Firstly, I'm sorry that I haven't posted for a while. I know that that wasn't the plan, but I have had a rough few weeks with some stuff that has happened. I didn't want to publish a post for the sake of it as I want to make sure that my posts are up to standard for you all especially considering these recent ones are aimed at helping those of you transitioning into university in the next month or so. I hope that's understandable.
Let's get to it!
Whilst you shouldn't over plan, it's also not a good idea to go in knowing nothing either. Therefore, being aware of what you should already have put in place along with the various events taking place should settle you a little bit more. That way you can arrive, sort out the basics and then pick and choose how you would like to spend your time.
Whatever you choose to do take advantage of your Welcome Week to familiarise yourself with your department, the university, and the local area. After all you will be here for the next 3-4 years or possibly more! Especially take advantage of this week if you're a Warwick student as this year is only the second Welcome Week the university has organised. Yep - it didn't use to be a thing until last academic year!
Some of the points and events presented in this post are related and specific to Warwick University but most of the following points can be applied to university activities and exploring the local area in general. If you're an incoming Warwick Student I have included hyperlinks to pages throughout this post which you may find useful.
- Download the University App!
If you haven't already downloaded your university app, you should do it now (links to the Warwick one: Google Playstore / iOS Store).
The Warwick App has everything on it including: Timetable, a Campus map, email inbox, bus and shuttle bus schedules, events, free working spaces, printer credit, and even traffic news. Through this app you will also get Tabula notifications of assignment deadlines, feedback, any important university alerts, and any last minute timetable changes or notices will be sent through by your department.
I presume that other university apps will be fairly similar. - Societies Fair/ Sports Fair
Have a look around to see what's on offer whether you're planning on joining some or not. It's recommended that you should join at least 2 societies or clubs. Do remember that not every single society will be able to present themselves, so check your uni's SU website for a full list of societies or sports clubs. Even then there may be some missing! This tip is from experience: take your time to find the right one and don't feel like you have to rush into any commitments. I know that joining societies and sports clubs at Warwick in particular can be quite an expense at Warwick with having to purchase a compulsory £20 Society/ £32 Sports Federation Fee(s) to join most societies/clubs with individual membership fees and any required deposits. I've had a whole year to explore and still haven't found the right one. - Warwick Volunteers
If you're not into sports and the whole society thing doesn't work out too well, there's the option of volunteering. Some universities having a volunteering system in place with volunteering projects of all kinds available to sign up for. They range from tutoring, buddy-ing, raising awareness of issues such as educational disadvantage and homelessness, health and social care, crafts and much more! See Voluntary Action Coventry for those near the local area and Warwick Volunteers for Warwick Students (there's a Volunteering Fair on the 4th of October for you to explore some of these options). If you need any help, try and contact your university's/ department's careers team to see if they can offer any advice - Mental and Physical Health
Taking care of your mental and physical health should be a top priority.
There are three main parts to this point:- Students are recommended to have the following vaccinations BEFORE arriving at uni: in particular Men ACWY and MMR, whilst some universities also recommend getting vaccinated against HVP (offered to females during secondary. I believe males will also be offered it from September 2019) and TB if you are an international student. These are precautions to protect not only yourself, but students and staff around you to.
- Register with a Medical Practise as soon as possible. If you are within a reasonable distance from home and can access your GP if you need then this may not be necessary. Warwick students should have already been registered at one of the on-campus practises at the Health Centre.
- Take a look at the services offered by the university's Wellbeing Services. This may not be something you think you will need, but you never know. It's good to be prepared. Also see what support is offered by your home department. If you have informed your university of any diagnoses, you should have already been provided any relevant information to reassure you that you will be adequately supported. If you are a Warwick student, here's the Study Happy
scheme run by Warwick Library to encourage students to take a break and
focus on your wellbeing. They run various events every week from PAT visits, to crafts and language exchanges.
- Attend Talks and Tours
I am aware that in some other blog posts or YouTube videos students will tell you that it's not worth attending these talks. Personally, I did find some of them helpful although it depends on how they are arranged and what is covered in them. That being said if you don't have anything else to do with your time, you won't lose anything from going. The main one you should attend in your department induction which will give you a clear run down of your course and what is expected of you. There will also be optional talks provided by your university Wellbeing and Support Services, and possibly the Careers staff whilst tours may take you around the library and its resources, the campus, the city and nearby areas, and to your nearest supermarket. - Sales and Markets
At Warwick we have little stalls and markets which come onto campus selling a variety of different items. There are frequent clothing, posters and paintings, decorations, and snack sales in the SU Atrium. My favourite is the house plant sale on the Piazza around October. I'm already looking forward to getting some more 🌵 to join the group! There's also the monthly Food Market on the Pizza, which you may remember coming across if you have ever come to visit Warwick on an open day. Keep an eye out for poster advertising these events. - Explore the University Library (or Libraries!) and Study Spaces
It took me a while to figure out where the books were and how to find books using the codes. It's useful to know this sort of stuff beforehand when you have free time, so when you need a book you don't spend hours trying to figure it out. If you're an incoming Warwick Student the PDF file on this page explains the system well and each department has their own personal librarian. Also, those moving shelves are scary at first, but you'll get used to using them! If you need any help, don't be afraid to ask the staff. I was at first to, but the library team are really friendly. You can follow them on Twitter and Facebook for updates to!
Unfortunately, Warwick only has one library so getting a space there is quite a nightmare if I'm going to be honest. However, there are study spaces in the University House, Rootes Building, and cafe/ seating areas so you can try those to, but they are usually quite full as well. If not try your department's common room or use an empty seminar/ lecture room. - Subscribe to The Study Blog
This one is specific to Warwick students, but students from other universities will find the information posted on the blog helpful as well. The Study Blog is run by Warwick Library and consists of various topics whether that be transitioning into university, academic,
exam and revision tips, general wellbeing and self-care, or navigating the university library. I would suggest subscribing as a lot of them contain very useful information to help you not only with your studies, but activities external to university, and will give you information about events and the uni which you didn't already know about. Most unis also have a student blogging platform where students from different departments and year groups share their tips and experiences so it's worth keeping an eye out for that to.
The Study Blog - Bus Routes
It's nice to be able to get out of campus and explore the area every-so-often. Figure out what the main bus service provider in your area is and prices of tickets. Be careful as some buses will not provide you change if you pay in cash. Some services allow you to travel as much as possible with their service for a certain amount when you use a contactless card. During the Welcome Weekend at Warwick the Coventry Express will be in the SU Atrium handing out leaflets with bus routes and bus numbers. Be sure to grab one - it will come into use! Warwick conveniently has a bus interchange just behind the Arts Centre with timetables listed if you need to check, but the buses comes quite frequently anyway. - Explore the Local Area
If you're in a big city like London, I wouldn't think about it too much. There's so much to see and do it can be overwhelming. It's quite easy to travel around London to, so you can decide to go out one day and just go, which can be great if you like spontaneity! However, the West Midlands in quite small and I wish I had did a rough little tour of it during my first few weeks there so that I would have been brave enough to venture off during free days or whenever I wanted a break from the university 'bubble' as we call it.- Coventry - shopping in the city centre, museums, Coventry & Warwick BBC studios, the Cathedral Ruins; St. Mary's Guildhall is supposed to be lovely.
- Birmingham - Bullring and Grand Central, Botanical Gardens, Library of Birmingham, German Christmas Market, conservation parks ... There's a whole city to explore!
- Warwick - Kenilworth and Warwick Castle, and many beautiful nature parks and gardens.
- Leamington Spa - loads of shops and where student go out to party. I've been told that there are some little independent shops to and there's a nice large green park/ gardens there. Make sure you cross it as there's lots on the other side (another mistake I made!).
- Explore the SU Website
Warwick SU Website
There's not much else to say about this point. Everything you need should be on there, whether that be looking for societies and clubs to join, tickets for student events, information and support the uni can provide you with academically, with housing, your wellbeing, and financially, information on employment, disciplinary procedure outlines (hopefully you won't be needing that!)... You know the drill. Have an explore when you're free. Follow your SU on their social media accounts for updates to! - Social Events
The first activity that normally comes to mind when you think of students and university is clubbing, parties and drinking. Whilst that does appear to be the most common social event, there's more to it. Remember that social can be volunteering, going on a group walk, sitting down in a cafe, cooking with friends and watching a movie together, and even group study sessions. Social refers to any situation whereby you're interacting with people, not just having a wild night out. I know that Warwick and other unis also hold group gatherings and quiet activities such as crafts during Welcome Week and throughout the year for ethnic minority groups, those within and who support the LGBT community, those travelling from off campus, accommodation meet ups so that you can meet people who have a common ground as you do. Unfortunately, I believe that there still needs to be a lot more thought into social events for those who don't like partying during welcome week and during society outings. - Explore Campus
This is probably less applicable to those who are attending a city university, as the whole city is technically your campus, with your contact hours being in the same budding/area! However, if you have your lessons all over campus and not in one specific area or building, one thing I like to do before lectures start is to go around and find all the rooms my classes are in. Also find study spaces so that you don't walk around for ages trying to find them when you need to; then
there's the library, sports centre, cinema, and the post office (Warwick students - it's in Westwood and don't take the long way like I did for the whole year. Take the route past Tesco). Other than that, campus universities all have some beautiful hidden areas. Why not go out and explore them?
If you're coming to Warwick you have to visit Lakeside and Heronbank. It's beautiful! There's also a lovely area outside Maths and Stats buildings opposite Claycroft where the geese like to swim around and sleep, Tocil Wood is peaceful and there's also Bluebell Path/ Wood which I'm yet to find! - Join Group Chats
These are usually on WhatsApp. You really don't have to contribute to it much if you don't want to, but it is a good idea for you to introduce yourself to your peers before term starts and to be able to meet some familiar faces when you arrive. Contact your course society group to get the link to your course group chat if you can't get hold of it, whilst accommodation ones can often be found on the uni's Freshers Facebook group. Course ones can get a bit overwhelming throughout the year. Nevertheless everyone helps each other answer questions about course material, arrange study sessions, and for any other general academic support. On the other hand, accommodation group chat normally turns into flat party invites, warning residents about pranks that are happening, and the frequent 'please be quiet, the flat party is getting a little bit out of hand' message. Most often the chat turns into a (Circuit) laundry update system where students texts things like 'machine 2, your clothes have been moved to tumble dryer 3' or 'machine 6 you need to reselect your cycle' and so on. - Speak to Your Lecturers and Personal Tutor
Your department may have introduction sessions for your academics and peers. I attended an introduction meeting and a meet the academics social event for Psychology and both were a great opportunity to get to know your lecturers and key staff within the department. Initially, I was absolutely terrified as school gave the perception that professors where... Well, scary. If you have read my Psychology posts, you would know that this couldn't have been further from the truth. Ask them questions and voice any concerns course related or not and they will be able to provide you with some reassurance. I wish I had done this much earlier, so I also advise you to make an effort to get to know your personal tutor as much as possible to as they will be your first point of contact for anything. I promise you that by doing so it will make your action to contact them much less daunting, or if not them then another academic who you feel comfortable speaking to.
Christina Morillo | Pexels
That's the 15 things that I recommend Freshers to do during their first few weeks at uni.
I hope this has been helpful to some of you who are starting soon, and it hasn't been too much of an information flood!
It can be overwhelming as there's so much to do but remember that it does take time to settle and sometimes that time takes longer than you would expect. Remember to also take time out for yourself to explore the local and nearby areas and to allow yourself the chance to try new things and take up opportunities that float your way. You may not enjoy it, but at least you gave it a go!
If anyone reading this knows where the Bluebell Wood, please let me know! I'm open to some recommendations of places within the West Midlands or places within an appropriate proximity to Coventry to explore to!
Best wishes to everyone entering the new academic year!
This post is so helpful! Thanks! Can you tell me what bus goes to the train station and how much a ticket to Birmingham costs?
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteIt would be the 11 or 12X. However, I wouldn't trust the number 11 bus schedule as it's usually not on time. Never had a problem with 12X, although someone else may tell you otherwise!
For the train ticket to Birmingham a return would be around £8 without a railcard or £5 with a railcard (which I highly recommended if you're going to be travelling back and forth a lot).
I hope that helps and that you have a good time at Welcome week! :)