I'm concerned about University; require your stories and advice

[John 1987]

Well it’s getting near that time of my life were I have to enter the big wide world, I’m talking about leaving home and going off to University, I’m actually moving into my halls of residence this Sunday. I’m studying Politics at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, I chose this University over others due to the nice green and wide-open campus, and good reports of the City itself.

Now obviously I’m experiencing the same reservations as any other person who has gone through the same transition, with cooking and washing being high up on my worries. I can wire up the most technical 7.1 Home Cinema system, but put me in front of a cooker or at the controls of a washing machine and It may as well be a nuclear reactor for all I know. Another concern is meeting new friends, I know people keep telling me everyone else is in the same boat, but its still a concern. I also worry about being put with people I just can’t get along with during my first year in halls, or people that are unusually messy, or raid your food etc, you name it and I’m worrying about it.

I’m basically asking for your stories, your experiences, your guidance, hints and tips, anything that could come in useful during my University life e.g. cheap and easy food options, nothing is to insignificant.

P.S. Is Freshers week really all it is cracked up to be.

[Nobber22]

Go find your mother. Tell her you are ashamed of her for not kicking you up the butt sooner, then get her to show you how to cook rice, pasta and potatoes on the stove - no, not chips!. Ask her how to make a couple of stir-fry or Italian dishes you can put over the above starches.

Learn how long to boil various vegetables (kids these days do eat veges, right? ). Take your own fridge along and put a padlock on it.

[John 1987]

Go find your mother. Tell her you are ashamed of her for not kicking you up the butt sooner,

To be honest I'm more ashamed of myself for never learning anything. But your advice is all sound, I did hear my mum mention a crash course this week, but nothing as of yet.

Take your own fridge along and put a padlock on it.

We're technically not suppose to have them, at least not in our rooms, apparently they’re a fire hazard. We obviously have a communal fridge, but I can just imagine food simply being taking out of it without any regard as to who it belongs to.

[Bat-man]

The campus is just lovely and those ziggurat halls of residence are a treat. Plus the Sainsbury Arts Centre.
Don't think of all the possible negatives - try and think of all the probable positives!

[Londondecca]

I would buy one of those basic cooking books and quickly gain a strong control over your money. Remember nearly every other student will feel the same as you.

There is every chance you will love the next few years and as long as you do the work, you should come out with a good classification.

[Lawrenzini]

You've got to bare in mind that most guys at uni are looking to "experiment", so if anyone is unusually nice to you, you know what they're after.

Cooking is easy, when it involves a phone and cash....

Washing? Laundrettes are easy, they are virtually mongproof as they have been broken by idiots so many times that there are signs everywhere telling you exactly what to do. Also industrial washers only have 3 settings, one of those is off.

The best advice is get a girlfriend as quickly as possible, even if you have to settle for one who is less than desirable. Infact the uglier the better, then set her to task on all the other things your mother used to do for you.

[alexs2]

John...my own son has also just gone off to university,and had a few of the same worries as yourself(eating/cooking/making friends etc),and until a week or so ago couldnt cook anything more than baked beans.

Cooking might be an acquired skill,but washing up simply requires a bit of willpower and discipline to actually do it(one old university mate of mine had neither,and used to use all of the available pots,pans and cups in the flat until the rest of us had none,and then leave the ones he'd used until they grew mould).

Depending on the university,Fresher's week(or in my son's case fortnight ) is usually pretty good and well organised to get you signed on and then fed and drunk,although not in any sort of order.

In any case...he's been away for a few days now,and apart from telling us how busy he is,we've heard very little(apart from the bar noise in the background)

Relax and enjoy it....best years of your life etc etc.

[John 1987]

Thanks for all the advice, hugely useful and helps to ease my fears, keep it coming.

The best advice is get a girlfriend as quickly as possible, even if you have to settle for one who is less than desirable. Infact the uglier the better, then set her to task on all the other things your mother used to do for you.

Your not the first person to suggest that.

Edit:
Thanks alexs2, great post.

apart from the bar noise in the background

[Noggin1980]

No need to worry about making friends, there will be so many people there that whoever you are and whatever your interests you will find like minded people. Even the guy who you could hardly get to leave his room made good close friends after the first few weeks (I don't recommend that by the way)

Our hall served evening meals (though they wern't very nice) and most evenings we had pizza or kebabs. It was somthing rediculously cheap like 2 medium pizza's for a fiver delived (this is at nottingham uni) sure the quality wasn't high, but it did the job. I'm sure there will be low cost places like that near every uni.

You will have the time of your life at uni. If you are really worried about making friends a games console with a football, fighting and driving games will useually bring a few people into your room and will be fun too.

[C225]

I'm just starting second year and cant help you with anything about halls as i stayed at home(Don't see the point in paying 3 grand for accomodation when my house is a 15 min drive away from the best uni in scotland doing my course)

When it was my freshers week i did not enjoy it that much as i am not the type thats go out every night and get toatally hammered(rather save my money and buy AV stuff and video games) dont see the need for it a small drink now and again does me fine. That was the main reason i did not enjoy it very much.

About making friends i can garuntee you will meet at least a few people that are similar to you and you will get along fine. I was worried about meeting friends as well because i dont like to drink that much and everyone else seemed to want to drink constantly but have found a few good people who are like minded and we get along well.

[Woodywizz]

Best of luck for next week

It is a very nerve-wracking time but you do get used to it very very quickly. If you are in halls then making friends is not a problem - just remember that everyone is in the same boat as you and all of you will be cacking yourselves. Just go out and get hammered and you will make some good friends. You will also make friends on your course - also see if the Uni has a Home Cinema/Cinema society and join that.

Freshers week is great for meeting women, so take advantage of the situation

My Uni days were brilliant and I am very jealous of you....Relax and Enjoy

[krish]

Originally Posted by John 1987

I’m studying Politics at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, I chose this University over others due to the nice green and wide-open campus, and good reports of the City itself.

UEA also has/had a reputation for quality totty

Originally Posted by John 1987

Another concern is meeting new friends, I know people keep telling me everyone else is in the same boat, but its still a concern. I also worry about being put with people I just can’t get along with during my first year in halls, or people that are unusually messy, or raid your food etc, you name it and I’m worrying about it.

DON'T BE CONCERNED!!! Yes people will pinch milk, beer, wine, ribena etc... sometimes keeping as many of your items in one bag in the fridge can help; or get a beer fridge / small fridge and microwave for your room

Originally Posted by John 1987

I’m basically asking for your stories, your experiences, your guidance, hints and tips, anything that could come in useful during my University life e.g. cheap and easy food options, nothing is to insignificant.

Going back 16 years... my first week involved drinking, drinking, drinking, drinking, kebabs, spliffs and shagging from Friday

Originally Posted by John 1987

P.S. Is Freshers week really all it is cracked up to be.

Yes; and in the second year its called **** a fresher's week

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by krish

Going back 16 years... my first week involved drinking, drinking, drinking, drinking, kebabs, spliffs and shagging from Friday Yes; and in the second year its called **** a fresher's week

Exactly the same as me - including the time, although my shagging happened on the Wednesday

We also called it "**** a fresher's week" when in the second and third years.

[IronGiant]

Don't spend the first evening setting up your hifi, get out and meet people while you're still all dazed and confused at being away from home.

Dave

[ash]

Don't worry too much. Washing Machine is quite easy you know, jsut wash everyhting at 40 degrees for safety.

And also people stealing your food is the biggest problem really. Just try to be strict with them, maybe put your anme on the milk.

Here is a story for you, this guy kept having his drinks and milk drank from the fridge form friends et all that once this guy drank the milk and he was reading the box/carton and the owner wrote on the box that he had mixed his urine in it

http://thestudentroom.co.uk/index.php
Also check this place out, and go to the uni section, you will find people from your uni and the General Uni Discussion is good to talk about things liek this.