight where you might need additional learning support, and by working with the University’s disability advisors, any extra support you need will be compiled into an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). I wish I had asked for my ILP to be updated sooner, as it would have reflected my needs to my lecturers and tutors as well as provided me with more structured support. If you think you may benefit from these support services, then definitely get in touch with an advisor and book a 1-1 appointment! I was so surprised at the level of support available at Exeter – it goes far beyond extra time in your exams, but in fact encompasses a variety of structures, such as self-certified extensions for coursework or extra breaks in classes, for example.
It is always easy to say all this looking back in hindsight. My biggest tip of all is do what feels right to you in the moment. If you think you can take on more activities, sign up for more societies. If you start to feel overwhelmed, respect your boundaries and decline some events to give yourself some breathing room. In my case, I may have missed out on Snowsports in my second year, but it opened up the opportunity for me to explore Exeposé (the student newspaper) and become the Print Sport Editor – if I did a sport on top of this, I may have burned myself out, so time management and knowing your limit is key! And if you think you need extra support, then seek it – it feels like a weight off your shoulders once you have everything you need in place.
How to prepare for the University of Exeter over summer…
Download apps
FIXR – know you will be going to events and nights out? Definitely download FIXR. This is a ticketing app and what most sports clubs, societies, and the Guild (Student Union) use to sell tickets. I don’t even remember how I knew to download it, but I was definitely late on the bandwagon for this one, so make sure you have this ready (and set notifications on so you can grab tickets – it is notoriously competitive to get into some events).
SafeZone – this is a University safety app that offers you first aid, immediate connection to Estate Patrol (the University’s security service), and the ability to report an emergency. This is crucial if you need assistance at all during your time at Exeter.
Facebook and / or Instagram – a lot of sports clubs and societies communicate with their members this way to detail training times or information about trips and wellbeing sessions.
Tip! When packing for university, save the back ache and leave the A-level textbooks behind. I promise you; you’ll never look at them (other than watch them collect dust on your shelf)! In the first year of most courses, the taught content is to get everyone up to speed and on the same level, so you may revisit familiar concepts to what you may have studied prior to university, but this will all be explained through particular readings and books that you may not have come across.
Learn how to cook and clean
This will save you time, effort, and phone calls to your parents asking what setting to select on the washing machine. Also have a go at cooking some meals at home so it is less overwhelming to learn in the first few weeks at university. When you next go on a food shop, have a look at how much things cost to give you an idea of what you could fit in your budget.
Reflection round up…
Some things to not worry about: there isn’t really a need to get ahead with any pre-reading before university (unless your course states you should). The introductory lectures will identify how to be effective with your reading and what readings you actually need to do. Try not to worry too much about homesickness or loneliness – most people experience it, and it’s completely normal! And finally, try to find a way that works for you to balance university work and social life – and if you ever need it, services like the Study Zone and AccessAbility are there to help you achieve your best, so make use of them!
The first year can seem like a lot, but once you arrive at the University of Exeter, you will be met with a seemingly infinite list of societies and clubs to join as well as a stunning city and surrounding area to scope out.
Final Tip! Make the most of every moment!