Top tips for new students by Emily Ash

Get involved in societies!

I was part of the Disney society in my first year and became their treasurer for the second year and final year. It was such an amazing experience because I was able to watch amazing films with amazing people but being a Treasurer for 2^ndand 4th year enabled me to learn vital accounting and leadership skills when organising trips and finances for the society. From this, I had the confidence to apply for a graduate role where I will be managing accounts for public sector clientele. Also, I met my best friend through going to his society and she is still my best friend to this day. Don’t be afraid to go on your own, sometimes you make more friends that way.

Money Saving Tip:

Save a little, spend a little! Cook a large batch of something on the weekend or on your days off through the week and keep it in the fridge or put in in the freezer for another time.

Finding a job at university:

Find something that will work around your lectures and not put too much strain on you. Working over 20 hours could potentially affect your grades so working a student ambassador or student mentor is a really well-paid job and the hours are very flexible, so you can choose to do as many/little hours.

Get involved in Volunteering!

Volunteering as part of the ‘Conservation on Planet Earth’ six-week programme enabled me to develop my confidence after talking to a larger audience and learning how to adapt to teach children was a really valuable lesson to learn.

My advice to new students:

Not take life too seriously! These three/four years have the potential to be the best years of your life so make the most of it. You don’t need to have a large group of friends and go out drinking all the time. Some of my best memories have been watching a movie with my best friend and laughing and joking with her.

Revision tips at university

Make sure you do it, but don’t do too much! Integrate it into your routine and revise over a couple of weeks not a couple of days. I find colour coding and creating revision cards are really effective ways for my brain to remember information, but you need to find out what works for you and stick to it!

Organisation tips university

Get a planner that you can write in your assignment deadlines and even try to finish your assignments at least a week or so before it is due in. This gives you time to put it away and then come back to it with a fresh mindset to edit any silly mistakes you might have made.

By Emily Ash (BSc Hons Zoo Biology 2018) – Public Sector Sales Executive at Softcat.

Emily is an Alumni Fellow. You can find out more about how to get involved with the Alumni Fellowship Programme here.