College to uni: seven key differences to look out for

Here are some of the key differences you'll be facing when you make the exciting leap to uni, with advice from university and school experts. 

You can get really on top of things by also reading our guide to what you need to do before you go to university. 

1. Freedom

Freedom is your new best friend when you move away to university – but all that independence could also become your enemy if you're not careful.

You have the opportunity to choose the way you live and study. Just make sure that you leave room for a degree in the midst of everything at university, try to find a balance between work and play – and keep on top of your budget! 

• Read more on The Student Room: choosing a student bank account 

2. Coping with information overload

Having spent the past couple of years working towards A-levels or other qualifications, you may feel you deserve a rest. However, you'll find that uni moves at speed – rapidly covering different subject areas.
 

3. Staying self-motivated 

When it comes to lectures and seminars, no-one is going to make sure you're slumped in a seat at 9am on a Monday morning. You don't have to answer to anyone but yourself; take responsibility early on for staying motivated.

Read more on The Student Room: 10 things students weren't expecting when they started uni 

4. Managing your workload

You might be surprised at how little contact time you have at uni. You may only have a weekly tutorial on top of a few lectures – but there's a reason for this.

Lecturers expect you to be doing a lot of the legwork yourself and reading throughout the term, instead of cramming just before exams. 
 

5. Domesticity

If you want clean clothes, food on the table or a room you're not embarrassed about, you'll have to brush up on your domestic skills. 

Alana, a law student from Glasgow, recommends knowing exactly what washing powder looks like as her flatmate discovered she'd been washing her clothes purely in fabric softener for the first month of living in halls...
 

6. Endless opportunities

Most universities say that if you can't find an activity on offer, you can start it yourself – but you will be swamped with clubs, societies and sports teams getting you to sign-up.

You might be the only one in your flat who wants to try something, but don't let a lack of company stop you. This is the time to take up fencing or join the Jane Austen book club.

Getting stuck into extracurricular activities could be great for boosting your CV too. 

Lots of people will tell you extra-curricular activities will boost your CV, which is true. But it would be wrong to get involved in sports, music or debating, for example, simply for that reason. Instead, do something you enjoy. Try something new. Then when you come to talk about it at interview, recruiters will see that you genuinely like it, and will be interested in the skills you might have developed along the way. Karen Kimura | Learning And Development Manager - Girls Day School Trust

• Read more: what your students' union can do for you

 

7. 24/7 socialising

University offers you the chance to meet people from all over the world – it can feel like a constant social whirlwind and often takes time for you to feel settled.

• Read more on The Student Room: 63 things students wish they'd known before uni