Sydney Life

Moving home is a daunting activity for any twenty something, especially those who are extraordinarily lazy and inept at all things domestic. I have thought about moving out for a while, but the whole process takes a lot more time than I ever had to devote to it. It got to a point where I was spending more time on campus, studying/ being involved in the Union and the SRC/ generally larking about, that I thought the time was nothing if not nigh to harden up and fly the coop. A lot of people think that moving to college does not really constitute ‘moving out’. Maybe they’re right; the fact that I recently marvelled at buying laundry powder for the first time in my life just goes to show how sheltered and cushy my life has been (it was a huge four kilo box, I lugged it around with my on the bus and felt mature and self directed in a way that I never have before. Surely this is the power of purchasing…). At least I know this. College, for me, has resonated as half sea change, half halfway house. It’s not quite being out there on your own, but it is certainly not like living at home. It’s not the same as a share house, but it’s not a boarding school. It’s definitely a lifestyle, but it not necessarily a mindset. You meet a lot of people who might seem the same, but scratch the surface and everyone’s got their own thing going on. College is an existential quandary that can only be defined by that which it is not. Confused? Don’t worry, I was too. But you quickly learn. I know you would have to be incredibly soft to think that the Women’s College of the University of Sydney is a school of hard knocks (we do indeed enjoy many a privilege here, even if we have to BYO the laundry powder…) but there is still a bit of an adjustment in acclimatising yourself to this new home. College certainly brings with it its own brand of daunting. So I am going to give you a list of things to consider if you are thinking college might be your future home. This list is wrenched from my own arduous experience, so cherish it, dear readers.

1) Learn to love being around people

Are you a people person? If you move to college, expect to be around a lot of people, a lot of the time. This does not mean that you always have to socialise, though there is ample opportunity when you do want to. But the sheer number of people walking about, going about their daily business was source of endless fascination for me. At home, I only had a little sister to contend with, for whom the concept of university and its rigours was too far off a vision to even consider. This bustling nature of college can be frenetic or fantastic. The difference is entirely dependent on how much coffee I had imbibed that morning and, resultantly, how much of a good mood I am in. What you have to realise is, is that you can get involved in any activity you want, at any pace you want. You can fling yourself into O week activities, college parties, social or college competitive sport and college music and drama. You can meet amazing people and really get to relate to those who share your abode. Need time out? Retreat to your room. It’s as simple as that. Don’t feel the need to be ‘on’ all the time. Knowing when to say no to the party is a step in the direction of maturity. Also, if you are moving to Women’s college, as I have, expect to see a lot of women. I’m not really sure why this surprised me, but it did. There are a lot of women at Women’s. Like, a lot. Seriously. Yeah.

2) Be prepared to get involved in university and college life

I didn’t move to college as a ‘proper’ Fresher that is someone who is both first year at Uni and first year at college. Sometimes the 18 year old fresh facedness of my fellow Freshers gets to me. I am an old decrepit honours student who has got first year style partying like a fiend out of her way when those kids weren’t even contemplating HSC trials. Ugh. But coming to college later in my degree has shown me a new side of campus life that I never knew really existed. The major draw card of college versus a share house in Newtown and Glebe was the way that institutions such as these really facilitate better involvement in extracurricular life. When you are within strolling distance of a university that teems with clubs and societies meetings, parties, social events and live at a place where passion for something, anything, is most definitely in fashion then you would be hard pressed to snub your nose at it. Who wants to be an activities snubber? No-one. What is great about college, and university in general, is that you can carve out your own niche and wile away the hours doing something you love. If being involved and if you get excited by others’ involvement is your thing, then college is for you.

3) Regulate your meal times

The joy of college is having meals prepared for you. While my cooking repertoire has not expanded beyond toast and pasta, the greatest thing is, it doesn’t have to! The downside? Oddly specific eating hours. So if you are going to come to college, you have to get your Nanna on and eat dinner at 5:30pm. There is also Formal Dinner at colleges, which takes place every Monday evening. It is a great way to get together as a college and enjoy time with one another. Meals are served to you and there is always a fun/ interesting guest speaker. You were an Academic gown and sit up straight. It’s anachronistic but quaint. Last week, my college was lucky enough to have Chris Taylor come to talk about his experience as a student, living at college and working with the Chaser and just generally be kind of attractive in his glasses in front of us.

4) Don’t sweat the application process

What is really different about moving out of home into a college, versus a share house, is that you have to undergo an application process. This process means you have to write about your school/ university marks, your extracurricular activities and a personal statement about what you want to contribute to college/ get out of college life. This process is useful because it really compels you to consider why you want move out and what you think it is going to be like when you do. There is financial aid available for those interested in living at college and each of the individual college will have links to detail their scholarship process.

5) Maintain flagrant disregard for the reputation of Colleges

Wait, before you step on our manicured grounds check to see if you are wearing your ‘Old School Tie’…

This is not something you are going to hear if you move to college. Historically, colleges have been a bastion for the moneyed croquet playing types. At least, that is the stereotype that gets resurrected year in and year out. It’s not something to put you off, though. It’s not really true. This culture is slowly but surely changing. While attitudes across any privileged educational space (and Sydney University has its weight in sandstone in privilege) are something that need concerted effort to change, Colleges are part of this move towards a more inclusive culture. If you move to them, you can be a part of that progression too! They are indeed increasingly home to a diversified student body. I feel I am a small part of that kind of change in that I’m ethnic and not from the north shore. Take that, hegemony! Kapow!

Seriously, college seems like its going to be an amazing experience and I will update you all on any major developments on the ‘getting into the college scene front’. Have a look at the colleges’ websites, search through the main USYD website. Maybe you will be my new neighbour…