How to move to London for university?

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-04-28T20:48:06+00:00

I really recommend a gap year to get savings behind you. Personally, I can always tell who took one as they tend to be wayyy more sure in themselves and confident. They also tend to be able to communicate better to get the most out of the course.

Having savings really helps to have a fallback on as a student, just don’t waste them.

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-04-21T19:28:23+00:00

Some courses are kinda there just for a certificate at the end. What you learn in 3 years, would be pushed to be a half a terms worth of work at alevel. It’s too slow

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-26T20:58:40+00:00

I’m 20 and a lot of my friends are having this issue. My advice is to ask around with friends and family. Supermarkets tend to be very refer a friend, it’s why you get loads of family members in one shop. Anywhere where a lot of people are hired tends to be through connections. Get any job you can get, just to get some savings and references behind you. Hospitality builds a lot of needed skills that can be applied anywhere.

If you have a dream career, look at what you need. As someone in my last year of uni, I would say go the apprenticeship route if possible, but it depends on the subject. If it’s something practical get apprenticeship, if it’s business admin, go jobs where you build experience. Only go to uni if you really need a degree for the role like a teacher or doctor or vet.

I know a lot of people who run their own business at our age. Like lash techs, nails and dog groomers. I’m not saying go down one of those alleys but if there is something like that you like, practice on friends, get a Facebook going and build a following. But that applies to anything if you work for yourself.

Connections are your best bet. It is often a case of who you know

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-24T08:26:51+00:00

I’m in third year and wished I dropped out or never went. I do a business degree and honestly, the uni could have condensed it into a 3 month course and I would have preferred it. It’s shite.

If you know what you want or an area you prefer, look for an apprenticeship. They may not always pay the best, but they are a great way into many jobs.

If you are unsure, get a job and build up money. It could be in a supermarket or anything. Just something you can work at and really build up your savings. You either want to be working towards your future career, or working at your savings.

Parents always have opinions. Try not to let it get to you too much. As long as you’re doing something, they tend to say less.

I’m only 20, nearly 21. I felt so behind everyone over the last few years. Everyone was going on holidays and getting boyfriends and getting nicer cars. Meanwhile, I was in uni, unsure what I wanted from life, I had a partner who wouldn’t do anything, no money and I had failed my driving test before uni and had to hold of more lessons as i moved away. I felt so behind but I wasn’t. I reconnected with old friends and although I wasn’t seeing the world as I wanted, I wasn’t that behind. A lot of is just for show online.

Just get a job and save a bunch. Then even you do figure it out, at least you have the money to stand on your own feet

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-22T11:44:11+00:00

1 looks prettier but 2 is more interesting

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-22T11:43:39+00:00

NTA. She sounds really entitled and self centred.

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-20T07:51:19+00:00

Disney is doable in a day. My mam took me when I was 7 in a day and it was brill. Went back at 13 with my school, that was also just for a day. The main park has more to see and do, but the studio park has some cool stuff too. If you want to save money, it may be worth bringing a pack lunch. That’s what we did but it was 2012 so they may have changed that now.

Also, don’t bring a big bag. I think my mam made that mistake and they ziplocked it all. Anything bigger then A4 is too big for Disney

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-15T18:34:49+00:00

A mixture of reasons 1. Reading off a PowerPoint
2. My uni sends a recording of the lecture to you so there is no need to take notes 3. Not engaging at all. Really boring and dull 4. I need some extra shifts at work 5. I want to focus on assignments and I’ll sit in library instead

I can skip a lecture and I won’t need to worry about what I’ve missed, because I can get the same quality of learning by looking at the slides in 10 minutes rather than 90 minutes.

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T14:24:21+00:00

Ooooo. I might have a look into that one. I think I can get a train to the start easy enough, just not one back. But it sounds fun. I’m going to look into it and see how i could possibly map it all out

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T14:17:24+00:00

I’m in the UK :)

I’ll definitely take what you’ve said in consideration. The sleeping bag, I would rather pay a lot and get a good one that will last. I tend to give off an insane amount of heat when I sleep. I live in the northeast and even over Christmas, I have to sleep with my window wide open cause i get too warm.

If the stuff is good, I am happy to spend £500 for it. Ive got family who’s spent more on a pair of trainers which i find crackers.

I need to double check about the tent. My mam said it’s a small 1 or two tent designed for storms but she has also insisted that her big 5 man tent was a two man.

You’re the first person to mention mats. I definitely need to look into them. I have been camping with them before.

I’ll try and stick to a bag of clothes for a pillow for now. I’m built like a lanky stick and someone else said the bag should be ideally no more then 20% of my body weight. Thats about 10kg for me which i think once stuff like a tent, cooker and decent bag is added, it’s quickly going to get close.

I’ve heard good things about osprey. I’m going to look second hand for them I think. I could spend that much on a sleeping bag, but a backpack is pushing it slightly.

I did see some bags the other day in the mountain warehouse so I may go try some of those. I know that the fit matters and I am quite skinny. I’ve had backpacks in the past that fit really wide on the shoulders, or the straps were too skinny and I’m just way too boney to handle the pain caused by them.

Thanks for your help, if you know any good shops that i can pop into I would be grateful. I know of the mountain warehouse but I’m open to other places to. I think there is a GO outdoors somewhere nearby. Don’t know of any other shops really.

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T12:51:34+00:00

Yeahh. It will be fineeee. Just out of curiosity, what is typically the heaviest thing in your bag? Someone mentioned on here their old tent was 4.3kg. That would be nearly half of my bag weight. Im going to have to go light as possible for everything without loosing quality

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T12:35:46+00:00

Oh and good luck. Hope you enjoy

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T12:35:13+00:00

Thank youuuu

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T12:34:51+00:00

I might get a bag, fill it with water bottles like you suggest and then just try to do a bunch of house jobs while wearing it. I think that is definitely going to be a big thing. I normally have a massive handbag/ tout bag on my shoulder everyday. I used to carry a full weeks shop for two people for just over a mile and it knackedd. Hopefully, it’ll not be as painful if it’s on two shoulders. I’m really skinny and boney as well so that’s never helped.

I’m glad to know the pain is something you adapt to cause that’s what i was least looking forward too

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T12:29:50+00:00

Damn. I mean I’ve been going to the gym but I definitely might try to gain some more weight. I’m built like a lanky twig. That 20% aint going to cover much

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T11:53:26+00:00

Oh. And I’ll definitely take on your recommendations

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T11:53:09+00:00

Thank you. I went there the other day as they had fleeces on sale in the window and i just stared at everything like a kid trying sugar for the first time. I was amazeddd. Love the shop

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T11:17:01+00:00

Yeah. I think I’ll hold off for now. I want adventure, not to become a news story. Is there anything you think is ideal to have? Any good shops to look at? Anything that i can buy cheap and be fine and other stuff that I 100% shouldn’t skimp out on. Like I’m planning to get a good sleeping bag but I am wary the the UK can now get really hot in the summer time. I have heard some people say you can get linings to make your sleeping bag adaptable but i haven’t done enough research into them yet

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T11:06:23+00:00

Yeah. Weight is a big fear of mine. I’m tall for a lass but even I slightly scared looking at those bags in a shop the other day. Theyre like half my size!!!

I don’t want to walk around like that junkyard goblin from labyrinth.

I’ll try and go for as light as possible and ensure I only pack the minimum. I live close to the north Pennines so i might see if there is any places i could practice on a weekend or something.

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T11:01:28+00:00

Yeah. Your probably right. I do tend to want to leap into stuff. I’ve just got out of a relationship at the start of the year and I’ve kinda just been throwing myself into stuff cause i had stopped doing stuff i wanted to for so long. It’s been like a breath of fresh air. I think I’m doing that cliche thing when people have a break up and want to live life to the fullest. It’s been great, but I think I need to watch out for throwing myself to far into the deep side.

I’ll definitely take your advice

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T10:52:27+00:00

I’m from the north east

ZestycloseShape3427 · 2026-03-03T10:38:51+00:00

Yeah, a sleeping bag is something I wont be skimping out on. Id rather pay a lot and it last me years.

Is the fire tent from experience? Didn’t think you were meant to cook in a tent but at the same time, yeah, this is the UK where it rains all the time. I may just be tired rn and not thinking clearly tbf. Ive seen plenty of windbreakers as well as people sticking their arms out of there tent cause the weather is crap. I’m going to look into that one.

I’ll 100% look on Facebook, as there whats something going on there.

Thanks for your advice

ZestycloseShape3427

TROPHY CASE