Written by Bethany.

There are so many things that I learned over time that I wish I knew right away. Here is some advice that I’d give to my first-year self and some advice for upcoming first years at Ulster.

It’s important to stay organised

It can be difficult to stay organised, but it’s so important to avoid stress and overwhelm.

I recommend starting with keeping your lecture notes organised in a way that works best for you, whether that’s in separate notebooks or in separate folders on your laptop.

Make sure to have a calendar of important dates such as exams and coursework due dates. I also recommend putting in ‘you’ time because rest is productive and it’s important to take care of yourself!

Societies are less intimidating than they seem

At first, I was so nervous to join any societies as I really struggle to put myself out there to meet new people.

But in societies, you end up being able to find so many friends and you can try out something you never thought you’d try! I found myself trying out embroidery once at a society event, which is something I’d never done before and I had so much fun and met some amazing people!

I even became a committee member of a Student Network, which is something I never saw myself doing when I started university.

You don’t have to say yes to everything

Starting university can mean that you want to try out so many different activities and join all the societies that you possibly can. While that is exciting at first, it can become overwhelming after a while.

You don’t want to burn yourself out so remind yourself that you can’t do everything all at once and it’s okay to say no sometimes. Stick to your favourite activities and events and everything will fall into place.

Student life is different for everyone

The ‘uni experience’ won’t always be the same for everyone. What looks like the ideal student life for someone else might not feel right for you and that’s okay!

Some prefer the aspects of going out and clubbing, while others prefer to have much more down-time. Both are completely valid, as everyone is different. Don’t compare yourself to everyone else, because what works for you is best and you will find your people.

It’s normal to feel lost at first

University is a completely new experience for everyone and it’s normal to feel a bit lost or scared at first.

There is so much support at Ulster to help you ease into your student experience, such as Student Wellbeing services and the Advice Bureau who can help with accommodation tips, budgeting tips, and much more.

For international students, there are so many options to get advice such as the International Student Advisory Service who can help with your visa, job opportunities, opening a bank account, and registering with a GP. They are there to make your new student experience as easy as possible.

It may take some time to make friends and that’s okay! Not everyone makes friendships right away, and sometimes it takes time. Your friendships may change over time too, depending on classes or societies that you end up joining. You may even meet people in other classes. Some of the best people you meet are the people you never expected.

University doesn’t look the same for everyone and it isn’t going to be perfect. But that’s what makes it such a rewarding and memorable experience and so many things may change for you during your time here.

About the author

Bethany is from Carrickfergus studying for an MSc in Communication & PR, with an undergraduate degree in English with Education. She is passionate about autism and disability studies, and shares her experiences as a neurodivergent and disabled woman as a content creator.