Life at University: first term at Cambridge
Like many of 2019’s year thirteens, I have just started my first year of university. I am now studying Linguistics at Cambridge and, while I know there are many preconceptions (many of which are also misconceptions, by the way), I can assure you that my university experience so far has not been wildly different to those of my friends elsewhere in the country. I feel, then, that I am able to shed some light onto what you can expect from your first few weeks of university, whether you’re starting next year or are just planning seven years in advance.
Firstly, your first weeks will be a blur. It’s inevitable. Freshers programmes are packed (though don’t feel obligated to attend every event) and you’re so busy socialising, finding the washing machines, and juggling timetables, that it's hard to remember what day it is. And yet, despite how quickly the first weeks have gone, after a week of living in the same room alongside the same people, who are just as overwhelmed as you are, you will feel like you have been there for months.
Make your room cosy – pillows and throws are £5 in Primark – and just say hello to people in your corridor. Even if you’re not the most sociable person (I know I’m not), a quick greeting sets you up well when you need to borrow some tape or a colander, which is important when you’re living off pasta and rice. You might not become best friends with everyone on your floor, though some groups are very close, but it’s good to have a healthy relationship with the people that share your kitchen and – often – food.
Alternatively, your friends – and you will make friends, whether you actively try to or not - may come from your course or department, which is especially helpful if you ever find yourself struggling with a certain module or assignment. For me, personally, it was a combination of the two. In our group of four, two are from my department and one shares my corridor. Four, it turns out, is a good size for “dinner parties”, where one person cooks for all four, with each person taking turns to buy the ingredients. This is particularly helpful in avoiding waste, because most ingredients, especially meats (or meat alternatives), which often come in sizes large enough to feed a family. (Our dinner parties are exceedingly good because our primary cook worked as a sous chef in France, but I understand that not everyone is so lucky!).
But, after your socialising and readjusting to life as an adult in your own right, it’s important to remember that university is primarily a place of learning. My advice here is simply don’t fall behind! Recap your notes after your first lecture. Do your assignments as you get them. If your timetable is not given to you fully formed, work it out as soon as possible. There is a lot of work and no teachers to remind you. If you fall behind, you fall behind and while there is support in place if necessary, it is your responsibility to learn.
That being said, don’t be afraid to ask for help. My lecturers so far have been lovely. The presentations have been filled with bad jokes – yes even at Cambridge – and the atmosphere in my college and the university as a whole is delightful. Everyone wants you to succeed; you just need to ask.
So far, university has been incredible. You’ll have so much fun, I promise!
Emily Thompson
Firstly, your first weeks will be a blur. It’s inevitable. Freshers programmes are packed (though don’t feel obligated to attend every event) and you’re so busy socialising, finding the washing machines, and juggling timetables, that it's hard to remember what day it is. And yet, despite how quickly the first weeks have gone, after a week of living in the same room alongside the same people, who are just as overwhelmed as you are, you will feel like you have been there for months.
Make your room cosy – pillows and throws are £5 in Primark – and just say hello to people in your corridor. Even if you’re not the most sociable person (I know I’m not), a quick greeting sets you up well when you need to borrow some tape or a colander, which is important when you’re living off pasta and rice. You might not become best friends with everyone on your floor, though some groups are very close, but it’s good to have a healthy relationship with the people that share your kitchen and – often – food.
Alternatively, your friends – and you will make friends, whether you actively try to or not - may come from your course or department, which is especially helpful if you ever find yourself struggling with a certain module or assignment. For me, personally, it was a combination of the two. In our group of four, two are from my department and one shares my corridor. Four, it turns out, is a good size for “dinner parties”, where one person cooks for all four, with each person taking turns to buy the ingredients. This is particularly helpful in avoiding waste, because most ingredients, especially meats (or meat alternatives), which often come in sizes large enough to feed a family. (Our dinner parties are exceedingly good because our primary cook worked as a sous chef in France, but I understand that not everyone is so lucky!).
But, after your socialising and readjusting to life as an adult in your own right, it’s important to remember that university is primarily a place of learning. My advice here is simply don’t fall behind! Recap your notes after your first lecture. Do your assignments as you get them. If your timetable is not given to you fully formed, work it out as soon as possible. There is a lot of work and no teachers to remind you. If you fall behind, you fall behind and while there is support in place if necessary, it is your responsibility to learn.
That being said, don’t be afraid to ask for help. My lecturers so far have been lovely. The presentations have been filled with bad jokes – yes even at Cambridge – and the atmosphere in my college and the university as a whole is delightful. Everyone wants you to succeed; you just need to ask.
So far, university has been incredible. You’ll have so much fun, I promise!
Emily Thompson