Moving On Life After Cobham Hall: A Guide for the Next Steps
Today you are YOU, that is TRUER than true. There is NO ONE alive who is YOUER than YOU!
Dear Year 13s This edition of the Moving On booklet has been created on your behalf by all the Cobham Hall teachers and support staff. We have suggested top tips from our university and leaving school experiences and hope that you find some useful information in here. We wish you all the very best for all your future endeavours; wherever you go and whatever you do, remember, there IS more in you than you think! Please do stay in touch, Mrs Thompson
Essentials – what to bring? Remember to check what type of accommodation you will have: dorm, halls or a shared flat – but the basics are: Bed linen including sheets, duvet, blankets, pillows and pillowcases Towels Clothes for all seasons, plus smart wear Coat hangers Extension lead Socket adaptor (for international students) Personal items such as toiletries Kitchen items and some food to keep you going for the first week Stationary including pens, pencils, notepads and highlighters PC/laptop and any cables and chargers USB stick Notepads Mobile phone and charger Medicine Washing detergent and cleaning items Games and sports equipment Umbrella A list of important numbers, in case you lose your mobile phone
Don't bother with… Iron Toaster Sandwich maker Nice kitchen stuff - it will get used then left on the side to rot/rust Candles - serious fire hazard In halls, many have kitchens that students can use – check this as some electrical equipment, such as toasters or sandwich makers are not always allowed in halls and could get confiscated.
Top Tip: Bring some tea (or hot chocolate or coffee) with biscuits to help make friends your first week.
Enjoy every tiny experience – it vanishes in the blink of an eye!
Simple healthy meals and recipes: How long to boil an egg? 5 minutes: set white and runny yolk – just right for dipping into. 6 minutes: liquid yolk – a little less oozy. 7 minutes: almost set – deliciously sticky. 8 minutes: softly set – this is what you want to make Scotch eggs. 10 minutes: the classic hardboiled egg – mashable but not dry and chalky.
How to make shepherd’s pie: Ingredients: Olive oil, 2 chopped onions, mince, carrots, beef or chicken stock & mashed potatoes (with milk & butter) Instructions: preheat the oven to 180°C fry the onions until they are soft; add the mince and mix well, then add the chopped carrots and season with salt and pepper. Cook in the casserole dish for 1 hour, add the mashed potatoes and cook for another 15-20 mins.
How to make yummy mashed potatoes: Ingredients: Use 1-2 medium potatoes, such as King Edward, Maris Piper or Desiree – cut into even-sized pieces. Instructions: Cook in boiling salted water for 15-20 minutes. Drain well and mash with a potato masher (or a fork). Add butter and cream and add salt and pepper. - you could also mix cheese into the potatoes as well
Classic Risotto: Ingredients: 1 onion, risotto rice, butter, vegetable stock, vegetables, such as Mushrooms, grated cheese, olive oil. Use the stock cube to make at least 500 ml liquid with boiling water. Chop up and fry the onion until soft. Put your risotto rice into the pan and coat with the olive oil, begin to add the stock water (slowly!) and continue stirring. Continue for 20 minutes. At about 15 minutes, you can add the mushrooms. When all the water has been absorbed, then add the cheese and stir. Yummy.
How to make meatballs for your spaghetti: Ingredients: 1 diced potato, beef mince, 1 onion, 1 egg, olive oil, 2 tbsp tomato puree, salt and pepper. Cook and mash the potato, then mix with the beef, onion and egg in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. With dampened hands, shape the meat mixture into walnut-sized balls. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat for about ten minutes, turning over frequently. Add the tomato puree and cook for another 10 minutes, then add to spaghetti.
How to make blueberry pancakes: Ingredients: 1 large free-range egg 1 cup of self-raising flour 1 cup of milk sea salt 200 g blueberries olive oil Instructions: Mix everything together, except the olive oil. Use the oil on the frying pan and put a large spoonful of batter. After a minute or two, there should be little bubbles and then flip it over. - you could add sliced bananas or even yogurt on top. - warm the syrup beforehand for a special treat!
Suggestions from Cobham Hall staff: Recipe: ‘everything-in-your-fridge-goes-chilli’. Basically, every bit of meat and/or veg in your fridge, chopped, in a saucepan, cooked for a bit. Add a can of mixed beans and one of chopped tomatoes (or baked beans if you prefer). Add salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and chilli powder (or just a blend of spices mix), plus a teaspoon of instant coffee (it works!). Cook low as long as you dare (in the oven or stove), or at least 30 minutes (to avoid food poisoning if using chicken, particularly). Boiled rice on the side optional, but a bag of Doritos also does it… helps clear the questionable contents of your fridge, you can freeze leftovers for when you have the munchies after a night out (just pop in the microwave until defrosted), and it makes you feel like you can cook!
Toasted tuna and cheese (tuna melt) with tabasco – or if I was particularly poor – just cheese and tabasco…
Kitchen Essentials: Check to see what your facilities are like first… Frying pan 2x medium sized pots Small casserole dish Spatula Blender Can opener Knife set Chopping board 2x glasses Baking tray
Colander Vegetable peeler Whisk Wooden spoon Salt/pepper/spices Cheese grater Cutlery Mugs Corkscrew/bottle opener
Health Things to bring: Multivitamins Painkillers Basic first aid kit - plasters, antiseptic wipes, bandages Paracetamol Some cold/flu remedy in case you are struck down by freshers' flu Anti-allergy pills - e.g. Piriton anti-allergy tablets A cold/hot pack
Wear Sunscreen! – Your future self will thank you! At the beginning of the academic year: register with a doctor register with a dentist find out how to access university support services find out where to find your local minor injuries unit find out where A&E is, just in case! Your health is linked to a range of factors. Being healthy doesn't mean cutting out things like desserts or rest days. Looking after yourself means balancing your lifestyle, listening to your body and paying attention to things like what you eat and if you're unwell. You can enjoy treats and days off in moderation. Your productivity will take a hit if you're tired, stressed or unwell. Taking care of yourself means you'll feel better day to day and be able to perform your best during your studies.
Keeping Safe: Always stay with your friends on a night out. Always let people know where you are going and who with. Ask a friend to call you at a certain time to check you are all right if you are out alone or with someone you don't know very well. Put at least one person on speed dial in case of emergencies. Never ever leave your drinks unattended at any time.
Keeping Safe Online: You need to be mindful of what you post on social media. What you might think is a joke or banter could be taken as offensive by others - some people have been asked to leave university and even arrested because of something they have posted online. If you post something that you soon regret, you can delete it - but it may have already been shared and/or screenshotted, so the damage could already be done. If you’re heading out for the night, our sage advice is to live in the moment… by which we mean, avoid feeling emboldened enough to share any strong opinions on social media. If you’re not sure you can completely trust yourself not to do this, consider entrusting your phone with a close friend. Before heading out for a big night, it might be worth turning off your phone - or giving it to a friend you trust.
Finances and Banking: You’ll need to open a student account You should consider carefully which bank will see you through your years as an undergraduate, as they attempt to attract you with their huge 0% overdrafts and offers of cool freebies. What is a student account? The main difference between a student bank account and a standard current account is the interest-free overdraft. Students can have access to up to £3,000 without paying any interest. However, as a student you are only allowed to have one student account and no other current accounts, so unfortunately there is no chance to snap up the freebies at all the banks. When should I open my student account and what do I need? You can open your student account as soon as you receive an offer letter from UCAS, either conditional or unconditional – you don’t have to wait until you’ve started term at university. To open a student bank account you will need: One or two forms of photo ID: such as a passport or driver's licence Proof of address: such as a recent utility bill or bank statement Proof of student status: a letter of acceptance from your university, or UCAS offer letter. Most banks now allow you to apply online for a student bank account, but you will still have to send off supporting documents or take them into your local branch. Documents must be original copies, not photocopies. Tips for picking the best account When choosing your student bank account, it is best to focus on what is being offered and make sure you always read the small print. The most important factor to consider is which bank will give you the biggest and longest 0% overdraft facility.
All student accounts provide an overdraft if required – this means you can withdraw more money than you actually have, i.e. borrow it. To ensure you are borrowing as cheaply as possible, choose the account that has the lowest interest rate available. This is because the lower the rate is, the less your debt will cost you. As long as you stay within your overdraft limit, you can safely borrow money interest free – this is why you should check to see which bank offers the most 0% borrowing for the longest period of time. However, overdrafts still have their disadvantages if you are not careful with your spending!
Learn to budget Sit down to figure out how much money you can spend per week / per day once you have paid for essentials. Then stick to it. Budgeting as a student is crucial if you don't want to run out of money by the end of your first term. To put together a successful budget, you will need to: Add up your income Calculate your essential outgoings Work out what is left Know what you can live without Set a weekly budget Find ways to make your money go further Remember to switch deals Don’t spend all your student loan on clothes, nights out and alcohol, you will regret it!
Top Tips: If you can, get involved with university jobs - such as packing welcome packs or being involved in open days. You could try tutoring, especially if you have a skill, such as playing an instrument or a second language. Don’t forget – you need to pay for a TV license even in halls, so budget for that, too!
Study Abroad? There are numerous opportunities for you to study abroad at university. The UK Government has created the Turing Scheme to promote study and working abroad. The scheme provides funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. Supporting the government’s Global Britain objectives, the Turing Scheme unlocks the opportunity for UK organisations to offer life-changing experiences across the world for their students, learners and pupils. Organised by your university, this is a great chance to travel and study abroad – check with your department next year. If you are studying a language with your undergraduate degree, then chat with them about other opportunities!
Top Tips: If you get the opportunity then study abroad - and make the most of that year. You never know what opportunities and experiences this will create. And travel, see the world on your own with a budget, not only with your parents to a fancy hotel. You will meet all sorts of people and make friends from all over the world you can visit later.
Five study habits you should begin now There's no time like the present to pick up - and maintain - some positive study habits. Even just one of these can make a big difference... 1. Organised notes Each year begins the same when you open that fresh notepad: your handwriting is perfect, notes are profound and bullet points line up perfectly. But before you know it, your scrawl has adopted a shorthand language even you can't decipher. Neat and tidy notes make revising much easier, especially for those earlier topics which can feel like a distant memory come exams. Be smart with what you choose to write down, too, going back to highlight what you think will be most useful later on. 2. Refresher sessions Come revision season, the prospect of going back over a whole year's worth of notes can be overwhelming. Regularly going over what you have studied as you progress through the year will condense all of this into more manageable chunks, helping it to stick. You can do this on a weekly, fortnightly or termly basis depending on what you feel will help you most and what you can manage - make sure your revision timetable has space for these 'refresher moments'. Use this time to pick out key notes and highlight/rewrite these to study from later. 3. Don't avoid problem areas Instead of waiting until revision season to speak up about something you've had problems with, address this as soon as it crops up. It might be something you need in order to understand subsequent material, so not seeking help now could lead to you falling further behind and putting you off a subject altogether! Don't let it snowball. Tackle a problem area straight away to remove the stigma that it's tougher than it actually is. In reality, it might not be so bad and you just need to have it explained to you in a different way. 4. Teach someone else Teaching a subject to someone else who has little to no knowledge of it is an excellent way to ensure you understand the material yourself. It can be all too easy to read something passively and trick yourself into believing you've nailed it down (especially when Netflix is calling out to you to put the books away for an evening...). Actively explaining a topic out loud can put your knowledge to the test and encourage you to arrange your thoughts into words, which can help when structuring an essay question or mathematical calculation. You will quickly learn if there are gaps in what you know. 5. Read around a subject If you have the time, look for further reading on a subject. It can really illuminate something you are learning, develop a budding interest you have in a specific area or offer a fresh angle on something that you hadn't previously fully understood. Think wider than books, too. What about YouTube clips, podcasts, film and TV adaptations, news articles, journals or blogs? Being able to independently expand your knowledge around a topic area will really set you up for life-long study, where taking this initiative will be essential.
Some resources: www.futurelearn.com (free courses on many subjects) www.MOOC.org – online courses for over the summer https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/student-life/study-skills-guides https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/preparing-for-university/freshers-week-prepare-for-university-10ways https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/preparing-your-studies https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/reading-lists https://www.nchlondon.ac.uk/undergraduate-reading-lists/ https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/suggested-subject-resources
Studying at university Most rooms have a desk, but you'll need to bring your own stationery including:
pens, pencils and highlighters lever arch files A4 file paper ruler eraser
Post-it Notes different sized notebooks diary/personal organiser hole punch stapler
Don’t forget your laptop and its charger!
Top Tips! Save, Save and Save again. Save your essays multiple ways. You will drown in your sorrow when you accidentally drop your laptop when your 10,000 word dissertation is on there! Use the library! This can be really motivating, much more so than working in your bedroom – but don’t forget to return any books you borrow again it could cost you a fortune if you forget! Don’t wait until the last possible minute to ask for help if you don’t understand something. Many teachers will give extensions, but you have to ask in good time!
Remember - go to your lectures! Someone else’s notes will never be as good as hearing it first-hand.
How to meet people and have fun in the first days… It is likely that you will be pretty busy during your first week, so get there a few days early so you have time to unpack and settle into your new digs. Leave your door open while you unpack your stuff – this is a welcoming gesture and people are more likely to stop by and say hello. Get something to use as a doorstop to help with the above - a sign with your first name on the door is also good, too. As soon as you have met one person, go around with them and knock on everyone else’s door in your block. Hopefully you will be less nervous in a pair and then you can meet quite a few people by going around together. Make up your bed as soon as you arrive – this means you can take a rest when you get tired of unpacking and introducing yourself to lots of people. Unpack early, so you do not have an excuse not to go out and meet other people. Make your room more friendly by putting up some posters on the walls. Bringing a tin of cakes, cookies or chocolate bars will attract people to knocking on your door instantly! Don’t be afraid to start up random conversations with people you just happen to be standing next to while waiting for something – that is how you make your new friends. Chances are, they are just as nervous as you and will welcome the chance to have a conversation without having to start it themselves! Get your computer set up so you can put some music on – people will hear it and talking about favourite songs and bands is always an ice breaker! Smiling a lot will make you seem more approachable! Try to go to as many social events as possible. It may be a little tiring, and you are unlikely to remember everyone later, but the more people you meet now, the more you will bump into other people you will recognise and can chat with later on. Sign up for something out of your comfort zone at the fresher's fair - it might just lead to great friendships.
And finally... Stay in touch! Please keep us up to date with what you are doing. Mrs Thompson would love to have emails and pictures and stories of your adventures. Come back and visit - inspire the next generation! You will always be welcome! Thompsonm@cobhamhall.com Elders’ Association Stay in touch with your fellow Cobham Hall Elders via Instagram @elders_cobham_hall