#uni checklist

The night before a class I:

Make sure I’m up to date with the subject’s readings. If I haven’t done this week’s and it’s early enough I might do a bit, otherwise I make a note to do it after class or during a break between lectures.

Make sure my backpack has all my stuff in it. If you’re like me you have a small handbag for day-to-day, a gym bag with any gear/towel in it, and then your uni bag. The night before I make sure my uni bag has my purse/glasses/pencil case/notebook/the class/es in question’s binder/iPod/headphones whatever it is you like to take with you. This means you aren’t running around all morning (especially if it’s an early lecture jesus)

Check for the lecture handouts. The vast majority of lecturers will post a pdf or the ppt file of the lecture slides up the day before the actual lecture to give you the opportunity to print it out and have it ready for class. If you prefer the old school paper and pen way, this is the time to print that out and get it organised. If your lecturer doesn’t, ask them if they’d be ok doing so. Some don’t but have the audio of the lecture go up afterwards (I had an Lit lecturer who would put up the audio as well as the pdf of the ENTIRE LECTURE like he had it word for word written he just would read that shit out, that was a great thing to have for assessments lmty). If you prefer taking notes on a laptop or tablet, this is still a good time to get it downloaded onto the device. 

Put everything in an obvious place. If in the morning you get up and the first thing you see is your desk, put it all there. If you’re far too bleary eyed and/or as blind as I am without my glasses on, put it somewhere you can trip over it or see it once your awake like next to your clothes.

Set your alarms. I have alarms on repeat on specific days for my timetable so I never have to worry about it. For example, I have a 0715 alarm that goes off every mondays and wednesdays due to 9am lectures, and on tuesday, thursdays and fridays I have a different alarm that always goes off at 0930 because I either don’t have classes or I have an afternoon lecture (I still set one to make sure I don’t get into bad sleeping habits on my days off, I can sleep in on the weekend). Even though they’re set to go off automatically on those days/times without me touching them, I find I always double check. Eg. Today I was up at 0430 with a migraine and flicked the alarm off when I finally managed to fall back asleep because that would have been a terrible idea. So always good to double check.

Go to sleep at a reasonable time. I’m not your parent, but seriously do so. You know far better than I do what you can do on what amount of sleep but as I know from an actual study I had to look at for class you want 7-8 hours and to make sure you’re awake about 2hours before your first class to make sure your brain kicks in in time for it. Getting out of bed, half an hour before class, changing and gunning it there in time for it to start isn’t good especially if you take as long to be coherent as me. 

The morning of a class I: 

Have a shower. “A shower”, she says, “as if she doesn’t normally. Ew.” The truth is I don’t, I typically shower at night before bed unless I’ve done some kind of exercise because it helps me settle before sleep. But for a 9am lecture, having a shower helps me wake up far faster than not. Have a cold one, use that shower gel that smells how the scary morning people look.

Have breakfast. I hate breakfast. I do. I’m yet to find breakfast food that isn’t pancakes or waffles I enjoy. But you need something. Grab some bread, or an apple, just something. Grab something for when you get to Uni as well. I’m never hungry when i first yet, in fact I normally just feel ill in the morning trying to eat. But guaranteed, half an hour later on my way to uni that food’s kicked in, my body’s on track and saying I didn’t feed it enough. Grab something like fruit or idk cheese, just something else quick to snack on before class.

Pack the perishables. If it’s a long day (for example, Monday I’m at Uni from 9 til 6 at night. 9-11, 1-3, and 4-6) make sure to account for lunch and snacks. It may seem like a good idea to just get food from the refect/cafe/whatever your campus has but that kinda money does add up and I’m broke. This could be a night before thing if you prefer, but usually not long before I leave the house I scour the fridge and pantry for things I can throw in my bag. Fruit, a sandwich, cheesecubes, LCMs, museli bar, whatever it is you’ll eat, grab it. Please amke sure you do eat or else in the later lectures you aren’t going to be paying attention, you’re going to be thinking about dinner.

BRING WATER. I’m in Australia but anywhere lecture theatres are dry, dead places. It’s easy to forget to drink when you’re paying attention or not paying attention in class but you’re more likely to remember with a water bottle. Also if your campus is like mine if you can even find a bubbler when you’re thirsty they look real dubious and you usually don’t go there. Again, bringing it’s cheaper than paying 3-4$+ for bottled water when you inevitably get thirsty.

One last check. Check your bag’s got everything. Did you leave a notebook out cos you were looking at it before you went to bed? Did you pack your phone after charging it overnight? Is your charger in there? Where are your keys? 

Lock up. Remember to lock the house when you leave, close the gate so your dogs don’t get out...oh is this just me? I just need this reminder? oops.

Get there early. In the first weeks, parking at my campus is super over prescribed. As in the only reason it gets better is because some students decide everything they need is in the textbook or online and stop coming to classes. I usually have to leave an hour early to have a prayer of a parking spot but even if you’re on public transport or whatever, getting to class early means you can find the class (especially if it’s not a building you’re usually in and are unfamiliar with) with plenty of time to pick a good seat, get your stuff out and arranged nicely, you can have a laugh with someone else that’s early and wither make a new friend or at least share a story you’ve heard about the teacher/subject/how’s your assessment going that kinda stuff. The main thing is if you’re running late you might be way at the back or just as terrible in the front row, you may be that person that comes in once class has started and interrupt everything, you’re gonna feel awkward the whole lesson. Get there early, save yourself the trouble. Enjoy your snack. Get any tumblr-ing/game missions on their way so you can put it away for class.

And thus presents:

Lizzy’s  Fantastic Freshers’ Furnishing File

I am also a sucker for really really shitty alliteration sorry!

Documents

Passport, Photocopy of passport (electronic and paper) and spare passport photos (really useful for discount cards you might apply for)

Provisional/ Driver’s Licence 

Medical Documents (proof of immunizations/ prescriptions ect.) + NHS Number + EHIC

Chequebook- lots of societies get you to pay joining fees by cheque

Tuition fees/ Student finance  letter 

Bank details

National insurance number 

CV (electronic and hard copy) + references

Exam results (Optional- I like having all documents with me regardless of whether I will need them or not)

A file to keep all these important documents in

School stuff

Notepads/ lined file paper

Plain paper (possibly in different sizes depending on how you revise)

Pens

Pencils

Ruler

Highlighters

Eraser

Pencil sharpener

Stapler

Hole punch

Pencil case (clear for exams)

Paperclips

Post-it notes

Whiteboard pen

Tippex

Sellotape 

Scissors

Diary/ Planner/ and wallchart

Thumbtacks

Stamps

Envelopes

Leverarch folders

Address Book

Room and Living 

Posters and white tack

2 Pillows, 1 duvet, 1 mattress cover

2 fitted sheets, 2 bed sheets, 4 pillow covers, 2 duvet covers

Bedside and desk lamp & fairy lights

Hangers

Clothes horse (aka Patrick theairer eyyyyy)

Sewing kit

Laundry basket + washing powder +Fabric softener

Extra Blanket

Decorative pillows + teddy

Extension lead 

Bedside clock and batteries 

Door stop (I am making mine)

Trash can (one that can double up as a chunder bucket)

Mirror

Hot water bottle

Storage boxes

Torch 

Books 

Big bag to carry laundry in (i.e those big blue Ikea bags)

Kitchen 

Cookbook/ book of microwave meals

Knife, fork, normal spoon, tea spoon and maybe a dessert/ larger spoon

1 large plate, 1 small plate, 1 bowl

1 sharp knife 

2 chopping boards

2 mugs (I can’t choose between my two fave mugs so they are both coming along)

1 regular glass, 4 shot glasses 

Microwave safe tupperware (buy lots in different sizes)

Microwave safe dish (only if you don’t have microwave safe tupperware)

Large kitchen scissors

Tea towel & hand towel

Washing up liquid+ sponge + scourer

Sandwich bags

Sandwich bag clips

A plastic water bottle

Bottle opener + corkscrew

Food! (I am only bringing things like cereal, busicuits and sugar given my college is catered but I will update on the food situation once I get there :) )

Drink (Alcohol. I will probably bring a bottle of vod and buy more up there because it is cheaper. Might be an idea to buy something to mix it with but who knows! Oh also tea, coffee, hot chocolate, ovaltine, and oj )

Bathroom

2 normal towels, I swim towel, 1 flannel 

Flip flops (bazooka that verruca)

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash  (you will want this, trust)

Face wash (if you have skin which looks like you have been working in a chippie all day like moi)

Lip balm ( wink wink, but also cos it is cold up in the North)

Hand cream (again it cold)

E 45 cream and bio oil (Look after your skin it covers all your insides)

Shampoo, Conditioner and Shower gel

Shaving cream and razor/ hair removal cream/ whatever similar item

Hairbrush, hair bands, hair slides/ clips and a hairdryer

Some form of contraception (you will get chlamydia and die otherwise)

Makeup + makeup remover

Nail kit + varnish

Deodorant (pls compsci people don’t fulfill the stereotype please)

Suncream??? lol as if in England

Tissues + Emergency Toilet paper

First aid kit (yep you need one now you big fancy adult)

Ibuprofen/ paracetamol/ aspirin/ some form of painkiller

Plasters/ bandages and cotton pads

Throat lozenges + nasal spray (for freshers flu)

Antiseptic cream

Tweezers

Dioralyte (this is a re-hydration sachet and if drunk when you get back after a heavy night out, your hangover will disappear like magic)

Electricals 

Laptop + charger+ bag (or PC )

USB Stick and Hard drive

Phone + charger

Earphones

Camera + charger

I pod + charger

Portable charger

Raspberry pi + keyboard + Mouse + monitior (if I can find a cheap monitor)

Xbox 360? (depends on the monitor)

Alarm clock

Misc.

Sheet music

Handbag

Purse

Keys

Cake (to make friends)

Knitting

Boot polish

Deck of cards + 1 or 2 board games

Sunglasses

Jewelry

Clothes

Jeans, shorts, skirts

T-shirts, Long tops, blouses, vest tops

Thermals

Hoodies, thick flannel, Thick jumpers, cardigans

Underwear + socks 

Dresses (formal & clubbing/going out)

Prom dress

Hat + scarf + gloves

Raincoat, thick winter coat, lighter coat for going out 

Pjs, tracksuit bottoms, comfy shorts

Bikini + functional swimsuit

Gym clothes + gloves

Fancy dress stuff 

Shoes (sandals, DM’s, sports shoes,Converse, heels, wellies and slippers- maybe walking shoes)

That’s all folk’s! Please may you kindly notify me if there is some key element I am missing in my list but happy packing :D