A-level results are in, the August bank holiday is fast approaching, and the temperature has dropped over the past few days, which can only mean one thing: the university term starts in a few short weeks!
To help you make the most of the upcoming year at uni, whether it’s your first or your last, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 things to do this year:
Join a club
Joining a club is a great way to meet new people. If you choose something different to what you’re studying, it can put you in contact with a wide range of people you might not meet otherwise. If you played a sport at your local club or at school, joining the team at the university can help you feel more at home, and you get to keep developing your skills. This is also a good time to give something new a try. Being part of a club also gives you something else to do, in between attending classes and going out with your mates.
Try something new
Trying something new can boost your confidence if you succeed at it, and if you don’t, you’ll have funny story to tell in the future! Learning a new skill can give you a great sense of accomplishment, which will also boost your confidence in other areas. You might be able to add something different to your CV, which can pique the interest of a future boss.
Get a subscription/blog feed
Getting a subscription to a magazine or newspaper, or a setting up a blog feed, (a list of blogs you regularly read) can help you prepare for a future career, as well as helping you decide exactly what it is you want to do after graduating. It can also put you in the right mindset, and expose you to the latest news and updates within your industry, which will give you an edge when it comes time to look for a job or placement. Keeping on top of the latest trends and upcoming events can also help bring your coursework up to a higher standard.
Get yourself a signature dish
This is an easy win: learning how to cook one dish really well has a number of benefits. It’s an easy way to ‘wow’ that special someone, as well as impressing your family when you go back for a visit. A healthy home-cooked meal can be a welcome alternative from a takeaway, and cheaper too. You can even encourage your flatmates to each master their own signature dish, and take turns cooking for each other during the week.
Line up a summer internship
Internships might not be everyone’s idea of a great summer, but they can be a worthwhile sacrifice. If you line up an internship (or placement, or job) well in advance, you are likely to beat everyone else to it, giving yourself a chance to be choosey and land the one you want. If you’re thinking about your next internship in advance, you’ll get more time to explore alternative options, and it shows future employers your commitment.