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Tip Top Tips Whilst Living Away from Home

Thu 21 March 2019 - 16:02

By Sophia in First year

It is so so important to look after yourself, both mentally and physically whilst you’re living away from home. It may be your first time fleeing the nest or actually, you’re a fully-fledged independent being – either way, we can often slip into bad habits even in the best of times.
 
1. Sleep well! Sleep is probably the most crucial thing you need in life and especially whilst you’re studying. If you don’t get enough sleep it can impact your concentration, mood and health. If you’re anything like me and Sleeping Beauty, try opting for a quieter flat - you wouldn’t want to be in a flat full of raucous students stumbling in at 5am and knocking over lots of pots and pans whilst trying to cook something remotely...

Enjoy your teacher training placements - Emma Beckett

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:33

By Emma Beckett in Teacher Training

Are you a real teacher?
 
I suppose I could not really answer this question until the end of the course, but now I can confidently say, “Yes I am”.
 
Placement one was a whirlwind experience. You flit between university and school, week after week, however my key tip: remain organised, file everything, and take each day as it comes.
 
Observe, observe, observe!
 
During your induction period, make sure...

Second Year Snapshots

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:36

By Charlotte Stevenson in First year

 
This time last year, I was just finishing up my final lot of First Year assignments and it felt like the biggest weight off my shoulders. Now that we are a whole 365 days ahead of that, I’m just a few days away from closing up my Second Year of being a student at York St. John as an undergraduate. And whilst I know that it will be the biggest relief to have everything wrapped up for the summer, there is something melancholic about leaving such a wonderful, productive year behind - especially as it has flown by so quickly! Because of this, I thought I would go through a few mile...

Top tips for staying motivated

Thu 21 March 2019 - 16:04

By Enia in First year

With A-level and university exams drawing ever closer, it can be difficult to stay motivated, especially when the sun is shining, but you feel you need to be revising. So here are some of my top tips for staying motivated during this exam season:
 
1)      Remember why you are doing this.
 
When you’re revising it can feel like all you are doing is revising. However, there has to have been a reason why you wanted to do well in the first place: perhaps it’s meeting the offer for your first choice uni; maybe it’s that you would like to secure a particular placement or job following your degree. Whatever the reason is, make sure to fix that in your mind whenever you’re revising, as both a motivation and a goal for you to aim for. I...

Things a mature student needs to consider…

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:37

By Andrew in Applicant

My initial blog explained my rationale for embarking on university at the age of 37; the considerations I’d weighed and measured, my drive to create the future I want, and the joy of receiving an unconditional offer for my first choice uni. Since then, however, the reality has kicked in… how on earth do you put yourself through a full-time university course when you get limited financial support and you have children and sizeable financial commitments?
 
I’ve received inspiring counsel from some mature students that have...

Taking a Gap Year (or two!)

Thu 21 March 2019 - 16:19

By Sophia in Applicant


So, I started University when I was 18 and was loving it until I unfortunately met the wrath of chronic tonsillitis and left. Gutted.
 
I was enjoying the course, the friends I’d already met there, the University but now I look back at my time there, I wasn’t ready to leave home then.
 
Fast forward to May 2018 and I am now tonsil free and have an unconditional offer to go to University of Reading to study Primary Education with English! I truly think having two years out has given me the confidence to go back and tackle University (in a place further away than before!), some good ole life experience and some money to help me struggle through the poverty of...

Surviving your NQT year - Harry Silo

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:40

By UCAS in Teacher Training

Completing teacher training is the first step. Will you be ready for what comes next? Here are my top five tips for surviving your NQT year:

1. Behaviour
I believe behaviour is the foundation of education. Without it, nothing else matters, i.e. resources, subject knowledge etc. Most of the advice you will be hearing includes phrases like, “Be firm but fair”, and, “Don’t smile until after Christmas”. Whilst I don’t agree with the latter, being consistent in your approach at this time of year will pay dividends. I was very firm and strict (not unreasonably) within the...

Benefits of going to an open day (or two, or three…)

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:46

By Enia in Applicant

Summer. We associate it with good weather, barbeques and beach holidays, but for those of you wanting to apply for university next academic year, summer will soon be synonymous with open days.
 
When I was starting to think about applying to universities, open days were invaluable. Being able to get a sense of where you may be living and studying is really important, as you can therefore know if you would enjoy being in that place.
 
A really great benefit of open days is the talks, for both your subject and social life at...

Is being a live at home student the right choice for your family?

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:46

By After the Playground in First year

Once the university offers start to pour in, thoughts inevitably turn to September and where you will live when you start your course. If you choose to study miles away from home, you can choose from halls of residence or a shared house or flat. However, if you are going to study close to home you could also choose to be a live at home student. According to statistics collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, living at home whilst studying at university is an increasingly popular option.
 
There is a clear financial advantage and you will be able to maintain regular face-to-face contact with your family. You will get more peace to work than in a shared house and your parents are on hand to keep an eye on your physical and mental health. Nevertheless, is this really a good idea for you and is it a good idea for your parents?
 
The disadvantages of being a...

Open days: how to plan valuable visits

Fri 20 December 2019 - 09:58

By UCAS in UCAS advice

A survey published this weekend suggests that a quarter of students don’t attend open days before applying to university. We found this quite surprising, as open days are so helpful when it comes to painting a picture of university life and choosing courses. Yet our own research also suggests that a similar percentage of students still choose not to make these important visits before applying.

Here's more about the value of open days, where to find key information and how to make the most of visits.

I think it’s essential to visit a university or college before committing to at least three years of study. It’s another way of making sure your choice is right for you. Open days are an important part of researching courses and can make all the difference when it...

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