Preparing for University - Students' blog

5 Mood Boosting Tips

5 Tip to improve your mental health (especially this month)

March can feel like a funny old month, especially after the post winter holiday exam season, it can feel like you’re already day for another break. But with University Mental Health day being the 9th March and International happiness day later this month, I thought I would bring you a blog adding to the ‘Top 5 tips series’, on improving your Mental health. Though they may feel obvious, I hope that this blog serves as a reminder to do the things that make you feel your very best.

1. Move your body in a way that feels good. Exercise.

Especially when I haven’t done some form of exercise in awhile, this is one that I always seem to deny will actually help me feel good. That is of course, until I actually do it. For everyone exercise looks different. For me it normally comes in the form of an impromptu dance party, a long walk – even if it’s just walking to and around town/the quay-, a feel good YouTube workout or sometimes, I’ll even put on my running shoes and head out with a feel good playlist playing in one ear.

Whatever it is you choose to do, hype yourself up and give it a go. Because those endorphins and the great sleep you’ll get afterwards, really will do wonders for your mood. (more…)

bfa205 March 15th, 2023 Health and wellbeing, Life on Campus, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate cornwall, exeter, first year, fresher, freshers, life in the south west, life on campus, medical school, medicine, mental health, penryn campus, preparing for university, second year, settling in, societies, student life, studying, undergraduate, university of exeter, wellbeing

My Top Tips for Clearing – by Idris

Written by Idris, studying MSc Social and Organisational Psychology. Also studied BSc (Hons) Psychology at the University of Exeter 2018-2021.

Background

Before I received my IB results in 2018, I consulted my University Guidance Counsellor about Clearing as a contingency plan in case things didn’t go my way. I learnt what I needed to do should I ever end up in that position and I felt prepared with having a contingency plan. When I received my IB result, they did not meet the requirements of my chosen Universities therefore as soon as it was confirmed I got into Clearing, that was when I enacted my plan.

Here are tips that I would advise regarding Clearing: (more…)

mib205 August 16th, 2022 Clearing, Exams and Assessment, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

Language Learning at Degree Level

Deciding to pursue a foreign language at University can seem like a huge step to take from A Level, and you may be doubting yourself already, but the truth is language learning is a beautifully chaotic process whatever stage you are at and I would encourage you to embrace ever step of it – and take the plunge!

I currently study BA Sociology and Spanish at Exeter so I can give you some good advice to help you prepare for learning any language at degree level. (more…)

Anisa Marsh May 13th, 2021 Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

Preparing yourself mentally for University

As the start of your first (and second, third!) years at university quickly approach, it can be so easy to get completely swept up in all the practical preparations, to-do lists and general chaos of organising all your belongings into piles ‘to take’, ‘to charity shop’, or to put in the vague ‘undecided’ category that you convince yourself you’ll come back to later… It’s no surprise then that people often forget to take a moment to think about how to prepare themselves mentally for the transition from A Levels or gap years to the academic and social life of university. Here’s where I’ll do half the work for you by prompting you to think about some ways you can prepare before even arriving on campus and generally just make the most of your time studying for a degree. (more…)

Anisa Marsh April 12th, 2021 Higher Education, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

Life as a mature student – the answers to all the questions you might have

Hi everyone, I’m Jess and I joined the University of Exeter in September 2018 at the ripe age of 21 (when a lot of students actually graduate). I am now in my final year studying Classical Studies and Philosophy and I’ll be graduating at 24!

Are you considering starting university and you’re over 21? Worried about how you will settle in? Then below you’ll find 5 answers to the questions you’ve been thinking of asking! (more…)

Jessica Applegate March 23rd, 2021 Higher Education, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Mature students, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

5 tips to get involved in Freshers Week

1. Online Freshers Fair
It’s inevitable Freshers Fair has to be moved online due the pandemic. With the accessibility of social media platforms, engage with other students on Facebook and Instagram, where you can find support in the big Exeter community. There would be online events, such as live Q&A, Instagram takeovers and society socials! As a committee member of Body Society, I would also be participating in the online cocktail and cooking class socials.

(more…)

Cheuk Ying Cherry Wong September 4th, 2020 Freshers Week, International, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

10 things you must bring to university

Last year before I travelled to Exeter, I was on a family trip and all I did was bring suitcases full of clothes, but – THIS WAS NOT A LOGICAL DECISION! And I wanted to save up a few hundred pounds, my mum then sent me a few parcels from Hong Kong, with several items in them. Very soon I’d be returning to Exeter and I thought it’d be useful for me to list out the 10 things I found crucial to have during the academic year. (more…)

Cheuk Ying Cherry Wong August 28th, 2020 International, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

5 things I wish I knew before coming to university

Studying

Contact Hours
Despite being a university student, and told that you should become more independent and not rely on your lecturers and tutors to spoon feed you your learning materials, don’t forget that you can always seek help from your tutors during contact hours.

If I had a chance to repeat year one, I would better utilise contact hours because tutors are so helpful to answer any of your questions to prepare you for your assignments and exams. I had a few assignments which I thought I did not do well enough, and after approaching academics during contact hours for feedback, I actually made significant improvements in my next assignment because I had a very clear understanding of what I had to improve on.

(more…)

Cheuk Ying Cherry Wong August 24th, 2020 Freshers Week, Higher Education, International, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

‘My Clearing experience’: Yasmin, studying MSci Nursing

I decided that I wanted a new adventure in July last year – I had never really thought about the idea of going to university but something clicked last summer about wanting to go and it’s the best decision I have ever made. I started looking at courses and decided that if I was ever going to go to university, it was going to be Exeter!

After finding MSci Nursing on their clearing choices, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. (more…)

Yasmin Cannell August 11th, 2020 Applying, Clearing, Health and wellbeing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

‘My Clearing experience’: Toyosi, studying LLB Law with Business

Entering the clearing process for me was a shock. I never imagined that I would be in that situation and panicking was not ideal during the circumstance I was in. The factor that helped me the most during this process was my family. I had my mum doing some research and my sister looking at the universities in detail. After hours of phone calls, I finally narrowed my options down to University of Exeter to study LLB Law with business. Yes! (more…)

Oluwatoyosi Olukoya August 11th, 2020 Applying, Clearing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

Studying from home

An endless supply of tea, easy access to peanut butter toast and the option to work in your pyjamas; studying from home can be great, especially when it means avoiding a soggy commute to the library and helping to reduce carbon emissions.

However, speaking from experience, it can come with procrastination pitfalls; Netflix, sleeping and baking to name a few. If you are used to studying with friends home working can also feel a little dull and lonely. That said, when you’ve got a 3,000-word essay to write there’s no better place to get it down.

Not convinced? I have nine tried and tested tips guaranteed to help you get the most out of studying at home. (more…)

Hannah Maria Rudd August 10th, 2020 Exams and Assessment, Health and wellbeing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Studying

A Beginner’s Guide to Societies at the University of Exeter

This blog was written based on experiences prior to Covid-19.

Hi Everyone, my name is Isla and I am headed into my final year at Exeter University. I’ve been part of 4 Society Committees and attended some amazing society events in Exeter, but when I arrived as a fresher the societies process seemed quite daunting. What societies are there? How can I sign up? How can I afford to pay for society events and membership?

Well, here is my beginner’s guide to Societies at Exeter Uni… (more…)

Isla Zena Lamparelli July 17th, 2020 Freshers Week, Health and wellbeing, International, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate Clubs, fresher, freshers, international, music, societies, Sports

Life in Lockdown – How I Survived and Thrived

At first, I was afraid… I was petrified… then life somehow returned to a slightly updated version of ‘normal’. It’s nigh on impossible to write a blog in the ‘mid-covids’, (if that’s what we can call it?) without referring to the ‘C’ word. What an extraordinary time we live in, and for all of us, almost nothing will be as it was for the near future at least. As I was thinking about writing this blog, I was wondering what to focus on, apart from the obvious. But I made a quick list of achievements, even the little things, that I had got done amongst, not going to lie, many weeks of uncertainty, and sheer panic at times. It was an impressive list.

The foremost ‘problem’ I tried to solve, was – and I think I wasn’t the only one – how on earth to keep studying and working towards a goal, when the global goalposts have shifted out of all recognition? Keep calm and carry on was NOT top of my list!

So, this blog will highlight something about my life as a (very) mature student, (!), what I have been doing to keep myself sane, and most importantly what I have learned as a student and now as a post-grad at Exeter, not only academically, but the life skills which have come in very useful indeed! (more…)

am1292 July 16th, 2020 Health and wellbeing, Higher Education, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Studying

‘My Clearing experience’: Poppy, studying Theology and Religion

I’m Poppy, studying Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter, a course which I secured through Clearing. At GCSE I got 8 A*, 1 A and 1 B. I was predicted A*AA at A-level. I applied for International Relations and Arabic, and got places at Exeter, Leeds, York, Warwick and Bath. Exeter was my first choice, and Leeds was my insurance choice. Here is my experience of Clearing. (more…)

Poppy Madeline Denny Pearce July 6th, 2020 Clearing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

Tips to Enjoy the First Week of University

Arriving in a completely new city and starting a new life can be pretty scary, especially if you arrive alone. As an international postgraduate student who travelled all across the world to Exeter, I would like to share my experience of my first week of University. Hopefully, it will help you relieve the anxiety of moving into university. (more…)

Lauren July 1st, 2020 Freshers Week, International, Life on Campus, Postgraduate, Preparing for University, The city of Exeter fresher, international student, preparing for university