If it makes you happy, wear it.

Caps help you draw attention and make you stand out from the crowd. Wearing a cap will complete your look – it’s a simple yet great accessory to make you look confident. Whether you prefer to wear it as a sporty accessory or a fashion statement, the cap will make you hold your head up high.

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Coming from the North East, Groovy Students is naturally passionate about football and there’s no better way to show this than to sponsor grassroots football.

“Ponteland United are a highly respected local team and have been established for over a 100 years. Grassroots football brings huge benefits to children in many ways and we’re proud to be able to lend some financial support to ensure the team have the kits and training gear they need.” Says Steven from Groovy students.

Groovy Students have also sponsored university and course events in the past so if your club, society or course is based in Sunderland or Teesside University, feel free to contact us about potential sponsorship.

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Here are 7 quick tips to help you experience the best freshers’ week possible.

Freshers’ week, are you ready?

1. Don’t be scared

No one knows you (well, probably not many people) and you won’t know everyone either, so don’t be afraid to say hi to your next door neighbour (if your living in student accommodation), course mates, or anyone else when you’re out socialising.

Of course, you may feel nervous about starting a conversation with a complete stranger, but really, what have you got to lose?

A great way to start a conversation could be a simple:

“Hi, do you go to uni here?”

Or, if you’re pretty confident, you could go all Joey-esque…

2. Join clubs and societies

This can’t be overstated enough. Joining clubs and societies gives you a chance to meet like-minded people, be part of your own little tribe, and to hang out and chill. When you have down time, or you just need to get your head out of studying, or want someone to have lunch with between classes, you will be able to find someone to hang out with, rather than eating lunch on your own.

Beware, some clubs and societies charge up-front payments, so unless you are really passionate about that particular subject and are certain you’ll make the most of the meet ups and activities, look for cheaper alternatives.

3. Get your paperwork done and save a load of money

Here’s the boring bit, but it’s probably going to save you a load of money and headaches. Getting all your paperwork done early, such as your student card, officially enrolling, sorting out your council tax, TV licence and getting your student loans arranged, will make your first weeks a lot easier.

Don’t forget your passport, bank details, passport sized photos and acceptance letter when it comes to doing all your paperwork as it makes it a lot easier and as stress free as possible. This will set you up nicely for freshers’ week and beyond.

4. Try not to attend every single event that is on

It’s tempting when people ask you to come along to events, and it’s only natural that you want to please them by agreeing, but don’t go to every single event that is on. Not only will your head and wallet hurt from attending all these events, you’ll probably find it quite stressful trying to fit them in your schedule.

By (politely) saying no, or by making up a plausible excuse, you’re able to let yourself recuperate and chill out between events so that you can really enjoy the events you’re actually looking forward to.

Other ways you can do this is by actually organising a small event at home or at your student accommodation. This way you can still meet new people, chill out in front of the TV or get a movie night going (if you’re staying in one of our student accommodations, you’ll find that our dedicated cinema room is perfect for this) and have some home-made cocktails, which is far cheaper than going on a night out and better than shouting over loud music and queuing up in the rain.

5. Stock up for the morning

Let’s be real, you’re probably going to have a hangover at some point in your freshers’ week, and if you’re not the drinking type, you’re going to be staying out late meeting new people, so don’t forget about the morning after when you just can’t be bothered to get out of bed.

If you are drinking type, then remember to get your tried and tested hangover cure ready (no… more alcohol is not the answer), so if your cure is a full English breakfast, or a strong cup of coffee, just make sure that you have some in the fridge waiting. It’ll save you an absolute fortune in the long run and you’ll be thanking us for the tip when all you can do is walk to the bathroom.

6. Make friends the easy way

For those that find it difficult to meet new people, the best and easiest way to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger is by doing a fancy dress party. It’s an instant way to break the ice and you’ll be surprised how many people will actually come to you and start talking.

If you or your friends are the creative types, you can make a costume or look with very little money. The more outlandish, bright and funny your costume is, the more people will want to speak to you, we promise!

7. Take it easy on the alcohol

Yes, fresher’s week is for partying and drinking, but don’t be that person who is sick all the time from drinking; you’ll quickly get a reputation for overdoing it, which can stick around for many years.

Not only will you have to deal with the after effects (see point 5), your wallet will be much lighter and your friends far fewer as they’d have to be looking after you rather than having a good time.

8. Ration your money/ student loan

Finally, the one thing we always recommend to students is to ration your money. There’s nothing that feels worse than finishing freshers’ week, looking at your bank account and seeing that you’re going to be living off bread and water for the next few months. Set aside some money and be extra vigilant that you’re not going to start using that money for drinking and partying.

If you’re going to Teesside University or Sunderland University, we would love to hear about your freshers’ experience and what your tips are for having the best experience possible.

The post Top 7 Tips for the Best Freshers’ Week… EVER! appeared first on Groovy Students.

So you’ve got your results and you didn’t get what you hoped for, now is the time to keep a calm head as your dreams of university is still possible.

Clearing is a popular way to get into university if your haven’t quite achieved your grades. It’s a way for universities to fill their places left on courses so don’t worry, there’s plenty of opportunities left.

The first thing is to take a deep breath and relax and realise that there are many others around you who are going through the same process.

Going Through Clearing Doesn’t Have To Be Stressful

It’s how you respond next that counts. Gather your thoughts, your qualifications, pen and paper ready and start looking at which university and courses are available. Now is the time to be organised and focused.

Clearing is a busy time for universities, who sometimes outsource their calls to call centres, however don’t be surprised if you speak with course tutors, mentors or University recruitment staff as its all hand to the deck for universities. The absolute best way to see if a space is available at a university or course is by picking up the phone and calling, but be ready to be put in a queue, so have a cup of tea at hand.

Clearing Tip 1

1. Have these IMPORTANT pieces of information at hand as you will be asked them immediately:

– UCAS ID

– Personal clearing number

– Grades you got

– Course name and Code

They will need to confirm that you are the person wishing to apply so you cant pass this off to your parents, sibling or friend. Don’t worry about chatting to the staff as they are trained professionals there to assist you. If your grades aren’t good enough, they will let you know.

Clearing Tip 2.

Make clear notes of what each university tells you. Get them to confirm your email address and telephone number to make sure they have it correct. Also make a note of who you spoke to in case you need to follow up,.

Clearing Tip 3.

If your grades are good enough, most universities will now email the offer to you, but don’t stop there! Contact other universities in case they also offer you a place too as your not obligated to take up the offer. If you have a list of universities who offer you a space, you can take do a bit more research and compare the universities.

Clearing Tip 4.

Some universities may wish to speak to you in person about your grades (the dreaded interview!). This can happen straightaway on the phone, or later that day. Be completely open and honest in your interview (even better if you note down the reasons why you failed to hit your target , your goals and your plans after you study on paper in bullet point format) so you don’t get stuck for something to say. Always end the conversation on a positive note.

Clearing Tip 5.

Make sure you have researched the university prior, note down some interesting, relevant facts about the university to show that you aren’t just panicking.

Clearing Tip 6.

If you haven’t been to the university before, take a road trip to visit the campus. Meet the staff, the people, and the areas where you will be relocating. Also ask about their student accommodations and compare with the private student accommodations nearby.

Remember, not getting the grades you wanted can be stressful but its not the end of the world. Many students go through clearing and end up on great courses and some take a gap year to clear their heads and to refocus on their career. Your career is just beginning and there are diversions that you’ll face, this is just another one.

The post Clearing 2018: How To Improve Your Chances Of A Successful Clearing Application appeared first on Groovy Students.

Firstly, if you’re reading this it’s because you have been successful in gaining a place at university so congratulations!!

Moving away from home to start university will probably be the biggest step you will take so far in your life. Forget sixth form and college, uni is the first time in your education where you are fully independent. It’s all on you… from getting yourself up for early morning lectures, visiting the library for resources and setting deadlines for assignments… there’s no teachers to micromanage your schedule and keep you on track.

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