Similar to a post I made a couple of months or so ago, but I feel as I coming to the end of my studies - I have another term left and a few weeks of this one, but no lectures, so it's basically over - I should pull together the final list.
Now, I'm all for people getting an education. By all means, fill out that UCAS form to your heart's content, because believe me, your tutors will not keep their traps shut about it. But: if you're a like me i.e. shy, quiet, several issues and find it difficult to make friends, I suggest you read this before you click on the submit button. Forget all the things your older siblings told you: YEAH IT'S AWESOME, I GOT SO WASTED EVERY NIGHT! YEAH! No. If you are me, that does not happen.
So here's my list of what happens at university. Enjoy. Nb. Please take with a pinch of salt - it's not ALL bad ...maybe 60% crap.
1. Attendance isn't mandatory (well it is, but not legally)
Forget all that crap about how you had to attend school because it was the law - it doesn't apply here! And it's wonderful. You don't even have to give an excuse, just, don't turn up. It's awesome. But really, if you're paying for it, you might want to turn up once in a while. Especially if your modules take your attendance into account for your final grade.
2. You'll realise you have 0% tolerance for 99.9% of people
As definite as death and paying taxes, you WILL work with assholes, and you WILL have some idiots in almost every seminar you go to. And even if you're the most patient person in the world, you won't be after this.
3. Group work is the be-all and end-all
You'd think because you're paying 18 grand of your money that your degree is all about you doing your own work. No. As above, you'll have to work with assholes because you're still apparently 8 years old and get easily distracted if work with people you can actually stand and get on with. And you'll hear "But in the workplace you'll have to work with people you don't get on with" about a thousand times. That's true, but you get paid for that.
4. Your smart phone will be your best friend
All I can say is, if you don't have a smart phone - get one. Facebook, Twitter, Angry Birds, Chalk Ball, Fruit Ninja, Words with Friends, whatever, they will all be seriously overused by the first few weeks when your lectures start to piss you off. Just put it on silent.
5. There are no jobs
The sad truth is this. There are no jobs. Triple dip recession here. Think of this way - how many people study your course? Think about how many people are studying that same course at all the other universities in the country, plus those who study it abroad. That doesn't leave many jobs at all. If you have a part time job at uni, put away some of your wages if you can, and have something lined up for when you leave, even if it's a voluntary job.
6. There will be plenty of people annoyingly smarter than you
It'll happen. You'll be insanely happy over the B you got in your assignment, then the teacher's pet of the group gets an A+. You'll only just have got your dissertation ethics back - with conditions you need to sort out - they'll be almost done with data collection. You can do nothing, apart from silently hate them.
7. There will also be plenty of people who you'll wonder how the hell they got to uni in the first place
The other end of the spectrum, there'll be several people who really shouldn't be at university. Whether they don't know basic stuff you learned at A-level, if they're in third year and still don't know how to reference properly, or even just soul crushingly unorganised they barely meet deadlines, they will be there.
8. For a shy person: First year is hell
Sorry to say this, but if you're shy and don't make friends easily, first year will not be fun. I never went into halls because I don't like fire alarms going off at 5am, aside from other things which is part of my problem. But seriously, if you're studying at a uni nearby and staying at home, it's not gonna be the best year of your life.
9. You'll realise how much you miss school
Teachers being more lenient with deadlines, drawing shit for your coursework and still getting an A, living rent free with your parents where your meals are cooked and your laundry's done, you'll miss school. The only area where uni wins is 1. the fact you can legally drink and 2. the fact attendance is not mandatory.
10. You'll realise how much your mum did for you and that she's awesome
She kept you for 18 years, and suddenly you're on your own. Paying rent and spending your own money on groceries. And cleaning, and cooking, doing laundry, paying bills. My mum did too much for me and I only realised that once coming to uni, it makes you appreciate her even more.
11. You'll realise you're essentially paying for three years of stress and anxiety
Ultimately it comes down to this. All-nighters on assignments, worrying about grades, what you'll do afterwards etc etc causes sheer panic all round. Happy studying!
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