From College to University

College = stay at home, go to school nearby, happy and safe environment where everyone knows you.

University = far from home, scary new place, nobody knows you and far too much socialising.

WRONG!

University is a scary process but only if you let it be. Get rid of those fears by visiting the university before you go and make sure you look at the accommodation.

Also open days are a great time to meet your lecturers, see where you will have lessons and time to ask all those questions about the course before you go. There will also be accommodation there to see and ask questions about and the disability department will be around too just waiting for you. (I even got an email from one university officer introducing herself and asking to see me before I even went!)

So now you know about your course, your support and your accommodation! Finance will also be around too so money worried are covered, but that still doesn’t get rid of all those fears.

You still have to leave home (providing you don’t live nearby or commute) and packing is a little stressful but you can always ask your family or friends to bring things up for you and that list you’ve revised 5 times covers pretty much everything.

When you get to university you don’t have to go out drinking all the time or even spend loads of time with other people. There are loads of people at university who don’t drink or spend their lives socialising so you’re not alone!

Any worries or problems do not mean everything is over and time to go home! The disability department will be there for you and can help you work through any small issues. It’s just like being at school again (without all the home bells and uniform) and you survived that!

Just because you have autism doesn’t mean you cannot go to university and there are rules even laws there to protect you. Just stick to what you want to do!