Being in the library.. it's that time of year again

Who can actually say they've spent more than two hours or until closing time at the library this year?

First year, I did everything I could not to be in the library all together; not take out any books, any journals, no way was I walking about the floors for half an hour looking for a empty computer.

However, if your an avid reader of my blog, you know that my course is a little harder than I was first prepared for. Even though I didn't exactly get out any books/ journals in first year, I had definitely spent a good enough time in the library around this time of year... REVISION TIME. EXAMS. HELL.

Yes, Hell. Revision for exams for university is unlike any pressure than at high school or college and I can never really understand why. We've been doing exams most of our lives, so why is it that when it comes to university we still have no idea what to revise or have the slightest clue how to do it.
Why is it that there's so many ways of revision from cue cards, to quizzing one another, podcasts, past papers and every year all students doss about saying "I cant be assed to revise yet mannn." (literally my own quote).
If I'm honest I cannot revise to save my life, a part from maybe writing lecture slides out so many times it just sticks but that is sooo unbelievably boring that instead I write mind-maps and simple theories around the house so every time I walk past I have to read it.

I guess as well, it's a daunting thing because it's the end of yet another year. At the end of May, that's the end of my second year of University. For some people, it's the end of four years or the start of four years or the start of a year in placement (like me!) and we're all really... nervous.

Right now, I'm in the library in a somewhat secret room (but you couldn't really tell by the amount of people in here). I've been stuck in this room for the past three days revising whilst a friend has been going over our latest assignment trying to get that out of the way! We have assignments on top of exams and feedback questionnaires (don't get me started), finance revision classes and final seminars/lectures because that's it for my second year. As of June I go off to Placement and I don't come back until September 2013. Scary stuff eh?

So what are my tips for revision in the second year, you say?
I have literally no idea; hope for the best, attend the sessions, read around the subject, get up past papers, revise with a friend, stock up on goodies, get comfy in the library and prepare not to leave for a while because it will be your home for a month or so.
But don't worry, I'll be doing the exact same thing for the whole month of May.

I think when your falling asleep and you feel as if at least one thing has been learnt for the day - then it's been a good day and if you feel like you haven't, trust that the next day you'll probably be twice more likely to have something sink in.
Plus, I always try my best - and if I fail, I've failed (and I've done it in just about over a handful of exams). But I know that it's not the end of the world because I can always retake. Sometimes it's all anyone can ask for.

Good Luck!

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How to stage an all-nighter

So this is probably my fourth time staging the study all-nighter. First year I was notorious for them; a assignment due the next day but you'd been too scared to complete it? pull an all-nighter. Been out way too much and you finally realise that you have to do some reading before the lecture tomorrow? pull an all-nighter. Way too much on for you to handle; you just started working and before you know it it's midnight but you can't prepare yourself to stop? pull an all-nighter. Simple.

So it's not good for you to not sleep for a day but this is university, you're not supposed to drink excessively but we do it anyway. Everything in moderation, I say.

At the moment, it's 7.46am on Wednesday morning and I've been up since 10.30am Tuesday morning. I have a 500 word literature review on economic impacts and a 2000 word essay on Entrepreneurial Development. I've finished the ED essay (however it's 3000 words) but I'm struggling very muchly on the literature review.

My all-nighter has consisted of 40minute study time and the occasional 10minute spider solitaire break. I've watched both the brand new Glee's and have been trolling through YouTube looking for anything to keep me up. As well as eating a hell of a load of chocolate bourbons; I'm surprisingly, on my second cup of coffee, stolen some Sugar Puff cereal in a mug and gone through three packets of tissues. Oh, plus the odd posts on Facebook - about absolutely nothing at 3am in the morning, then again 40minutes later thinking it's been about an hour since I last posted.

However (this is the good part), I've been to university, had a thorough talk about placements, emailed people about placements, looked at placements and part time jobs, emailed people about the fundraiser I'm organising, seen my friend do a open-mic set and do most of my review and essay.
See! Useful! All in a actual full days work.

So here are the tips I've stuck with on pulling an study all-nighter:
1. Do work. Your supposed to be studying, don't end up downloading movies and watching crap TV (even if I watched two new Glee's - I had been working really hard before that)
2. Comfy? Make sure you're comfortable. Nothing's worse than being up all night, done all that work and you've been in the most uncomfortable position that you can hardly stand... Talk about nightmare.
3. Coffee. Caffeine. Sugar. You're gonna need it. I've heard a disgusting recipe today for Red-Bull and Berrocca, can you imagine..? Pro Plus can help, so can coffee, Red Bull, Monster, Relentless.. and water helps too!
4. Time yourself. Saying you're going to study consistently for the whole night is unlikely and stupid. Give yourself a break.
5. Again, Sugar. I always think something sweet (like chocolate) gets me through the night..
6. Stretch. Stiff neck, stretch; aching back, stretch; cramping fingers, stretch.
7. Tiredness. There will be a bit where you think "Forget this, I can't stand it anymore, I need sleep." Push through, get up and walk about for a bit, drink some more coffee. Remember that this is all about getting the work done, you can sleep when you've finished it.
8. Water. Definitely have water by your side.
9. MUSIC! click through YouTube like never before, find music on your computer that you completely forgot about so you can head-bang/ mime/ sing along. Anything to keep you upbeat and lively.
10. Mood swings. You've been up all night what did you expect?
11. Reward yourself. By what else? sleep.

Really, you even considering or completing an study all-nighter means you're not very good with your time management so in actual fact, you should be ignoring this post... because you've already completed all your work right?.. RIGHT?!


Don't worry, I won't tell if you won't.

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Tips I've learnt from being at University for a year

Me and my housemate.
That is a cup on my head.

1. Appreciate your double bed back at home. You'll be downgrading to a single at Uni. They don't encourage sex.
2. Always use your student card at McDonalds. And everywhere else were you can get student discount. Don’t be afraid to ask if they do student discount (however, they only do it nearer student towns)
3. You don't need NUS Extra card (It may help at times, but it’s not an absolute must)
4. Meal cards (Sainsbury’s, Asda meal cards) at supermarkets are a blessing. Get your parents to put money on it as a leaving present before you go away. They are literally priceless.
5. Be friends on Facebook with the local pubs/ clubs to see what's on (but expect lots of event requests)
6. Going out is for 1st years, say goodbye to that 2nd year onwards. It’s a shame but true.
7. You'll never party hard nor as much as you will at Fresher’s
8. Nor will you drink as much
9. Experience new things. How will you know, if you don’t try it?
10. Don't budget too much, budgeting is for 2nd years. That’s just my opinion anyway…
11. However, know this now, after 1st year is over, you WILL be broke
12. Alcohol and cakes are good house-warming gifts. Alcohol and chocolate, what’s not to like?
13. Brush up on your drinking games NOW. There’s a lot out there…
14. Learn how to cook basics, buy a GOOD cookbook but know that after the first three months you won't look at it again
15. Simple but worth it: during half terms to give your liver a rest. But still go out.
16. If you want to do work whilst in the campus bar, bring a laptop. Working with a drink = Ultimate multi-tasking.
17. Read the campus magazine/newspaper for the latest info on what’s going on around Campus.
18. Remember that £20 for a night out is more than enough. It’s not high night out prices, this is University prices. Relish in the cheapness that is, going out as a student.
19. If you spend more when drunk, leave your credit card with friends that you trust/ or at home.
20. Hide emergency money… But I know that you’ll probably find it at 2am in the morning drooling over the late night Subway. It’s the thought that counts.
21. Pre-drinking is essential. ESSENTIAL.
22. Don't fret if you end up in a Unilet; I loved it. You might too. Don’t be put off with the fact that you won’t be in halls, you’ll probably visit mates there anyway, or better yet, get a better location than the halls.
23. Remember the Mermaid Theory, AKA, you're bound to find at least one of your housemates attractive because you'll spend so much time together. And before you think that's rubbish... Here's How I Met Your Mother to prove it.
24. If you’ve drunk too much and are sick, you’re sick. Remember, it’s not a contest.
25. Be respectful. Of your neighbours, housemates, yourself.
26. Saturday nights out are expensive. With older drunken thirty-year-olds… yeah, I’d pass too.
27. Take FULL advantage of £1 drinks. This is where £20 is more than enough.
28. Learn to take shots. Learn how to neck a drink without being sick after and you’ll fly through Uni.
29. Don't use the fire extinguishers. EVER.
30. Wash up after yourself. No-one likes someone who’s lazy, I should know personally, but if you clean up, there are no arguments.
31. Milk Thistle is GOD. If you read my hangover post, it will explain.
32. 9am lectures were made to be slept through in your 1st year. It’s a fact.
33. Do your best but don't aim TOO high, first year doesn't count (unless, of course, it does)
34. Don’t panic if you have to do re-sits. It’s way more common than you think and it’s not something to feel down about, this happens.
35. Maybe try to get a job in your first year but not right in the middle of Fresher’s. Fresher’s is the time to PARTY. Not work. Unless you want to be drunk at work…
36. Weight gain/ loss. You’ll be drinking a lot and you’ll probably lose some weight but this is common. Also you’ll be drinking a lot and you’ll probably put on some weight. Again, this is common.
37. TV licensing! In halls you probably won’t need one, but if you’re in a house, it’s worth it. Someone (I’m not even joking, it’s happened to us) will knock on your door and ask you questions.
38. The gym/ fitness classes are so much cheaper than the ones you’ll live near, so why don’t you try something that you’ve always wanted to do? Rock climbing, Zumba, Pole Dancing, spinning classes?

Food Top Tips

Pre drink!

You’re going to have to – if you don’t already. Basically, get drunk enough to still be able to walk in a straight line.

Pasta!

Believe me, after my four years of University I’m going to be fed up of pasta but it’s just so easy to make and there’s so much you can do with it: pasta bakes, bolognaise, carbonara, tagliatelle, ravioli, macaroni etc…

Cookbook!

You will need one – but that’s a given. Your cookbook should contain meals in less than 30 minutes and have different sections.

Learn to make big dinners you can have again and again and again and again until you want to be sick (I’ve already done it with macaroni and cheese).

It’s okay to get ready made meals and to have Pizza Hut BOGOF (buy one get one free) deals once in a while but make it a treat to save money.

OR

Group meals. But only if you and your housemates have all run out of food otherise it can get tricky. It’s definitely you should look into if you can, go out and buy large bulk of food (rice, mince etc) and make it together. A great way of getting to know your housemates better and also it can equal out to something like 50p for a main meal!

No Kebabs at the end of the night!

Make a meal before you go out so when you get in your less likely to grab that kebab that will ultimately make you feel worse in the morning. It could be anything from a snack to a sandwich that's waiting for you when you get back or a pizza nice and cold (I love cold pizza) or in the oven waiting for you to turn it on... (However, I've used a oven when I was drunk and I have the scar to prove it: BE CAREFUL)

Shopping Hungry: A No Go!

Don’t go shopping hungry. I did it and came back with loads of chocolate goodies for myself that I loved at the time but I didn’t really need them.

Plus!

Always be on the lookout for deals in local supermarkets and of course, shopping… 30% off plus your student discount = BARGIN!

I’ve found this website (the little yellow star on certain sauces) that gives you recipes that are good and quite quick.

http://www.greatlittleideas.com/theme/140/student-grub/

Add your own little comments if you have any more suggestions J

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