The Social Life

One of the many good things about university is that there is no one to tell you that you are not going out dressed like that, young lady. For possibly the first time in your life, you will be free to flit about in the cool night air, from student union to clubs to dubious kebab van, entirely without your coat and your pocket handkerchief. Your parents will never know.

University is famed for its social life - indeed it is one of the things that many prospective students most look forward to about leaving home. There'll not only be the usual array of pubs and clubs to visit, but also a host of university societies, sports clubs and events to keep you gloriously entertained well into the wee hours. Some universities are renowned for their stunning social opportunities, and the ready supply of cheap, strong booze. But is a particular university or city's reputation for its brimming nightlife important enough to influence where you choose to apply?

Though only a fool would base their entire decision on a town's proliferation of "nightspots , it is actually something worth considering. You may not be the sort of person who would thrive in a small-town environment with, admittedly, plenty of pubs and real ale, but where the underground R&B scene is just one weasely bloke with a So Solid Crew CD. Equally, you may not relish the sort of university lifestyle that revolves around cheap cocktails and foam parties, when you'd rather he enjoying a glass of sweet sherry and some scintillating conversation.

Ultimately, your priority should be your course, but your studies will suffer if you aren't happy with the rest of your life. Choosing your university isn't just about sniffing out the best place to do fractal geometry, it's also about finding a place you'll feel happy living for the next three or four years. And part of this will depend on your life outside your work.

Wherever you go, achieving the right balance between work and play is pretty difficult. You may feel anxious, initially, about the huge pile of reading you have to wade through, and this, coupled with the rather daunting prospect of making an entirely new set of compadres, may result in you sitting in your room every night, weeping softly.

Bear in mind, however, that everybody needs a bit of time off to enjoy them-selves. Perversely, your work will probably improve if you aren't slogging away at the coalface 24 hours a day. If you're having trouble meeting people, perhaps consider joining a university club or society - sooner or later you're bound to stumble across some like-minded souls. At the other end of the scale, don't let your new-found freedom lead you to neglect your studies. If you're out at three-legged cider-drinking contests every night of the week, your work will suffer.

Although it's probably pointless trotting out those government guidelines about the recommended number of units of alcohol - though it's 21 for the gentlemen and ...

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