Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
my student loan is in
I am already dead.
I am already dead.
FRESHERS |OT| 2014 UK student edition
- Thread starter Rubbish King
- Start date
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Broken Joystick
At least you can talk. Who are you?
I don't get mine until a week after I start! CURSE YOU
The One Who Knocks
Member
I've stayed at the campus for the past two weekends and wow, it's like a ghost town so few people are here. It's quite a shame as there's almost nothing to do as a result.
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
I'm really hungover and I have two hours to doctor myself a bit
but this money is just sitting there
one minute I'm like
then the next I know I'm so screwed and it's gonna be impossible not to spend it
Dude chillax! It's freshers this week!!!!!!!!!!!! How about your halls? met anyone yet?
also buddy if you're feeling a bit lonely I prescribe posting in BritGAF
when I first moved to portsmouth I had no friends and I knew nobody, so I started posting in there and made friends all over the country! You can talk shit, or discuss your problems and everyone is really helpful and understanding. It's a great place to meet people and I have had so many wonderful experiences in there, now I don't post there much but man I can't wait to burn some cash on future BGAF meets (which are so fun to attend)
The One Who Knocks
Member
Haha, yeah I know but we've had our first week of lectures last week (and the orientation week the week before that) so the weekends are a bit of a step-down in comparison (even if Fresher's Week should more than make up for it). The accommodation I'm in isn't a halls though. It's a collection of residences, each of which contain 'houses', each of which contain six apartments that are shared between four to six people. I've met quite a few people living on-campus though, there was an outdoor movie night (Mrs Doubtfire) two weeks ago and a barbeque which was pretty good, and there's been a few nights out already which also have been fairly good. Have you met many yourself?
Winter John
Member
I used to love freshers week when I was a kid. Highlight of the year. So many new horny drunk chicks. It was like Christmas in a sweet shop. Anyway, word of advice freshers. Don't leave the packaging your new tvs and expensive electronics came in outside your front door. At this time of year the bad guys patrol student areas and your basically putting a big neon, "ROB ME" sign over your front door.
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
I haven't yet brah! I'm moving today though so I'll be sure to update! There's a bbq, scavenger hunt and a quiz later with prizes and it's all free so I'm gonna do that so I don't get wasted my first night
I'm properly hyped by my caffeinated and hungover state.. singing in the shower.. dancing around the house and just trying to kill time as in an hour, I set off to halls
useful advice, added to OP
The One Who Knocks
Member
Oh you very much should be hyped regardless of your state. To say it's fantastic is underselling it. You absolutely need to attend any event that has free food, or potentially has free food. It allows you to save so much money for night's out even if you're surviving off only one horrible burger and a slice of toast for the day.
Internet Celebrity
Member
Anyone starting at/at cambridge? PM if you have any questions for a 3rd year.
Otherwise, I hope you all have an amazing time. Freshers' is more about finding out embarrassing things that your body does when drunk than finding lifelong friends, so don't feel too disappointed if you have to wait a little longer for the latter.
Otherwise, I hope you all have an amazing time. Freshers' is more about finding out embarrassing things that your body does when drunk than finding lifelong friends, so don't feel too disappointed if you have to wait a little longer for the latter.
Whitechocolatekrispies
Banned
I'd just like to take this time to congratulate any of you who decided to take degrees with awful employment rates:
Congratulations, you fell for the illogical policies of a failed government who believes everyone should get into £40-50k debt so you can have a nice piece of paper on your wall.
University is a tool to better yourself, not an excuse to get wasted.
20. Psychology.
19. Religious studies and theology
18. Music
17. Sport & Business Management
16. English Lit
15. Advertisement
14. Business Management
13. English Language
12. Sociology
11. Events Management
10. Accountancy
9. Film Studies
8.Ancient History
7. Media Studies
6. Primary Education
5. French
4. History
3. Criminology
2. Sport Science
1. Geography (With an Employment after 6 months as low as 36%)
19. Religious studies and theology
18. Music
17. Sport & Business Management
16. English Lit
15. Advertisement
14. Business Management
13. English Language
12. Sociology
11. Events Management
10. Accountancy
9. Film Studies
8.Ancient History
7. Media Studies
6. Primary Education
5. French
4. History
3. Criminology
2. Sport Science
1. Geography (With an Employment after 6 months as low as 36%)
Congratulations, you fell for the illogical policies of a failed government who believes everyone should get into £40-50k debt so you can have a nice piece of paper on your wall.
University is a tool to better yourself, not an excuse to get wasted.
Internet Celebrity
Member
good lord
Winter John
Member
Don't listen to this man kids, he's dangerous and wrong. Your time at university/college should be spent having as much fun as you can get
Snarfington
Member
I used my first year split between studying hard and socialising.
I ended up with only four or five people I genuinely like hanging out with, and more people who I greatly dislike for the fact they had a shitty work ethic and copied all their work off others.
I realised later on that their shitty work ethic is 'cuz it's FUCKING FIRST YEAR. I got a £250 prize for high achievement (which still hasn't been paid into my account, tut tut) and have become my advisor's favourite, which will no doubt be great for connections. Still don't think it was worth it considering how insociable I ended up being.
Party hard in first year, folks. It gets harder, but you'll probably never have the chance to meet so many new people and form so many new bonds. I kinda blew it by working how I did in A levels and am gonna have to work super hard at meeting people this year to make it work, I think.
I ended up with only four or five people I genuinely like hanging out with, and more people who I greatly dislike for the fact they had a shitty work ethic and copied all their work off others.
I realised later on that their shitty work ethic is 'cuz it's FUCKING FIRST YEAR. I got a £250 prize for high achievement (which still hasn't been paid into my account, tut tut) and have become my advisor's favourite, which will no doubt be great for connections. Still don't think it was worth it considering how insociable I ended up being.
Party hard in first year, folks. It gets harder, but you'll probably never have the chance to meet so many new people and form so many new bonds. I kinda blew it by working how I did in A levels and am gonna have to work super hard at meeting people this year to make it work, I think.
Good thing I'm doing econ. One of the highest starting salaries. Moreover, if you're doing History at Oxbridge or one of the top universities, you're salary is not going to be limited because of the fact that professional services have targeted universities. So you might want to do a bit of research on your part too.
CyberPunked
Member
Whitechocolatekrispies
Banned
Half of recent UK graduates stuck in non-graduate jobs, says ONS
The validity of where you're going is another discussion. My point is that too many people are been encouraged to go to university just because. It offers them no real skills, employment opportunities and just leaves them stuck with large debt.
Worst still is the attitude pertaining to this situation, where University is viewed as a just an excuse for a 3 year piss up, degree is an after thought.
But yeah, fuck me for caring about the youth of our generation getting pushed into bullshit expensive degrees.
I did get a bit sidetracked here. Yes, I agree with your point to an extent, people don't understand the options outside university that they could be taking i.e. the Big 4 doing straight after accountancy programmes, more arts focused careers by going independent. etc. As for the motives, I think it's hard to assess which people are really wanting to go to study and the people who just wan to have 'fun only'. You can't start introducing limits to loans based on courses or universities (to ascertain the likely employment level) because that form of discrimination would be too large (you would be splitting up the supply of labour) and preventing the freedom to choose a subject. It's a hard issue that requires a bit more time into careers education at secondary school.
EDIT: But even then, careers education at such a early age is partly useless since people change their minds so much, and don't understand the weight of the job market at that age. But I think you partly understate the skills here. I think university is still a good life lesson into the world of adulthood. Now, could living alone and going straight into the job market do that better? I suppose so. There are so many issues surrounding this it's hard to improve on the current equilibrium.
Winter John
Member
Übermatik;129814427 said:
Yup. Don't go wandering across the meadows at night by yourself though, especially if you've been drinking.
Whitechocolatekrispies
Banned
Ooo multiple edits.
Gg
Holy fuck batman. Where'd you pull from? Limiting loans? Limiting subjects? Get out of here with that shit.
People should be educated correctly about further education. University has historically been an academic endeavour, lectures, studying etc. University educations doesn't give you the required skills for many if not the majority of jobs.
I learnt this the hard-way, basically starting from scratch with my career, realising I'm using probably less than 1% of my knowledge in my actual career, and I'm a scientist. Everything else has been learnt on the job, through the job and around my job.
Our government should be heavily promoting apprenticeships, trades and other incredibly important and useful jobs. Universities should be expanding into the industry more, providing far more in-depth planted degrees within companies.
Gg
Holy fuck batman. Where'd you pull from? Limiting loans? Limiting subjects? Get out of here with that shit.
People should be educated correctly about further education. University has historically been an academic endeavour, lectures, studying etc. University educations doesn't give you the required skills for many if not the majority of jobs.
I learnt this the hard-way, basically starting from scratch with my career, realising I'm using probably less than 1% of my knowledge in my actual career, and I'm a scientist. Everything else has been learnt on the job, through the job and around my job.
Our government should be heavily promoting apprenticeships, trades and other incredibly important and useful jobs. Universities should be expanding into the industry more, providing far more in-depth planted degrees within companies.
I've put that in the last part of my edit as well in the previous post. It sounded like you wanted to limit the students who were wasting government tax payers money since if students don't pay their debt after 20-30 years, it's wiped off. There are plenty of universities doing Industry with placement opportunities. Bath university have a placement year version on all their courses, Aston and the LSE are very heavily careers focused. The government have been promoting apprenticeships a lot more for the past few years, but I agree, more focus on alternative pathways and making the traditional subjects more attractive. But there's a balancing act with freedom. As long as students fully understand the risks with their chosen subjects and the associated job market, they should be able to pursue the degree options they want. perhaps not to my or your pleasure, but they should be educated with how they can create a lifestyle out of the one they chose. Entrepreneurship should also be a life long lesson taught to students or pupils. It's a perfectly valid startup path that isn't covered enough in schools or universities that can bring a much more balanced approach to the UK economic structure at the moment.
The key to all this argument is information asymmetry. Pupils aren't endowed with any knowledge off alternative sectors, risks and potential.
This advice is 100% useless for people who have just started freshers though, isn't it, which is who this thread is for.
Broken Joystick
At least you can talk. Who are you?
I'd say in the last few years, at least in the South West, they've definitely done this. Army jobs, ESSO apprenticeships, there's a huge focus on it around here.
Not to be a downer on us Freshers though, I'm moving in tomorrow, think I'm one of the last! I'll see if I can post pics of the room once I get there.
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
All moved in and my internet is at 100mb/sec
praise the lawd
no sign of flatmates though, gonna go to a bbq at 7 ^_^
Seriously, please don't bring your preachy bullshit in here, we're here to have a good time, not to listen to you moan about how the government has failed us. Go shout at a fucking wall if you're that bloody upset.
praise the lawd
no sign of flatmates though, gonna go to a bbq at 7 ^_^
haha FREE FOOD TONIGHT YEAHHHH
I'd like to take this time to congratulate you on being a massive bellend.
Seriously, please don't bring your preachy bullshit in here, we're here to have a good time, not to listen to you moan about how the government has failed us. Go shout at a fucking wall if you're that bloody upset.
engineering bros :fistbump:Woooww, go engineering!
thequickandthedead
Member
How much was the installment? I heard it's about 950.
The One Who Knocks
Member
There is a time, a place, and a tone to use in discussing this issue. Yes, it's important that people are aware of what they're getting into and the difficulty that may be encountered in the future, but it is absolutely not a polite, courteous, or decent thing to do after the individual has already decided to pick their degree and is getting ready to go to university, embarking upon a completely new experience filled with aspirations and worries. To so bluntly try and say "congratulations, you will get in debt and probably won't get a job", or to claim how largely useless large parts of university may be to somebody who is just about to start their independant adult life with university (or at least, independant in that it is nowhere nearly as tightly structured an environment as secondary school is) is flat out rude, cruel, and dispiriting (regardless of how 'true' or potentially true it may be). Such an eye-opener may have been welcome prior to their application, so people may be more aware of what they're getting into, but now, when the choice is made, is absolutely not the time to do so, particularly in an almost mocking tone (it is an even crueler time to do so if the individual is already aware of these issues, and chose these topics due to a genuine interest).
Similarly, yes, university is a place to better yourself, but social development is a substantial part of 'bettering yourself'. I would think very few who go to universty to do so simply to get wasted for three years and don't give the slightest damn about what they're doing (even if they are unsure of their direction in life, they chose the degree and can surely see the value in a degree, regardless of what it is). Just as it is not bettering yourself to drink with friends for three/four years and completely abandon your academic studies, it's also not bettering youself to remain an unsocial hermit studying all-day every-day for three/four years and completely neglect the many social events which occur and provide fantastic opportunities to form valuable bonds, find network opportunities, gain new experiences, develop life skills, and fully integrate yourself into university life. It's a balance. University isn't solely about studying, and it isn't solely about the social life; it's about both and one shouldn't neglect either.
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
Ow my fucking head
Snarfington
Member
Guerrillas in the Mist
Member
Avoid excessive drink mixing, and hydrate before, during and after drinking, and you'll be powering through the hangovers like a champ.
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
That's cheating
Much fun was hadIt begins. Had a good time?
velociraptor
Junior Member
Where do you live: London
Where are you from: London
What are you studying: Medicine
University: St George's University Of London
Sport of choice: Football
Console/Weapon of choice: PC or PS4
Favourite UK TV show: Sherlock
CBBC or CITV: CITV was the shit.
I haven't had much time for freshers... in fact, I haven't had much time for anything at all. I've got so much shit to study lol. Worst of all I have to cook and clean and wash my clothes on my own which seemingly takes hours. Does make you appreciate all that is done for you at home though, lol.
Where are you from: London
What are you studying: Medicine
University: St George's University Of London
Sport of choice: Football
Console/Weapon of choice: PC or PS4
Favourite UK TV show: Sherlock
CBBC or CITV: CITV was the shit.
I haven't had much time for freshers... in fact, I haven't had much time for anything at all. I've got so much shit to study lol. Worst of all I have to cook and clean and wash my clothes on my own which seemingly takes hours. Does make you appreciate all that is done for you at home though, lol.
Yep, I don't think I've ever had a hangover as long as I've downed at least half a pint of water before bed. It's just remembering to do it that's hard.
London south bank is severely underrated. Did my chemical engineering degree there and I've been employed since. Great facilities there as well which surprised me.
Broken Joystick
At least you can talk. Who are you?
Not too shabby for the next year !
securitypigeon
Banned
Man, so jealous of you lot starting uni. My advice: don't spend too much time in your room playing games. I did that too much, missed out on some fun shit. As great as Mass Effect 2 was, I regret making some of those choices!
You dick! Although I'm surprised to see Accountancy on here, that's generally well regarded as a safe major here in the states.
I'm surprised it's even on here, I usually see high rates of Accountancy employment rates.
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
I spent a serious amount of money
Rubbish King
The gift that keeps on giving
I'm loving my room
Broken Joystick
At least you can talk. Who are you?
I'm loving my room
Is that a TV or monitor?
Still debating a TV license, on one hand, well, TV. On the other, there's iPlayer, YouTube, Netflix etc. Plus, the majority of the time I'll be playing games so it won't matter.
George Oscar Bluth II
Banned
I'm loving my room
Took a school trip to a uni once (I think Brunel) and the room I saw looked like a closet. The ones posted here are miles better.
If you have a social area where it's possible it's worth buying a cheapish TV and splitting a TV licence. If there's enough of you it's pretty cheap, and being able to all mong out and watch Pointless and Come Dine With Me is worth it.
Probably not worth it for your room though, and you'd need a separate one if there are locks on the door.
War Peaceman
You're a big guy.
In a shared house, a tv licence is good for a communal area TV but not for halls/private uni accommodation. Sometimes you'll want people in your room, but it is best not to be stuck there as much as possible if you want to make friends.
Broken Joystick
At least you can talk. Who are you?
Thanks. There's already a small TV in the kitchen communal area, yeah we have locks on our rooms, was a bit confused with regards to that. As long as I'm not watching live TV, it should be fine to have a TV in my room but no TV license right? Like, just using it for watching DVDs and games and shit.
Certinty
Member
This is a bit off topic and is going to sound weird but i'll ask anyway. The last few years I've been to uni (Brunel) and I haven't really bothered making friends or attending clubs etc. Mostly to do with living with my partner and most of my time going on her, my friends from outside uni and what not so the uni part of my life was literally studies only and I was happy with that.
This year I sort of want to change that though, I understand it will be harder to meet new people since I'm living away and also been here a few years already but does anyone have any reccomendations? All I'm thinking of so far is joining some clubs and seeing what happens there. I'm still in my early 20s if that makes a difference.
This year I sort of want to change that though, I understand it will be harder to meet new people since I'm living away and also been here a few years already but does anyone have any reccomendations? All I'm thinking of so far is joining some clubs and seeing what happens there. I'm still in my early 20s if that makes a difference.
War Peaceman
You're a big guy.
Absolutely. But you do need one to LIVE stream from iplayer. Not for catchup.
Join relevant societies - for your course, for your interests, for something you want to check out for the first time. I'm assuming other unis do this, but societies tend to offer free taster sessions at the start of term. Everyone will be new, so your experience can actually be a conversation starter.
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