The summer before I started my first year at university, I remember scouring the internet for advice. Now that I have graduated, I feel that I am well equipped to pass my own thoughts and tips down to a new cohort. Now that summer begins to draw to a close and many people will be moving away for the first time, here are ten 'dos' and 'don'ts' that I wish I had been told before I started:

1. Don’t Bring a Million Plates and Mugs

I fell into the Ikea trap of buying lots of cute plates and mugs, and kitchenware, only to break them the first few months in, or eventually lose things when moving to new accommodation each year. Whilst you should treat yourself to some fun bits to make the move less daunting, remember not to go overboard - you probably won’t be hosting 18 people over for dinner.

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2. Do Research on Fun Things to do in Your New City

Whilst you are coming to university for education, you are also learning about yourself and what you enjoy doing. I found that if I was having a homesick day or was just down in the dumps, a good way of feeling better would be to have a ‘holiday day’. This is where I would have some time away from the library, and treat my city as though I were on a mini-break, googling the things that a tourist would do.

It doesn’t have to be expensive; lots of places have free exhibitions to go to or parks to hang out in. You could take yourself on a coffee date with a book, explore the local wildlife, or go to the cinema. Remember to prioritise fun that isn’t just waiting to drink and party at the weekends!

3. Don’t Compare Yourself to Your Classmates

I remember feeling like such a small fish in a big pond when I first started attending lectures. It seemed as though everyone else had read so much more on the topics being discussed and had been all over the world. It can be tempting to spend hours on LinkedIn stalking your coursemates and making yourself feel bad for not doing a million summer internships when you were 15.

However, whilst it took a lot of time, I learnt to flip this mindset - see your peers as a valuable tool to learn from. By listening to various perspectives on topics and asking for help from those who seem to ‘get it’ better than you do, you’ll begin to feel more sure of your own convictions. Your classmates definitely won’t be finding it as easy as they make it look.

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4. Do Get to Know Your Professors

I don’t think I spoke to a professor outside of the classroom once during my first two years at university. Looking back, I was wasting the most valuable resource that I was paying for. Had I been making the effort to ask for in-person feedback on essays, my grades could have been better, and I would not have felt as though I had to tackle my course alone.

At the beginning, I barely knew how to write an academic essay, and it would take me triple the amount of time to finish anything than it does now. I could have sped up the process of learning this by going directly to the experts. Also, I would have been aware of the vast opportunities offered by the university, such as work experience and extracurricular activities.

Once I started speaking to professors, I began to feel more prepared for post-grad life and more integrated into the university. Get your money’s worth!

5. Don’t Judge Everyone Based on First Impressions

I find it really funny asking my uni friends what their first impressions of me were. I’ve had some of my now closest friends say that I seemed really quiet or bored, and that they even struggled to know what to say to me. Now it couldn’t be further from the case!

Remember that people will be feeling nervous, or maybe that they feel that they have to pretend to be somebody they’re not in order to make friends. Wait to meet people a few times, and after the initial rush of freshers has passed. You never know who your future best friend could be, and don’t worry if you don’t hit it off with people straight away.

6. Do Keep in Touch with People Back Home

If you are lucky enough to have close friends back home, make sure to schedule time to call them or keep up to date on their lives over group chats. Whilst it is easy to compartmentalise these seemingly separate aspects of your life, maintaining relationships makes coming home for holidays easier, as it feels like less of a jump.

Also, whilst your friends at other universities may seem like they’re having an incredible time on social media, you never know who is actually struggling, so make sure that they remember you are only a phone call away. It is also really fun going to visit other universities, you may end up going to places you would have never thought to make the most of this opportunity.

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7. Don’t Forget to Slow Down

You will most likely be experiencing a lot of things for the first time, and meeting lots of new people. It is essential to remember to slow down, take time for yourself, and reflect on your new life. It will be over before you know it, so try not to wish anything away or neglect yourself.

8. Do Download Academic Material that Inspires You

As a student, you have access to such an array of academic content and websites. Something that I regret is not downloading all of my favourite papers to my computer. You won’t have the same passwords, etc., to log into academic sites once you have left university, and, believe it or not, you might feel a sudden urge to read about something from your course.

9. Don’t Feel Like You Have to Stay

Whilst university can be the best years of some people’s lives, it simply isn’t for others. Something that kept me going throughout university was reminding myself that nothing was necessarily keeping me there. Whilst this isn’t the case for everyone - some people might have pressure from family or not have the luxury of being able to move back home - remember that it isn’t ‘failing’ if you decide that you want to drop out. Prioritise your mental health and what works best for you.

10. Do Remember Why You Chose to Come Here

Whilst it is easy to get caught up in the chaos of university life, think of your past self who was probably so excited to be accepted into university and onto this course. Find small joys in learning more about your passions - and remember that if you aren’t feeling passionate anymore, you can always switch courses! You are paying a LOT of money for this education; remember to enjoy it.

University isn’t just about getting a degree; it’s about growing into yourself. Take your time. Be curious.

Stay open. And give yourself permission to start fresh, every day if needed.