Staff Writer Sofiah Abdoollah provides freshers with three key piece of advices on things she wishes she knew before starting at King’s College London.
Starting at King’s can be daunting but also exciting. There are so many things you are interested in and want to explore, yet you’re not quite sure where to start or how to navigate your journey at King’s. This was me three years ago, and the following are three things I wish someone had told me before starting at King’s, so here I am sharing them with you.
1. You will most likely feel lonely at first.
This is coming from someone who genuinely enjoys their own solitude and must have some time by themselves allocated every single day. This is how you know I was not ready for this kind of loneliness. I guess that is because before starting university, I constantly heard stories from older students about the incredible social life they had experienced and the lifelong friendships they had made.
Naturally, I arrived at King’s expecting the same. Whilst I did meet some lovely people, many of them initially became course mates or acquaintances rather than my close friends. For the first couple of weeks, I often felt isolated and even began to worry that I would never find my people. Thankfully, that was far from the truth.
Rather than accepting my fate, I became more extroverted and willing to step outside my comfort zone. Whether that meant attending society events alone or simply striking up a conversation with the stranger sat next to me. Through these rituals, I met the people who are now my closest friends, and, looking back, I am so grateful that I did because it shaped the best years of my life.
On the topic of attending society events alone, I am going to shamelessly plug our upcoming KCL Politics Social event coming up very soon. This is a one-of-a-kind social event where you get to enjoy the fun of politics and connect with like-minded individuals. This event is open to students of all disciplines, and political knowledge is not required, so stay tuned for more details on the society’s Instagram page!
If you’re feeling lonely during your first few weeks, please know that you’re not alone. Many students are feeling exactly the same way, even if it doesn’t always seem like it. Be open to new experiences, say yes to opportunities, and don’t be afraid to make the first move. University goes by far quicker than you think – being in my final year does not feel bittersweet it just feels bitter!
2. You don’t need to do every single reading.
If you’re studying a humanities subject or any written subject, prepare yourself for a lot of reading. At first, I would panic every time I looked at the weekly reading list, convinced I needed to read every article from start to finish. Eventually, I realised that wasn’t realistic.
With limited lecture and seminar time, it simply isn’t possible to discuss every detail from every reading, so save yourself the stress of feeling the need to read everything. Instead, learning to skim-read effectively and identify the key arguments is far more useful than trying to absorb every word. Build on summaries by watching a video or listening to a podcast on the topic to strengthen your confidence to speak about it in seminars. Do not be shy to talk up in seminars—this will genuinely make your degree a lot more enjoyable!
The same is true of further reading. Personally, I rarely completed it before lectures or seminars, instead saving it for when I was researching coursework or revising for exams. Further readings were actually golden tokens when it came to assignments and exams. Do not overlook them: your lecturers are literally handing you information on a platter and saving you a heap of research time. This approach allowed me to manage my workload more effectively, and I still finished the year with first-class marks.
Of course, everyone studies differently, but don’t feel guilty if you can’t get through every item on the reading list. Understanding the main arguments and engaging thoughtfully in seminars is often far more valuable than trying to read absolutely everything.
3. There are far more study spots than you think
During my first year, I restricted myself to studying almost exclusively at Bush House. Unsurprisingly, I was constantly struggling to find a free booth or desk, and the computer room could occasionally get loud, especially during busy periods.
It wasn’t until I began exploring beyond the Strand Campus that I realised how many great study spaces King’s has to offer. Waterloo Campus, for example, is only a 10–15-minute walk across Waterloo Bridge and has a spacious library with bookable study rooms. Before arriving at King’s, I had always assumed Waterloo Campus was much further away, so I was pleasantly surprised by how accessible it actually was.
The Maughan Library quickly became another favourite. Although it isn’t directly on campus, arriving early in the day almost always guaranteed me a seat in the iconic reading room, which was often far quieter than I expected. I’m not entirely sure what it is about the atmosphere of the reading room, but the amount of work one can accomplish there is remarkable.
Guy’s Campus is another hidden gem. Just a short train journey away, it offers a beautiful campus atmosphere, particularly during the warmer weather, alongside the New Hunt’s House Library. So if you’re finding Bush House overcrowded, don’t be afraid to branch out. You might just discover your new favourite study spot.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, if I had to give a single piece of advice, it would be to say yes to everything. These three years will pass quickly, and by the end of it you will likely wish you had done more. Go to that society event alone, take that walk and explore a new study spot, and speak to the stranger sitting next to you in your lecture; you might just be making a friend for life.
For more of Roar’s personal essays press here. And for more articles about The University, press here.
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