The Uni Life - a 1/2 year student's evaluation

I love uni. I'll say it again. I love uni. When I left school, I was completely ready for a change, even though I didn't think I was ready for uni specifically. Having got here, however, I'm pleased I am here. However, in my first semester a few myths and treasures about uni have been revealed. I shall start with the gloom and work my way up. First on the list: the social life.

Contray to my expectations of uni life, I have not been sucked into a vortex of lights, dancing and music every night (which is good, just to clarify - I'm not sure I could survive staying up till 1am every night... ). But I find uni life quite docile in comparison to the amount of time I spent out of home during the year 12 to uni transition period. However, I'm willing to put this down to sudden release of a year of stress and a complete lack of responsibilities over this period.

What I find really suprising is that an arts degree generally means that you are very isolated. The amount of freedom and movement in such a degree (discussed later) basically means that you're lucky if you see the same person in two different lectures. It makes forming friendships very difficult, and very awkward. Unless you're going to invite someone you've met twice to, lets say Gloria Jeans for arguments sake, generally this wierd acquaintance-friend relationship prevails. Generally, the more solid friendships I have formed have been with pre-uni acquaintances. This is something I had not expected at all from uni life. I had previously viewed uni as the epitome of sociality - where all the previous barriers forced upon you by school's institutional segregation were stripped away in this kind of cross-age/gender melding. But apparently, the only way to initiate any real group social behaviour at university is to provide alcohol, and a lot of it. I find this disappointing. Having come from such a tight school social group, drifting in and out with randoms is somewhat lack lustre in comparison. It's just a bit too shallow.

Another down point for me is the clubs/societies. Not only do you have to pay for them (I'm not made of money people!) but there is generally a real lack of either:

1. Originality
2. Organisation

Those clubs that are original lack organisation, and those clubs that are organised are usually so because they designate weekly pub nights. I have nothing against going and having a drink, but when it becomes the centre of that club and the only way in which to unify people, particulary if it involves regularly drinking to excess, I loose interest quickly. So when universities talk about a range of social groups to broaden a person's interests, I now tend to be cynical rather than optimistic about the potential benefits to round out my interests/hobbies as a person or to my ability to bond with other uni students. On the quirky side, I did find this:

Pole Dancing Club at Cambridge

On a slightly more positive note, I adore the freedom that going to uni gives. Not only do I spend less time in classes which I find less than useful or interesting, I don't have to spend any time in the at all! I have complete freedom to pick and choose whatever interests and challenges me. I love the choice and the flexibility. It's great motivation. And it means reduced hours! No more 8am - 3pm days, with my every movement structured around a rigid timetable with teachers checking you at every corner. The only person disadvantaged by me not turning up to class is me, and the only one keeping me accountable is me. I know there are people out there who dislike this new found responsibility/freedom, but I love it, it makes me feel that much more in control of my life.

So I guess in the end, uni wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it's good. It makes me appreciate all the more the friends I have and extends my academic interests at the least. Now all I need to work on is getting the rest of life together...

Wolfmother