Dear Reader,
First of all, congratulations on securing a placement! Lat’s see what we can do about those worries. I’ll split my advice up into the two main concerns that you’ve voiced about final year. To start: keeping up with your studies away from campus. The obvious, and likely unhelpful, advice to keep refreshing previous content has likely already crossed your mind so I won’t dwell too much on it. That being said, even if just to ease your mind, it may be beneficial to recap what you already know every so often. Perhaps even just once or twice a semester have a go at writing an essay or applying previous content. Don’t overdo it though because I'd bet your new working schedule is pretty saturated with placement responsibilities. Being mindful that this real-life application of course content through your placement is a great way that you’re revising without even realising might also help to calm those nerves. Stay in touch with friends or supervisors who are still on campus as this may also boost your confidence by staying familiar with the latest happenings in your course and give you an idea of what to expect when you return. Next, to touch on your concerns about friends on your course, don’t forget that you’re not the only placement student- other peers will be in the same boat and you’ll already have a common experience to discuss. Most courses allow for group work or discussions in seminars too, so you’ll have plenty of chances to make even more new friends. And it’s not like your friends you’ve made in the first few years will just disappear! Sure, some might not be in the city by the time you get back to campus, but I'd bet they’d be willing to have a catch up anytime! Good job getting powering through your placement and good luck with final year!