What I wish I’d known in first year

First of all, congratulations on getting a place to study here! Bristol is a beautiful city with lots going on and a lively student culture. You’ll no doubt make a great group of friends in no time and settle in for a fantastic 3+ years. 

With that being said, there are a few things I certainly would have appreciated knowing at the start of my time here— some tips and advice that I think would have made the process a bit smoother and my first year more rewarding. So, here goes!

Get involved

Yes, the Freshers Fair may be overwhelming, and you’ll probably end up on the mailing list of far too many societies – but that doesn’t mean you should instead spend the year hitting delete on every e-newsletter that comes your way. First year is a great opportunity to try out a whole host of new activities and it’s a lot easier than you think to get some real responsibility within a society.

Be more career-minded

We all know that having a degree is not enough these days. It is important to strike a happy medium where you are enjoying and interested in your extra-curriculars, but also benefitting from them and learning new skills. There are also plenty of university career resources that I didn’t make use of until my second year. I would particularly recommend going to workshops at the Careers Service and using JobShop to find part-time jobs and positions throughout the term or over the summer. Roles offered by the university are also great as they are far more flexible when it comes to lectures and exams, and they often pay generously! 

All the opportunities and resources are there; you just have to hunt them out. Be smart with your time at university and get as much as you can out of all that is offered.

Be proactive

Create opportunities for yourself – don’t just wait for them to come to you. In my second year, I began writing for Epigram— the University of Bristol paper— and tutoring GCSE English students with the Bristol Schools Plus scheme, and found that I enjoyed both of these so much that I wanted more involvement. I did a bit of research and applied to start a Her Campus chapter here in Bristol, as well as approaching a charity shop. I ended up having a really fun and busy year, and I wish I’d had the confidence back in my first year to seek out more opportunities.

If you’re struggling, ask for help

I started out doing a joint honours degree, but discovered very quickly that I really didn’t enjoy one of my subjects. I didn’t want to just give up straight away, so I tried to ignore how I was feeling and continue as normal without telling anyone or seeking advice. I ended up dreading class, hating my course and having a panic attack the night before the start of second year. It took almost an entire year from that point to be allowed to switch to single honours and if I could go back I would have reached out to my personal tutor sooner, and gone to see lecturers and seminar-leaders in their office hours. 

Some final words of advice: all-nighters are terrible – try and get into good study habits as soon as you can; get out and explore – there’s a lot more to Bristol than Clifton; don’t attempt the Cori Tap Challenge on an empty stomach… Have a great year!