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"The privilege of a university education is a great one."
-Winston Churchill
You're finally completing those A-Levels and all that's left between you and starting university are the final exams. You might already have been invited to attend a few universities or further education centres and now the choice is completely yours. What will you do? Well, before even beginning to decide where you want to take further education studies, the reality of attending university and leaving home needs to sink in. All that hard work has paid off and now you're on your way to becoming a grownup!
Nonetheless, though the university years are a thrilling experience for most, it's worth stating that many students deal with anxiety before attending university. Why's that? Well, in today's article, we're going to analyse why students get pre-university jitters and what tips and tricks will help them through. Let's start exploring!
Is It Normal to Be Nervous About Starting University?
In the last year of high school, the thought of attending university might hit you occasionally. Maybe you put it in the back of your mind to avoid thinking about it, but there are so many reminders from classmates, guidance counsellors, teachers, etc. While the choice of whether or not you wish to attend university is personal, if you have decided to continue your education, you might be asking yourself, is it normal to be so nervous about this next stage in your life?
It's important to state that being nervous about starting university is completely normal and it's experienced by relatively all new students. But, why is that? The following are a few reasons why:
- You're going to be put in a completely new environment,
- You're going to meet plenty of strangers that you've never seen before,
- You've heard for many years how much coursework there is and how difficult exams are,
- It might be the first time you've ever left home, or your parents, for an extended period.
All the previously mentioned causes of stress are completely relatable and we feel for you. That's why, in the following subheading, we'll consider the best suggestions to help deal with stress and nervousness related to commencing university studies.
What are Some Tips and Tricks to Help Deal With the Anxieties of Starting University?
We're living in the age of anxiety and an overwhelming amount of individuals deal with stressful moments that cause them to lose their joy and peace. Anti-depressants and anxiety-reducing medications are the norms as well as mindfulness, yoga, and practically anything that helps our minds calm down. But, what causes our anxieties? There are so many different reasons why we have stress in our lives but for young people, the most common causes of stress are:
- Negative thoughts or feelings about themselves,
- Changes in their bodies,
- Problems with friends at school,
- Separation or divorce of parents,
- Chronic illness or severe problems,
- School-related anxieties such as attending university.
While each of the previously mentioned causes could be a unique article, we're going to focus on the last one. Since we know that attending university is quite stressful for teens, the best thing to do is to find ways to cope. Such as? Let's consider seven suggestions that have helped students deal with their anxieties related to attending university.
Know That Everyone is Nervous
While it's not always the smartest idea to compare yourself with others, rest assured that you won't be the only one who's nervous on the first day of uni. Everyone is in the same boat since it is new and there are plenty of "what ifs" and unknown situations that may occur. Therefore, instead of dealing with these feelings alone, express your nervousness to another new student and you'll quickly bond about your anxious thoughts!
Do Some Prep Work to Ease Your Nerves
Sometimes the greatest fear for future university students is the fact that there are so many new things going on at the same time. For example, you're moving out of home, you have to cook for yourself, you have to find your way around campus, and you have to deal with roommates for the first time.
So, to ease the stress and tension, it might be wise to do some "prep" work. Such as? Before uni starts, learn how to cook a few meals, get to campus a few days or weeks before classes start to find your way around, and try to learn as many practical skills as possible. By doing all these things, you won't feel like a completely hopeless case!
Remind Yourself Why You Want to Start
Hopefully, you applied for university because you are passionate about pursuing a degree. If the whole process of applying, choosing where to go and the idea of moving away from home is making you go crazy, it may be time to really reinforce why you want to study your subject.
Reminding yourself of your passion for learning and the future career prospects that await upon graduation will light your fire and convince you that all this pre-uni hassle will be worth it in the end.
Make Sure You’ve Applied For the Right Reasons
Of course, there is a difference between being nervous about starting university and actually dreading it because it’s not what you truly want. If you’ve applied for a degree just to please your parents or because you think it’s what is expected of you, then it's completely natural to feel extremely worried.
However, if you've applied because it's actually something you want to do, you'll have the work through the reasons in your head and attempt to minimize stress.
Spend Time With Your Loved Ones
If you're going to attend uni in a city or town that's away from home, this might be one of the main causes as to why you're feeling so stressed. You're going to be away from your close friends and family for months at a time and that's not easy. So, what's the solution? Before you leave for uni in the fall, spend as much time with your loved ones as possible. Not only is this generally a great way to tackle feelings of stress and anxiety but it will also remind you that you have people to support you in your university journey.
Get Excited For What You've Accomplished
You've applied for university and you've been accepted. That's a tremendous accomplishment! Try to meditate on the amazing goal you've achieved and how attending university brings you one step closer to another goal: earning a degree.
Share your excitement with others via social media and you'll see that the anxious thoughts will slowly melt away.
Talk to Others About the Feelings Your Experiencing
Of course, you’ve probably heard this advice before but we all need reminders from time to time. When you deal with anxious thoughts, open up. Expressing your emotions isn't a sin and don’t hesitate to talk about them anyway. Consider confiding in a parent, teacher or friend.
Also, if you talk to a friend who’s also applying for university you may discover they have just as many strange or silly worries as you do.
In conclusion, hopefully, these tips will help you figure out how best to keep any anxieties you're feeling about university at bay. Most of all, despite the inevitable jitters you will continue to get, don’t forget to get excited about all the opportunities that will be available to you when you start your degree and get ready to take the university plunge!
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