What Transitioning to University Might Look Like
You remember what it was like arriving at Manchester for the first time: grey, overcast skies; yellow double-decker buses carving their way through traffic; the pitter-patter of rain on humble, red-brick terraces; maybe it wasn’t what you were expecting. But in a year’s time, this place will feel like a home away from home.
If you’re reading this, congratulations on your offer to study at the University of Manchester! Whether you’re coming in by train from two towns over or flying in over entire continents, you’ll find that the friendly people of Manchester are eager to welcome you with open arms. You might also be worrying – what’s University like? Will I be able to keep up with classes? Where do I make friends?
I had those same doubts in my mind when I first landed, but as an international student in their final year of study now, I hope my words will be somewhat of a reassurance to you – that things will fall into place and you’ll turn out just fine.
The journey of transitioning into university is a different one for everybody. To start with, adapting to university academically might prove a bit of a steep learning curve. Unlike school, where days were regimented and tailored for your learning, university requires a certain level of self-discipline. Nobody’s there to keep track of your assignments or intimidate you with detentions, so you show up to class every day. Forget assigned reading sessions and lesson notes; you’ll have to skim through dozens of readings and produce your own notes to make sense of the 50-page presentation that the lecturer went over in an hour. With seminars and workshops, learning becomes a three-way conversation – between you, your lecturer, and the content itself. It’s a daunting process, yes, but the skills you develop in return – discipline, independence, critical thinking – all make it worthwhile.
Likewise, living on your own for the first time comes with its own burdens and freedoms. Suddenly, your laundry basket is filling up a lot quicker because you have a couple of deadlines due, and the floor is collecting dust because you were too tired to sweep after a full day of classes and volleyball practice. But at least you get to order pizza whenever and sleep in on the weekends. It all gets a bit chaotic, so it really does depend on showing up for yourself, and trust me, you will.
Overwhelming as it may seem, finding the right group of friends will make everything so much easier. Where should one start then? There are a lot of ways you can find your people at university: join a society, chat with your flatmates, volunteer at a food bank, sit closer to someone in the lecture hall… the list goes on. If you’re ever intimidated by social environments, fret not – everyone’s in the same situation, and most people would probably be delighted to have someone come up and talk to them. Who knows, you might even be meeting your future flatmate or a friend for life!
The transition to university is one of drastic change. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times, but know that you’re not alone. At university, everyone’s on a journey to relearn themselves – their lifestyle, habits and even personality. This is a great opportunity to explore what you really want for yourself at your own pace. Enjoy the sights, make yourself at home, and in no time, you’ll look back and wonder why you were worried in the first place.
Written by Kieran, a current undergraduate student in SEED.
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What Transitioning to University Might Look Like
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