As my university journey comes to a close I wanted to share some of my thoughts around my university experience, the highs, lows and challenges! At the end of this post I will put a few of my personal top tips for surviving at university with a diagnosis of ASD.
For those that don't know I have just finished a three year BSC (Hons) Nursing: Child Health. Over the past three years I have realised more and more that the 'nursing experience' is very different to other student experiences so appolagise if this isn't 100% accurate to your university journey. Nursing students do long terms made up of roughly 50% academic/ theory work and 50% clinical experience. To be able to register as a nurse in the UK students have to have completed 2300 hours of both theory and practical work, this means our terms are often longer than others so worth bearing in mind!
I actually started my university journey in London, I stayed there for the first term and a half and really struggled. I felt very under supported while in London and this meant I really struggled to transition into student life. I had very little support from my personal tutor, the first proper contact I had with her was when I was completing paperwork to leave the university!
Before I started in London I had been though the process of applying for a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). For those that don't know this is support that covers study related costs for any student with a any number of disabilities from a mental health condition to long term physical health condition. It is not means tested and doesn't have to be paid back. The process for be began in the summer that I finished A-Levels. I initially had a needs assessment where my learning needs were discussed and then formed into a report that went to student finance England to approve. I had a variety of support suggested from apps, technology and a specialist mentor.
When I started in London I was not allocated a mentor in and this again left me really struggling to make that transition to independence. Additionally a lot of the support that had been funded to train me in using the apps was not supported by the university and therefore didn't happen.
I got to the point where I couldn't manage in London anymore and decided to pack my bags and head back home. This is when I then applied and was successful in getting a place at the University of Plymouth. I had learnt so much in London that meant when looking to start again I took a very different approach. For me the second time around the number one priority. When going to open days (For the second time!) I was adamant that the student support was the first thing I wanted to discuss. I was very surprised by one university in particular who told me I would never manage as a nurse with ASD, safe to say we left straight away!!
From the moment I accepted my place at the University of Plymouth to today sitting here on the other side having completed my degree I have been overwhelmed by the support and understanding that I have had.
I was very much supported to transition and start in Plymouth. I was offered a number of visits to the university over the summer in the lead up to starting. I went down once with my Mum and met with a disability advisor and my personal tutor then a second time with a friend to meet with my DSA mentor. At these visits I was able to walk around the campus, inside some of the university buildings and also I was able to go in the halls I had been allocated. This all helped so much as I was able to take photos to be able to get use to the transition in my head.
At this point in the process I was also asked if the Support services could hold my parents contact details to contact them on my behalf if needed. It was also offered for my parents to be able to contact my disability advisor/ personal tutor on my behalf if they had worries. I think this is so important for every student. It is a massive transition to leave school and home and then become completely independent and all of a sudden for parents to be excluded from the picture. If this had been in place in London the outcome may have been different, not putting so much pressure on me to sort everything but at serval points my parents attempts to contact the university were turned away leaving me isolated to solve things myself and ultimately deciding to leave.
Once I had started at university I had so much support in the initial few weeks of settling in. I had regular contact with my personal tutor and my allocated disability advisor. I was initially allocated a DSA mentor that I didn't really get on with. This was reviewed really quickly and within a few weeks I had been allocated a new DSA worker who continued to support me thought the remainder of my degree.
Throughout first year I met with my mentor most weeks and found this support very helpful. I begun to develop strategies to manage my own anxiety and independence and begun to really thrive. I felt like I had a very equal university experience. This isn't to say that there weren't challenges but I think I would be the odd one out to cruise though three years of a degree with no challenges.
Second year began much the same with a really good support network provided from my DSA mentor and my personal tutor. Then COVID hit...! This like many brought a whole host of new challenges to me personally and to my university journey! I was amazed at the level of support that was given despite remote working and so much unknown. I had regular meetings (Via zoom!) throughout the first wave of the pandemic.
As I transitioned into third year I found that I naturally became more independent. I had less contact with my DSA mentor and began to rely on more natural support mechanisms within the university. If I was to be thinking about this stage of my university life at the beginning of the journey I never thought I would have the independence I have today. It has felt like a very natural and self led process. This gradual step back of support has set me up so well as I transition into the working world.
From a more specific focus on nursing I have found the support when out on placement so valuable. For me personally I have at times found it hard to be open and up front with placement providers about my ASD, particularly in first and second year. I was afraid of the response I would get and the opportunities I may have been denied. However what I have experienced is the complete opposite. This has been such an encouragement to me and has helped me to be where I am today.
Throughout my time at university I have learnt so much about myself too and these are things that I will take forward to me into life. One big thing that I have learnt about myself at university is managing social time. University is known for being a very sociable period, nights out, study dates, pub trips etc. In first year these were things that I tried to get on with and just did not enjoy at all. The idea of a night out is my worst nightmare. Flashing lights, noisy crowed and not least a late night!! I quickly learnt that there are other ways to find friends and this is something that I am so glad that I was able to do. This meant that the friends I made are much more like minded individuals.
I have also learnt the importance of being able to take time to myself. It can be exhausting and overwhelming managing the new independence of cooking, food shopping etc, a large work load from university and then a busy social diary on top. I have learnt that I need time on my own to rest and recharge. This at times makes me feel I am anti social but I think it its so important for my own wellbeing to be able to recognise when I am 'peopled out!'. I have now got to the point that I can recognise when I have put a few things in my diary that I know are going to be tiering and can forward plan some 'down time' the day after.
Finally to anyone reading this who is considering university I just want to encourage you that it is 100% do able. It might take a bit of planning and thinking to get the most out of it but I can honestly say university is where I fully understood myself for the first time and became proud that I am autistic! University was a place where I could study one topic that I was interested in, I could (most of the time!) work of my own routine and I was in control of the support I received.
Top Tips:
1. Student Support is a number one priority
2. Be proactive in knowing what support is available
3. Ask for your parents to be kept in the loop
4. Get a DSA application in as early as you can
5. When applying for a DSA, go prepared to your needs assessment - make suggestions of things you know will or have previously been of help
6. Don't be afraid to ask, so much support/ adaptations are available
7. Know the importance of self care
8. Be yourself - This is the best way to make real friendships!
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