THE SIX THINGS EVERY FRESHER WORRIES ABOUT AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM

Hello you,

I’m Hannah and I’m so happy you’ve grabbed yourself a copy of this e-book ahead of beginning your uni adventure. I work for The Student Room, helping students like you with their applying to uni questions and uni life worries. I’ve created this little guide with the TSR team to help you manage any pressure you might be feeling and help you make the exciting transition to uni as smooth as possible.

My advice has also been published in the Independent, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Times Higher Education and last year I spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live and ITV's This Morning, advising students and parents on A-level Results Day. When I’m not online I work as a qualified psychotherapist and hypnotherapist. I help people achieve freedom from their anxiety, confidence issues and trauma.

If you’re feeling worried about uni, don’t worry, you’re going to be just fine. If I can do it, you can too, I promise. My applying to uni journey was full of anxiety, hard graft and faith – it was all worth it! At the time, I wasn’t just facing my A-level exams that summer, I had GCSE maths retakes to contend with and a family crisis. I felt a ton of pressure that at times seemed overwhelming. I learned that I couldn’t cope with this by myself and, riddled by panic attacks. I confided in a teacher I trusted and my parents. It was such a relief to be open about the emotions and stress I was dealing with. I learned that feeling this way wasn’t a weakness, it was a sign that I really cared and that I wanted to make the most of the opportunities ahead of me.

Well, I ended up having an awesome time at uni. My strategy for settling in was to be brave and meet like-minded students - being

busy outside my studies gave me the routine I knew that I neededto thrive on campus. When I arrived, I realized that everyone had

worried about this stuff too. We’re all human, right?!

It will all feel easier though if you do feel prepared to make the jump, so to make things super straightforward for you

I’ve shared the six simple ways to combat the worries every Fresher has on their mind. I hope it helps!

Good luck! Hannah x

Universities are full of support services and activities to help you settle in and manage your workload, help yourself by finding what’s on offer and grab it with both hands.

When you’re feeling a bit wobbly remember that you did well enough in your exams that you've now got a place at uni.

First year is about finding your feet, getting your head around your course and navigating the library and online journals.

THE SIX THINGS EVERY FRESHER WORRIES ABOUT AND HOW TO HANDLE THEMStudents told us about the bits of uni life they were feeling most anxious about. Here’s the most common worries and how to get a handle on them so you’re all set for Freshers.

FRESHER WORRY #1: THE COURSE WILL BE MEGA-DIFFICULTWhen you’re taking a leap in to the unknown, it’s natural to feel nervous about how you’ll find the course, whether you’ll cope and whether it will live up to your expectations.

THINGS TO REMEMBER NOW:

If you ever feel like you're struggling with the course, talk to your personal tutor, or one of your lecturers.

Ask your personal tutor to connect you with an older student who will be able to talk to you about their own experience.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

For the latest Fresher’s advice visit www.thestudentroom/freshers

Every fresher arrives at uni knowing absolutely no-one. It's the one thing that every single new student has in common with each other: everyone is meeting for the very first time!

Connect with applicants on The Student Room uni forums

Search for fresher uni groups on Facebook

Check out the online welcome week events calendar for your

uni when it goes live

FRESHER WORRY #2: I’M WORRIED I WON’T MAKE ANY FRIENDS

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GO:

Chat to as many people as possible in the first few weeks, acting confident will make you feel more confident.

Don’t panic if you don’t meet your new best mate on arrival.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

Leave your bedroom door open so new housemates can pop in to say hello.

Sit down next to someone sitting alone in your first lecture and start a conversation. They’ll be so grateful and it will make you feel good too.

If you’re not living at uni, find the freshers events happening on campus and get involved before you start lectures.

Lots of applicants are worrying themselves about this, thinking that they're going to have to put on an act or change their personality in order to fit in.

FRESHER WORRY #3: PEOPLE WON'T ACCEPT ME AS ME

Take a look at the Student Union website before you start and check out student groups and societies on offer. Finding a few things that you’re interested in now will help you to get excited.

Remember you’ve always had friends, going to uni won’t change that.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GO:

Make the most of fresher events and pop along to the society and sports fairs, this is the quickest and easiest way to meet people you have something in common with.

All student groups and societies will have drop-in events, go to as many as possible, it’s free and a lot of fun.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

University isn’t cheap, it’s also probably the first time you will have had to manage your own money.

FRESHER WORRY #4: I’M GOING TO BE BROKE

Try to save some cash over the next few months if you’re working

Sign up for a student bank account that gives you a student railcard for free so you visit home and tour the country visiting your mates at their unis for next to nothing.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GO:

After you’ve finished your exams start creating a budget plan for rent, food, travel and socialising.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

Don’t blow your student loan in the first month

Save pounds my making a packed lunch every day

Get a student-friendly part-time job on campus

This is pretty natural and a worry everyone has; after all a lot of people are moving away from home for the first time.

FRESHER WORRY #5: I'M GOING TO GET LONELY

Keep homesickness in check by creating family and friend WhatsApp groups. A quick FaceTime can fix everything.

Pack some home comforts, and plenty of photographs of the good times to make your new room feel homely.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GO:

Organise a housemate social asap.

Book in a weekend road trip to visit your best mate at their uni at the end of October.

THINGS TO DO AT WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

Chat over to the phone to family and friends regularly.

Use the university welfare services like Nightline if you want to get it off your chest in confidence to someone impartial.

If you feel like you’re prone to feeling anxious, a healthy, mindful strategy is going to be really important for you when you arrive at uni. The most important thing to do is to manage your physical health by doing these eight things:

Universities and student unions are brilliant at providing peer-to-peer welfare services, alongside professional counsellors and therapists. If you're struggling, don't pretend like you aren't. Universities have a lot of support available to you, often including free counselling and guidance, so don't be afraid to ask for it. Find out what uni life is really like here www.thestudentroom.com/studentlife

FRESHER WORRY #6 IF I GET REALLY ANXIOUS HOW WILL I COPE?

Pack some earplugs, a good night’s sleep will make all the difference.

Eat three meals a day and have a snack in your bag for in-between lecture munchies. Crashing sugar-levels will only feed your nerves.

Keep hydrated, always carry a bottle of water in your bag.

Move and get sweaty. Exercise releases plenty of happy hormones.

Regular check in with the people you love, a phone-call a day really helps at the start.

If you’re partying hard, make sure you get a good night sleep the next night and eat well. Hangovers and feeling over-tired can leave you feeling anxious and icky the next day.

Create a new routine and stick to it. Feeling in control will make you feel great.

Do what you love, you don’t have to leave your favourite activities at home, bring them to uni with you. The familiarity will help you feel more like you.

Visit the Student Minds website www.studentminds.org.uk to find out about their peer support courses for students, and how for links to useful support services at university.

STUDENT MINDS WEBSITE

Why it's okay not to go clubbing at uni

The pressure of first year having to be the “best” year of your life

Freshers’ Week, for the anxious introvert

Taking care of your mental health when you start university

Worried about starting uni? You’re not alone!

USEFUL RESOURCES FROM STUDENT MINDSThe UK student mental health charity recommends these resources for helping you in your transi-tion from school to university. Check them out!

HOW TO COPE WITH STUDENT LIFE GUIDEStudent Minds and Mind co-wrote this handy guide to all aspects of mental health and student life.

DISCLOSURE BLOG SERIESThis is a series of blogs on the UCAS site explaining why you should disclose a mental health difficulty, the benefits of disclosing, and your rights for disclosing at university.

UNIVERSITY MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORS NETWORKUMHAN provides a wealth of information explaining your rights to support as a student.

STUDENT MINDS BLOGSThere’s a range of real life student blogs about difficulties and expectations during the transition to university, including: