Ok, so all sorts of rumours fly around when considering university. We’re here to bust some of these common myths and not only put your mind at ease, but get you excited about your potential university experience!
Here are some of the most common myths circulating the gossip forums:
1. You’ll need to be rich to go to university
Rubbish! Of course, nothing in life comes for free, but you don’t need to be Elon Musk to get through university.
It’s no secret that students have to live on a budget, but loans are available and to get the best experience possible from university, you may as well utilise them. You’ve also got the option of getting a part-time job and ordering an NUS Extra card to help make your money go further.
2. You’ll need to spend a fortune on new ‘stuff’ to take with you
This really isn’t the case. You should pack your bags with everything from home that you can’t bear to live without and buy everything else once you arrive. Your local supermarket will stock plenty of student essentials, and you don’t need to live in a palace anyway.
Make things comfortable for yourself but don’t go overboard - as long as you have the basics (pillows, duvet, clothes, a few pots and pans) you can accumulate as you go along - and you’ll be surprised by how much sharing goes on anyway!
3. Your first year doesn’t count towards your final grade
Sorry to break it to you guys, but effectively it does … you see, you have to pass your first year at uni to continue with the degree, which means it can’t all be partying and beer pong!
Use your first year to adapt to a new way of living and learning, and soak up all that you can to put you in the best possible position moving forward.
4. You need to get a 1st in your first year
And so the opposing rumour is that you have to be a super high achiever to get through the first year at university. Nobody expects you to be achieving firsts in your first year. Put it this way, if you are, then you’re absolutely flying!
Find a happy balance in your first year of trying hard but not burning yourself out. University is often a three or four-year journey - you don’t need to achieve everything immediately, and you certainly don’t need to stress yourself out pursuing firsts in your first year.
5. Freshers’ Week will determine your university friends
Freshers’ Week is a chaotic, busy, exciting, manic time, and the reality is that you’ll make friends with people during Freshers’ Week that you may never see again. Don’t be disappointed if these people don’t become firm friends immediately. Just enjoy that opening blast at university and use it as a time to realise this immense change in your life. Once you get into the swing of regular university life you’ll meet a whole range of people, some of which will become lifelong friends.
6. University is one big party
There are so many other things that university life can offer that don’t involve clubbing and getting drunk. Those that do nothing but party often either fail or totally waste their university experience, as well as a ton of money! Find a balance - that’s the best advice!
Whilst we recommend you try everything at university, if night after night in sweaty nightclubs and staying in bed until midday really doesn’t appeal then there are plenty of other social events and activities on offer. Check out the clubs and societies on offer at your student union!
7. You can’t get a job and still do well in your studies
You must remember that university is a life experience - you should allow plenty of time for study, though you may find that your academic record improves when you have a job too because it will help you get organised and prioritise your time. Working will ease money worries and give you something positive to put on your CV. It’ll be another great way to meet people and develop your skills too!
8. You’re going to spend your life paying back uni debts
Yes, you are going to have debt to pay back if you’ve taken out a loan to get you through university, but you don’t need to worry about bailiffs banging on your door after graduation. You’ll only start repayments once you’re earning £27,295 or over and those repayments are fixed at 9% of earnings over that threshold.
Nothing these days comes for free!
9. You need to find your second-year house ASAP
This is not an absolute priority when you first arrive at uni. You need to get to know people and decide which friends you are best suited to sharing with. Don’t rush into any agreements to live with people when Freshers’ Week is barely over.
Your university will be able to help with accommodation listings and many bigger universities even have accommodation fairs during the summer term before you leave for the holidays – so don’t panic! You can find your second-year accommodation in good time.
So, there we have it - ten very common myths about university busted! Don’t fall prey to rumours that may put you off going … just keep an open mind, do the research and go and do the very best you can in your new adventures!
