Molly Manaton

1st year

Molly, from Crewe in England, is studying Psychology.

What made you choose Heriot-Watt University?

I was looking for either a Psychology or Sport Psychology course through Clearing and with a Psychology course that was BPS accredited being available here this acted as a pull factor towards this university. Also, having spoken to the lady on the phone on the Clearing Helpline who explained the course in greater depth to me, also mentioning there being a Sport Psychology Masters available here making further education very accessible and allowing me to think of a future career path in further depth.

Heriot-Watt had come quite well recommended to me due to my friend going to this university, and his parents having both been here too, so they were able to provide me with plenty of first-hand information about the university. Additionally, city-wise Edinburgh has so much to offer, feels extremely safe, has an enjoyable day-life and nightlife, and is stunning. On Results Day, when choosing between Heriot-Watt and my other options, teachers heavily recommended Edinburgh and the city was another major pull factors for me to choose Heriot-Watt.

How did you find transitioning from high school to university?

During school, I had a very strict routine to follow, from having a structured timetable to having certain sports each evening and even having set homework allocations for each day university is most definitely rather different to this.

Due to a prolonged summer and not having been living within my timetabled lifestyle since my last school lesson which was in early May time (pre-A levels) having had to come to university where, yes, there is a timetable, there are many more gaps within timetables, days being different lengths in terms of in lecture/tutorial time and no homework it is much harder to develop an efficient routine for myself in comparison to the routine I used to have. Whilst one day I may have a 9am start with an 11am finish I may have a 1pm start until a 5pm finish the next day – gaining the balance between attendance, revision, socialising, societies and even sleep is something which becomes much more independent for you to sort for yourselves rather than with the participation of your parents and teachers. As well as routine being rather different due to different timings and lengthier gaps in between lectures than at school, the style of learning is also rather different. With lectures being much longer than the average school lesson, as well as less interactive, attention needs to be more predominant within the lecture hall than in the classroom – however, this is not necessarily a bad thing as there is always the security of lecture notes being readily available on Canvas 24/7 and there being recommended readings and textbooks weekly to allow for greater and further understanding of the topics. So, whilst it is a very different learning environment, there is still plenty of learning support.

How did you find settling in at university?

Having gone into the mentality of “I won't heavily miss home this is the best next move for me” when I started university, I found setting in to be somewhat of a dream scenario. I haven't struggled with homesickness which I think was heavily helped by not only my mindset but also my flatmates and my relationships.

Having moved in at the same time as my flatmates we all went to the Student Union for a drink that night to try and get to know each other and since then the rest is history and we have all gotten on like a house on fire. Also, having had a very close friend from home also being at this university it meant that if I needed a sense of home, I could meet with him for a coffee or pint and a little chat about our friends and life at home helping me to feel very comfortable within the university lifestyle.

I highly recommend having friends and family travelling over to visit, it allows that sense of normality to be brought to you and a very familiar face can always make you feel at ease. My elder brother came up and we did the 21 pubs of Rose Street pub crawl which I would recommend as it was such a fun social event for the pair of us – I can also imagine this would be a great icebreaker or mid-term laugh with your new uni pals.

What's was it like living on campus?

Living on campus is great. I never considered living off campus for first year as I wanted to help myself to settle into a completely new city (technically a new country!) and I wanted to give myself maximal opportunity to meet new people and find the friends for me. Living on campus allowed me to meet my closest friends at university as I met them within my flat and my halls. We all get along super well as it allows living in a completely new place to feel like its somewhere I've lived for years. Campus has everything you need – a shop, a few places to live and a bar! The Student Union bar is super cheap and super social. We often go at least once a week to have a few drinks and play some darts and pool.

What's your experience of going into Edinburgh city centre?

I often go into Edinburgh city centre at least once a week – in freshers it was at least once a day! Edinburgh is an amazing city, and me and my flatmate love going into the city for a girlie shopping day or for a few drinks. I also go out on some Wednesdays for my rugby societies social – Shanghai is the place to be. A Wednesday social is always super fun - I recommend going on socials with your societies if you join them. Also, a Friday night out with my flat is something I really enjoy. The Edinburgh Christmas markets are super iconic, and they really do live up to the TikTok fame they've gained. Me and my flat went into the city to visit the Christmas markets many times. Something I also enjoy is a solo trip into the city to run a few errands and to just have some calming ‘me time'.

Did you travel home often?

I don't travel home a huge deal, but it is more than I thought it would be before coming to university. I come home approximately about 2 weekends a semester and then for both reading weeks I have gone to Nottingham to visit my friends from home who are at university there. The train from Edinburgh to Crewe is just over 3 hours which I personally think is good as is hours quicker than the drive would be, plus you can always catch up with sleep on a train, so you look more awake once you get home preventing your parents don't think you've been out all night every night! As a UK student from the outside of Scotland I have been lucky enough to receive a travel bursary to help with travel costs meaning that this covers the price of my trains home (which if you use girl-math technically means they're free trains!). This bursary is especially great for students who find themselves feeling a little homesick as £500 per semester to help fund travel can allow you to go and see your parents and feel the comfort of your home more often to help you feel less anxious and scared.
 

What advice would you give to someone looking to move away from home for university?

Do it! Yes, it may seem scary at first and seem like too big of a step but honestly, it's amazing. Having that sort of independence as an 18-year-old seems really fitting as whilst you're looking after yourself there is also great support networks from the university's residence teams so you are not alone. It is a lifechanging experience; you meet new friends, you go through new experiences, you discover a lot more about yourself, you shape immensely as a person, you gain a degree (shocker!), and most importantly you have an amazing time. University has something for everyone; it's made to suit all. I see Edinburgh as my home just as much as I see Crewe as my home and to me to be able to say that speaks wonders. University seems daunting and move in day does arrive fast, but you have nothing to lose, so I really do recommend it!