21 seconds to go.

The title is in reference to the so solid crew tune 21 seconds because this (sparadic) blogger has now turned 21 years old Which leads me on to the fact that I have one more exam and then my university life is over - no more student life. Cor, blimey!
As posted before due to excess messing around it looks like I am going to receive a 2:2 degree but hopefully I have passed 90 WAM (words a minute) shorthand and that will be confirmed or shot down on Friday.
Anyways, off the top of my head I thought I would post a few pointers about uni life.
1) Look around the town and see what there is to do - e.g Preston = Rileys, sports clubs, plenty of nightlife (but as I found out this weekend...not as good as Sheffield).
2) Try your best to live in the town/city. I know I would not have missed the experience(s) I got living away from home for anything. It is easier to meet new people and see new things if you are there all the time.
3) When you start Uni you can feel a bit lonely (if like me you didn't know anyone coming to the Uni) so join clubs/societies, talk to your flatmates and course mates especially - REMEMBER the majority of people are in the same boat as you, I know (because I am very shy and quiet) that it can be difficult to put yourself out there, so to speak, but you'll regret it in the long run if you don't.
4) If you are doing journalism DO NOT be swayed by a course being NCTJ accredited because it really means bugger all as you have to take seperate exams as well as the course ones to get that NCTJ accreditation and only an odd one has been free to take instead of paying the sky-high prices they charge for an exam. e.g. £35 per paper.
5) If you are doing journalism look at the media outlets in the town and try and find and get in contact with these at an early stage because as your course goes on the busier you will get. e.g. Preston FM, LEP, Preston TV.
6) Try and find out about the course from someone not directly connected with it like lecturers. Try and find students there now or past students. I was lucky in speaking to former BBC GMR employee Mike Briscoe who directed me in Preston's direction and I will be eternally grateful to him for that as my other choices may not have worked out as well.

I will keep adding to this list as more things come to mind but for now, in my first full day being a 21 year old I am going to get my cup of tea, crumpet and blanket and watch some Bargain Hunt!