College/University Survival Guide

Introduction Day/Week

Some colleges or universities might have a day or week for introductions. You have to introduce yourself to your future classmates and teachers, get your college/university id card (depends if you get it on that day/ week or get it after a short period of time. It took nearly a month to get mine and my classmates).

It's very important to go to the introduction day/week because if you don't turn up, pretty much that you fucked yourself over and losing your placement in your chosen class. You not showing up is telling the college/university that you don't give a shit.

You have to memorise the route(s) within the building to get to class(es), depends if the front desk offers a map of the place if it's huge. Know where the student news board(s) is. Because it will advertise clubs, upcoming events, part-time jobs, people looking for room mates, dormitory placements and etc.

Memorise the bus/train/ferry/tram/subway timetables if you don't drive or can't find a parking place (plus you won't have to worry about the parking meters and getting a ticket).

Apply for your bursary or grants (like from SAAS on Scotland's colleges and university site or through the college's/university's site. The staff will gladly help you if you ask but it depends how far you live from the building) and your student discount card (like the NUS Extra or something similar in Britain or where you live) while you are there or somewhat before so apply to these early, so you don't have to wait forever. Plus I highly recommend getting discount cards for travel.. They would give you a 30% discount or depending on the travel service companies. They are quite useful when you're saving on money.

The NUS Extra card cost around £12 for a year and you have to pay a bit more if you want it last for 2 or 3 years. This card is well worth having it. Believe me. You have to kindly ask stores or restaurants/cafes if they accept student discount or look it up on the internet.

I know that most or all colleges/universities in the US and I think Canada you have to write an essay of a number of pages to sale yourself to get into them. I'm not exactly sure. Over here in the UK, you just apply with your grades that you got from the grammar/high school you went to and it depends on what course you apply. IE Administration or Drama. Also you have to have a interview with one of the staff members to talk about the course. The interviews can be face to face or by video conference.

Here's a story when I first applied to a different college. I applied to an art course in a college that was in a town that was a bit far from where I lived at the time long ago and the class cost about almost £1000 (when one of my family members and I thought it cost) my family member and I went for a meeting after my gap year from grammar school (secondary schools in Great Britain is like middle school and high school in one. Going from 7th to 12th grade). Turns out that the class costs almost £1000 for one semester of the college year. Not the entire year. Plus the college that I applied to wouldn't give me a bursary because of one my folks earns more than a certain amount of money and I was under the age of 24/25 to get it. Even though I lived about 15/20 miles away from them and I have to spend nearly £50 - £70 per week on travel expenses that would be taken out of my own pocket or my parents pocket. We went forget it and stick that course and the college of yours up your own ass, you jackass. I never went back there again and sometime later, I applied to a college that was a lot closer and cheaper where I lived and I was able to receive my bursary.

You have to apply to your bursary early if you live 3 or more miles away from your college or university or it depends on the system. You can ask the college/university to help you to apply.