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Friday 21 August 2015

GOING TO UNIVERSITY- THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST




Getting into university is one thing but for some it also means getting ready to live away from home for the first time, which can feel quite overwhelming! Being prepared and equipped in advance will help ensure that your transition into this new independent world is much smoother! 
But when it comes to packing I know some of you might thinking - 
'where/how do I even begin?!'  
The key to successful packing starts with a checklist so you can keep up to date and tick off what you have, and find out what you need. 

Here is my checklist that I always use to help make my packing easier and more efficient. You can make alterations depending on your gender and personal preference.



DISCLAIMERS: 
1. Do you need absolutely everything in this list? No. 
It's more like the everything-I-could-possibly-think-of-list so feel free to add and eliminate items depending on your personal preference
2. It is also important to note that every university is different. Depending on the type of accommodation you have, you may find that certain things such as:
  - iron and ironing board
  - kettle
  - microwave 
  - hoover
  - dustpan and brush
may/may not have already been provided for you, but I would advise checking the specifications for your exact accommodation so you can be sure of what you need and what you don't need
3. Depending on the distance of your uni you may find that you may/may not be able to make frequent trips home in or between the holidays so that will determine how many things you take when you first move in e.g. you may only want to take winter clothes for the first term then swap them for summer clothes after the holidays. It's entirely up to you.
4. Keep within a budget. Don't go and splash crazy amounts of cash on pots and pans, particularly as you will be living with strangers. Most essentials can be found in your local Argos, Ikea, Wilkos, Robert Dyas, TK Maxx, Primark or Debenhams. Ask current university students where to find the best bargains!

TOP TIP: Start with what you actually need, then you can add additional accessories and luxuries




 THE ESSENTIALS
These are the things you will definitely need all year round and are the primary items you will need for employment, financial or emergency purposes:




FIRST AID
You can never be too safe. Accidents do happen (I ended up in hospital due to a frozen bacon accident in my first year-long story lol) so it's important to be prepared. Particularly if you have any allergies or prescribed medication make sure you take them with you.
Note: Find out where you're university medical centre, security office and local hospital are so you are well prepared in case of an emergency.




BEDROOM
This is essentially your home away from home for the next 9 months so you can customise it as much as you would like! (but check your accommodation guidelines first) Remember you could be sharing a flat with people from the other side of the world and its amazing to see how each individual brings different personal touches to their room. No two rooms look alike once people are settled in! Get creative! Stack your shelves with essential books and photos and keep your environment clean and organised-it will make working in there a lot more appealing!
Note: Some people often like to bring a games console and TV/monitor for movies too (but make sure it doesn't take over your studies lol). 
Also, if you wish to watch actual TV make sure you get a TV license (which usually incurs a small fee)


CLOTHING
Make sure you take all the essentials (such as underwear) with you. Then depending on distance from home and how often you will visit, room size and space, cost and access to travel etc. you can decide how much more you can afford to bring.

BATHROOM
What people choose to keep in their bathroom varies, but I would definitely advice always keeping spare shower gel, deodorant and toilet roll to avoid any cringe worthy moments!


HAIR, MAKEUP AND ACCESSORIES
Obviously this is solely targeted at the ladies, but guys may also want to have a read so you don't forget your shampoo, dryer or hair gel too!

LAUNDRY AND CLEANING
The laundry system in every university is different so its important to find out the policy for your accommodation. You may find that you need to have cash on hand to do your laundry or that you have a card top up system. You may even decide to just do your laundry at home. Once you get into a routine you will soon find out what works best for you.


STATIONARY
Lectures, seminars and independent study are key parts of getting through university. So make sure you stay well equipped and on top of your game.


KITCHEN
This is usually the place where you will meet most of your flatmates and will often be the place you gain the best understanding of personal space and respect. Most halls provide at least two fridges and freezers in each flat as well as cupboards for each individual. However, it is still important to keep a close eye on your property and it might be work investing in a lock for your cupboards to prevent theft and accidents. 
TIP: make your property distinct with labels or by purchasing non-conventional coloured cutlery and plates so you will notice if something has been misused or misplaced.  




I hope you found this checklist helpful and feel free to send this checklist to anyone else you might know who is about to move into university halls.

God bless


Iz x

Thursday 13 August 2015

RESULTS ARE IN- WHAT'S NEXT?

Results day can often be an experience of either joy, confusion or sadness depending on how it goes for you.
College/Sixth form results day are often considered to be the most scary as to some degree they finalise your destination for the next 3+ years by determining which university you will be going to and whether or not your grades have confirmed your place on your selected course.

Here are some helpful tips for results day:
tute.com

1. Make sure you know in advance where you will be collecting your results from
2. If collecting them from your College/Sixth Form make sure you know what time it opens and closes on that day
3. Ensure that you know in advance who would be best to speak to if you have any issues or concerns
4. If you cannot collect your results in person, make sure you know what your alternative options are and make the necessary arrangements e.g. have them sent home
5. Once you have collected your results make sure you know what your next steps are e.g. confirm enrolment and accomodation at your chosen university
6. If you are concerned that you may have to go through Clearing, it’s a good idea to pick up a copy of the Telegraph newspaper, as this is the only paper that publishes the full list of Clearing places available


The most important things to take with you are:
- notepad
- mobile phone
- calculator (to add up module marks)
- UCAS Letter containing your UCAS number and conditional grades
- Contact details for your firm and insurance Choice




Now as I'm sure you know results day can end differently for everyone. Here are some of the classic scenarios you can be faced with and how to deal with them:


All cartoons created with Bitstrips
Yayy! Congratulations on getting into your first choice university! Phone your friends and daily and tell them the great news! Celebrations are most definitely in order! But first, make have you have confirmed your place (and your accommodation if you will be living away from home). Your university will usually email/post you a set of instructions informing you how to go about this! Once that's complete and you've settled from all the excitement its time to start preparing! This means starting to buy the necessary books and other essentials you may need (blog post on this coming soon) and planning how/when you will be moving in to your new home!



Before giving up all hope check your status on UCAS Track It is still possible that your firm choice university may have accepted you with slightly lower grades than your conditional offer! If it hasn't updated you can call up the university to find out if you have been accepted. If so, congrats!

However if this isn't the case but you have been given a place at your insurance university sit tight until they send you the necessary information on how to confirm your place and anything else you may need to do. You will also need to complete a change of circumstances (CO1) form for your Student Loan so they are aware of which institution you will now be attending. In this circumstance though you may or may not be thrilled, it is still awesome that you are going to university! It will still be a life changing and wonderful experience filled with new adventures so confirm that place and get preparing!


That's awesome! You should be thrilled!  and I'm sure your friends and family are super proud! You now have two options:
1. If you're happy with your firm choice and definitely wish to go there confirm your place and continue celebrating as you prepare for the new and exciting chapter ahead!
2. If you now wish to apply somewhere else or want to study a different course you can do so through a process called Adjustment. Full info on adjustment is available hereEven if you try adjustment but don't find anything, that's ok! you can still keep the course you gained on results day! But keep those  newly acquired grades on your CV so you show future employers your hard work! 




Do not panic! All hope is not lost! 
The first thing to do is to check your status on UCAS Track- you may find your insurance place may have accepted you even with lower grades!
If not, you will need to enter the Clearing process which means it may still be possible for you to go to university. Full info on this can be found here. If this doesn't work out for you may want to consider retaking some of your A Levels (or equivalent) to get into your preferred uni or look into the alternative options to attending university. However, if you think your grades are inaccurate you can opt for getting your exams remarked. Though this isn't a free service you will be reimbursed if your grades improve but bare in mind they could potentially go down too. 




Awesome! In some cases you will offered a full or partial scholarship or bursary depending on your chosen course and location of study and your household income. Make sure you check out the terms and conditions of your offer so you're fully aware of what you're being offered and what you need to do. 







If you did not apply for a deferred position make sure you contact the university to let them know you have decided to defer your offer.
In the meantime start planning and making arrangements for what you plan to do in your gap year- 
work experience? volunteer? travel? internship? The possibilities are endless!




Once we get over the excitement this is how a lot of us feel. And its completely normal! Living away from home as a university student is a big step and literally throws you into a whole new world of independence and opportunity as well meeting loads of new people of all ages from all walks of life! Though that may be a daunting thought, trust that you will eventually  settle in and will surprise yourself and how you handle your new found independence. If it helps, asks people who have recently completed their first year or graduated for any tips or advice they have to offer to help you feel much more prepared! But rest assured it will soon become your home away from home and you will love it!


I hope this helped you all with handling the whirlwind of results day and no matter what person you feel you identify with the most, remember God has got you and everything happens for a reason. Your grades do not determine your life's fate, God does so just trust in Him, be obedient and work hard and you will be fine! And feel free to contact me should you need any advice or if you have any questions!

Iz x


stay tuned for my next post : Preparing for Uni-Let's Get Packing !

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