Starting university is an exciting time but it can be stressful as well. Here’s all the things I wanted to know before I started four years ago and my answers to them now that I have four years of university experience.
What should I pack?
Leaving home can be stressful, whether you are moving into halls or a house it can be hard to know what to bring. But it can be easier to break it down into sections.
Clothes - perhaps the easiest to pack! You will need clothes you are comfy in for day-to-day lectures, but you might want to bring sports kit if you plan on joining a club or snazzy outfit if you like a night out. And don't forget warm and waterproof clothes as we head into autumn, Plymouth can get wet and windy.
Your Room – It’s easy to remember the key stuff but what about the little things? You will obviously need things like bedding, towels, your toothbrush but printing out a few photos of friends, family or pets and bringing your favourite band poster can help make your new room feel like home. If you have a particular teddy or something that reminds you of home then bring them along to keep you company, it may help if you are feeling any home sickness.
Kitchen - In my opinion always the hardest to pack! Think about what you like to cook and what sort of utensils you need. And remember to think about how many of each item you have, you probably don't need 15 plates!
Course Specific - some courses have specific things they need you to bring (for my undergraduate I needed wellies!). Check out your course information pages for more on what you might need.
If you forget something, don’t panic, Plymouth has loads of great shops or you can order it online.
What if I don't know anyone else going to Plymouth?
Don't worry, you won't be the only one! There are loads of ways to find new friends when you arrive. Spending time in the kitchen or other communal areas of your house is the perfect way to get to know new housemates. Student groups are also a great way to meet people with similar interests, come along to the freshers fears to find the group for you (or check them out here) You will get to know people on your course at induction sessions, maybe try to find someone who might want a friend to walk to lectures with. The SU are hosting faculty mixers as well; these are a relaxed event where you can come and find friends from across the faculty. If you can find someone a year ahead of you, they might be able to give you some tips for the year to come!
What if I don't know where a lecture is?
Luckily, campus is fairly small, although it may feel massive to start with. All the buildings are helpfully labelled but if you are struggling then you can access campus maps here or pick up a paper one at the student hub. Inside the buildings, rooms are mostly labelled with a three-digit number. The first of the three digits is the floor (0 being the ground floor then 1 being the first floor etc). The second two digits are the number of the room on that floor. Most of the time rooms are in a logical order and all rooms should have their number outside the door. Some lecture halls and rooms have names instead of numbers such as the Lecter Theatre and Jill Craige cinema in Rolland Levinsky building (RLB) and Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse in Portland Square (PSQ). If you can't find somewhere try asking someone walking past or head to the student hub.
Where can I go on campus if I am not in a lecture?
There are loads of student spaces on campus. The library is perfect for some quiet studying or group work or if you need a computer then there are plenty to use. The Green outside Babbage is a great space to enjoy the sun or grab some lunch at Loafers and sit on the SU roof or under the trees outside the Hive. If the weather isn't on your side the pop inside and enjoy the new sofas in the Hive and the Nest at the SU and grab a coffee at the Lounge. Every building has spaces to sit so try exploring and find your perfect comfy space for working, hanging out or grabbing food.
What about when I'm not in Uni, what can I do?
The city has so much to offer. The aquarium and the Box are great for a relaxing afternoon or head to the Hoe to skate, swim or just enjoy watching the boats. Explore the Barbican or the new Armada Way in the city centre if you enjoy shopping or to spend some time out of the city get the bus to Dartmoor or the ferry to Mount Edgecombe. Lots of clubs and societies run taster' sessions so maybe try out a new hobby or sport or go along to find new friends at a social. If the gym is your thing, maybe pick up a membership for the SU Gym which is right on campus but if swimming is more you, check out the free uni swims at the Life Centre. And if you simply don't know where to start, try making a bucket list of things to do and see or check out the discover page on the SU.
Don't forget you can join the WhatsApp Community for all the latest updates, find your new course mates and flatmates and ask any other questions you have. Check out the SU Instagram for more on what's going on in Freshers, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone to the University in a couple of weeks!
By Poppy, your President Faculty of Science and Engineering