Moving away from home to study for college can be a daunting prospect and it can be pretty difficult to figure out what you need to bring and what you need to learn beforehand. I have lived through that experience and as a result I have learned a few things about what is to be expected.This simple guide will help with your transition to college and highlight the changes for parents and students. The college transition tips that I am giving to you here will help make your transition to a new life seamless.
The essentials
The first of these tips for starting college is identifying the essentials you will need. The most important thing to remember to bring is cooking utensils. It is highly unlikely that these will be provided for if you are on campus, so it is essential that you go out and get your own. You will especially need to bring a frying pan, saucepan, and cutlery. It is also vital that you know how the washing machine you will be using works and what is needed for it, if there is not one in the apartment then ask an advisor where the nearest one is. It will be useful for you to figure out how the heating and shower works immediately upon arrival, as I found out myself, the heating and shower apparatus can differ significantly from what you may be accustomed to. The bus routes and times can be quite complicated so it is essential to learn the times and routes that you may be regularly taking, if you are living in Dublin it will be handy to get a leap card which you can use on buses, the DART, and the Luas.
Shopping/Cooking
When doing your shopping, make sure you make it one big weekly shop in a supermarket such as Lidl or Tesco. These shops have the best deals and will allow you to spend more money elsewhere, such as nights out. Try to cook your own meals as often as you can and add a variety of meals, so you do not feel as though you are
Flatmates
One of the best things about moving for college is meeting your flatmates. It is imperative you get to know them so that your time in college can be made more enjoyable. These will be the people you will be living with for at least a year, so it is vital to get to know them and try to do so quickly. One easy way to do this is by not shutting yourself off in your room, go into the living area regularly to sit and chat with others there. The key to living with others is to always be mindful of them. You will be expected to tidy up after yourself, especially after eating because you never know when the next person will want to use the equipment you used. You must also check with others and inform them if you plan on hosting people or having a party. If you share a bathroom then ensure it is kept neat and clean. It may be useful to draw up a rota for household chores such as emptying the bins or brushing/mopping the floor, to verify that everyone in the house is pulling their weight around the house.
Other
Money is vital as a student, so it is important that you are careful with it. Always be on the lookout for student deals, it will amaze you how much money you can save with them. You may even want to get a part-time job if you feel it necessary. Moving away from your family can be a big step and it can be a struggle to be away from your family for extended periods so it is important that you keep in touch with your family, they will be delighted to hear your voice, and they can help you stay grounded when you are struggling. One small thing that might be useful upon arrival is to walk around the campus and familiarise yourself with your surroundings, this could be especially helpful when returning from a night out in the dark. Remember to keep yourself motivated to study and to help you with that it might be useful to check Kate’s blog.
Conclusion
There are a number of key takeaways to take from this blog. The first is to manage your money through doing one big shop for the week, cooking your own meals and looking for student deals. The next is to get to know your flatmates, you will likely live with them for at least a year so getting to know them would be crucial to an enjoyable first year, and you never know, they might become your best friends, look at Ciarán’s blog for more tips on meeting people. The last vital tip is to quickly understand how the heating, shower and washing machine works. Above all else, just remember to enjoy yourself!