Student — Sophie Rothwell

Sophie has just completed a BA in History at the University of Sheffield. Before embarking on a Masters course she reflects upon her undergraduate experience and offers advice to new students

How did you find settling into university and student life in general?

Initially, I was nervous about settling into university life as I worried about making friends and missing home. However, I quickly realised that I shouldn't have stressed nearly as much. While I did get a little homesick, meeting amazing people both in my flat and on my course helped to combat these feelings and provided a great distraction on days that I missed home. These friends really helped me settle into university life and doing activities with them, such as exploring campus and shopping together, also helped me settle into my new surroundings.

What three things did you love most about student life?

• The first is how it enables you to see your friends regularly, whether studying in the library together, catching up at training or meeting up for a coffee. Getting to see your friends so often is such a blessing while at university, and it'll be one of the things I miss most.
• Second are the opportunities you're granted while at university. There are always activities to get involved with, such as volunteering or even work experience, which are highly rewarding and help you to pick up valuable skills following your university experience. 
• Finally, and most importantly, student life gives you independence. While it can be daunting to imagine moving away from home, the freedom you're granted in return is well worth it. I felt as though I grew a lot as a person in my first year of university, not only as I had to learn to cook properly, but also by facing and resolving challenges alone. Although 18 at the start of my first year of study, I didn't feel like an adult until the end of that year.

What were some of the challenges?

You'll face many new challenges at university but none of them are impossible to overcome. One challenge might be feeling homesick, which is difficult to combat, but I recommend that you reach out to those around you, as it's always better to talk it out.

Other challenges might arise with your newfound independence, such as cooking or making a doctor's appointment, but you'll learn with experience - and maybe a quick call home just to double-check.

What non-essential items did you pack for university that became invaluable?

Cold and flu day and night tablets will be a lifesaver during freshers' week and are always worth having in your accommodation. If you don't end up using them, I guarantee someone else will.

Additionally, having a hot water bottle can be really nice when you're not feeling great. I didn't bring one with me in my first year and ended up buying one about a week in, which I would definitely recommend.

Can you provide tips on sharing a flat with people you don't know?

Something that worked really well for my flat was doing activities together. This doesn't have to involve going on nights out, it can just be having dinner together or exploring the campus as a group.

During my first year, my flat would come together and cook a roast dinner every Sunday, which helped us connect as a group. It might seem really difficult to approach someone, especially on your first day, but I promise that everyone is in the same boat.

Were you involved in student societies? If so, how did they enrich your experience?

I was part of the History Society since starting university. I think this was a great way for me to meet people on my course and it was super easy to talk to everyone, as we at least had our degree in common.

I also started going to Women Engineers Rugby, as some of my friends already went and I thought it would be a great opportunity to try something new. It was so nice taking up a new sport in my final year and I really enjoyed being able to do something active after spending most of the day studying on campus.

How did you find making friends at university?

I was really lucky in that I met most of my friends in my first year as they were flatmates, but everyone has a different experience.

Some of my course friends didn't get on with their flatmates in the first year and instead made friends on their course or through societies.

I also made new friends in my second and third years, who I'd never met in first year, that I am now very close with. To anyone about to start university, don't worry if you don't feel as though you've met your best friends straightaway; you'll find each other.

How did you organise your time to manage all your commitments?

Whenever I could, I tried to combine studies with my social life, such as meeting up with a course mate for a coffee and then getting on with some work together. A lot of people will say doing work with your friends is a bad idea, but it's all about balance. When I was writing my dissertation working with a friend was really helpful, as it meant that we could take breaks together and have a chat rather than spending that time scrolling on my phone.

How did you balance enjoying student life with managing your budget?

The most important factor in budgeting is being aware of how much you're spending each week. When you get to university it's very easy to get caught up in the financial freedom you're granted, especially when your first maintenance loan comes through. I managed to work out how much I was spending on necessities, such as my food shop and rent each week, and from that I figured out what I had left over to spend socially.

What revision techniques worked best for you and why?

I always found flashcards and essay planning to be the most helpful when revising. I like handwriting my flashcards as I find that it helps me memorise the information successfully, and flashcards are also super useful as a form of revision you can do alone if needed.

I then like to write essay plans based on past papers so I can apply the information I'm memorising.

What are your tips on staying productive during the summer break?

Staying motivated over summer can be really difficult as we get such a long break.

If possible look at the content for the modules you'll be taking in the autumn semester to get a head start. This summer I'm planning to work to help fund my Masters and as I'll be studying a different discipline, I'm going to do some reading beforehand to help me prepare.

Did you ever access university support services?

I accessed university support services numerous times as a student with ADHD.

The support services were amazing at putting measures in place that I needed to help me succeed in an academic environment. They also played a huge role in easing the academic transition from sixth form to university. Measures that helped me include breaks in my exams, which allow me to focus in smaller blocks so that I didn't lose focus.

How has university and the student experience impacted your life?

University and student life have greatly impacted my life, as they have truly shaped me into the person I am today. I have had the privilege of growing in an environment where I have been supported fully through my degree, both academically and as an individual. This has directly led me to being a more confident person, and I will always treasure my time at university.

What advice would you give to new students?

Never be afraid to ask. Whether that's asking someone to go round the freshers' fair with you or asking your tutor for a meeting to help you with your course. The questions that might seem scary will really benefit your student experience.

Other than that, just have fun. Going to university will give you so many amazing opportunities, so make the most of it.

Find out more

• Watch Sophie talk about her experience on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ YouTube channel.
• Learn more about university life.
• Take a look at what you can do with a history degree.
• Discover more about studying at the University of Sheffield.