Hola Bonitos. It seems so bizarre to finally be writing this I AM GOING TO UNIVERSITY!!!
It’s been a long road *cue the dramatic music* and I thought I wouldn’t make it. There were tears, headaches, lessons where I sat there half-asleep, sleepless nights, mornings I Usain Bolt sprinted for the bus (eww) but it’s all over. I am finally going to the University of Birmingham to study Politics and International Relations and I am so (insert word for a culmination of every feeling ever).
The fact that I’m writing this one week before I pack my things and become a fully-fledged Brummie is a testament to the fact that I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t really know how to feel about it all. I am excited, but it’s the kind of excitement before you go on a rollercoaster. You stand in the queue buzzing but you’re also hoping that you don’t fall out of the ride or throw-up. It’s like...
I can't believe that after all the excitement and everything, I'm finally moving into Hope in just over 2 weeks! It doesn't feel real, but I can't wait to get there and get started!
I recently went away with a few of my friends who are all a couple of years older than me and while we were away, they gave me some amazing advice for freshers.
The tips they gave me were too good not to share, so here we are! Some are pretty self-explanatory, while others are a bit more detailed! Hope this is helpful/interesting!
1) Student Loan
It has to last you three months, so don't spend it all in the first week!
2) Don't eat out/get takeaways all the time
As my friend Rachel beautifully put it: "there's an oven with...
In 2015, the UK’s Visa and Immigration service (UKVI) changed its rules affecting the English language tests needed to work or study in the UK. Many students have found the new rules complicated and are not sure if they need to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or another kind of English test. This quick guide outlines the key facts about who needs to take a SELT and, more importantly, who doesn’t!
Some of you may have taken GCSE's for your options for the past few years, others not, but the pressure is probably feeling a lot more evident now that it is your last year of GCSE's and hence a lot more work - with a lot of subjects to study and get to grips with at once, it can feel like there is a never ending stream of work to do and the nerves might build as a result.
My first piece of advice, and it might sound like an obvious one, is try not to be too stressed! Whilst the future will need you to have good grades, this is not all that matters. The main thing that matters is keeping a healthy balance and environment - one in which you can work your best, but also enjoy all the fun that comes with being in your last year of high school, whether that be getting involved with projects to raise awareness for charities as part of the student council or as a prefect (I can't believe it's been so long since I was a performing arts prefect now!) or getting to spend time...
You have to pay student loans back with interest after you graduate, but there are several other ways to help you pay for university that do not need to be paid back.
Universities offer help to support students with financial difficulties, to award achievements or to attract gifted students.
You can’t get Maintenance Grants or Special Support Grants when you start uni any more, but you can get financial support in the following ways:
Scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements or...
There are lots of resources on the internet that can help you find a job, successfully apply for it and perfect your interview technique.
•UCAS’ careers guides cover everything from writing your CV to how to get into specific industries.
•The BBC website features videos to help you prepare for finding a job.
What industry should you work in?
Your degree could help you get a job in particular industries. For example, a maths degree could make it easier to get a job in...
If you can cut the cost of the dull things in life, you’ll have more money to spend on exciting things.
It’s worth spending a few minutes shopping around for cheaper utilities and insurance if it will save you enough for a night out. Here’s how:
Paying bills
Halls of residence and some student houses include most of your bills in your rent, but if you live in private accommodation that you share with others you will need to share the bills too.
To make it fair you could use a service like Split the Bills. Everyone in...
As the heady days of student life become consigned to the realm of nostalgia, it’s time to pick up the tab.
Reality might begin to bite when you find yourself landed in thousands of pounds worth of debt, money flowing out of your account that you cannot keep track of, and a credit history tarred from years of abusing credit.
However, there are some quick and easy steps you can take to get your finances back on track.
Clean up your overdraft act
While your overdraft may have seemed like your best friend during your student days, now you are no longer studying it is likely to be more of a curse...
I hope you're okay and not too stressed with exams and revision etc. I've done 2 exams so far this year and so I thought I'd share my top tips on how I prepare the day of my exam.
Morning and afternoon exams are obviously very different, and I know that everyone has one they prefer. Personally, I like morning exams much better because I feel fresher and more energised in the morning and so I'm able to concentrate for longer - most of the time anyway!!
So here is what I do on the day of the exam to help me feel prepared and calm.
1) Confidence
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most self-confident person in the world. My motto for confidence is "fake it till you make it" and that works pretty well most of the time!
For both my exams so far, I've woken up early before college so I can...
In a few months’ time, a million young people in the UK will be immersing themselves for the first time in the hurly-burly of undergraduate life on a university campus. At the same time, online and distance learning students will start studying in the peace and quiet of their own home. Two very different experiences, but they both have something important in common. As well as getting to grips with their chosen subject, they have to learn how to take responsibility for how and when they study.