Top Tips for Local Students
Make the most of what you have to your advantage
You may know the city really well – you might have a head´s up of the best places to go out / eat / while away the time between lectures. You´re in a great position to help those that are new to the city or the country in getting settled.
Use the University´s facilities in between lectures
Be it knuckling down to work in the Information Commons, or going to a class at USport, there are lots of things you can do on or around campus if you´re travelling in from further afield or don´t want to go home between lectures.
Keep up to date with what´s happening in the Union
sign up for Umail and you´ll receive newsletters and texts (go to the Sheffield Union website and follow the sign up instructions on the first page). Events are great opportunities to get to know people, and you could invite people from your course to go along with you.
Use the Source
This is the place in the union where you´ll find loads of info on what´s going on in the university and across the region. Check out the 'Give It A Go' programme, or join a student society – there are over 300 societies currently running, so there is bound to be something that´s up your street. Sports clubs, committees and societies are a great way of meeting people. If you didn´t join in September, don´t worry - you can join at any point in the year. (The Source is through both sets of double doors to the left of the reception in the Union Building.)
Bring a friend along
You might want to get involved in something but don´t want to go alone. Why not take a friend with you for moral support; you´re allowed to sign two non-student friends into Union events.
Check the University jobshop in the Union
Find a job on or close to campus- it will help you feel more integrated into University life, can be easier to fit in around lectures, and extra cash always comes in handy!
Familiarise yourself with your department
Find out what facilities your department has to offer, and important locations (do you have a pigeon hole? Where is your personal tutor´s office?) Your department will run lots of events and activities – keep an eye out on departmental noticeboards.
Turn up to lectures and seminars!
This may sound obvious, but attendance is crucial to your academic success, not to mention THE place where you will spend time with your coursemates. Make an effort to talk to people and perhaps arrange to meet up beforehand and go along together. You can also try and go through work together; it´s a great way to get over any academic problems and meet new people.
Before you arrive
Go to the Commuter Student welcome event that happens each September (you will be invited to this). It is a really good opportunity to meet other students who will be commuting in to university, and to speak to current students about their experience.