Student Blog takeover: Meg

Hey! I’m Meg and I’m a current student. I’m in my first year of study at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln and I’m currently studying English Literature & Teaching English as a Second Language. I do live on campus and live in a flat with some of my best friends, which has made the transition to university so much easier.

I found moving to university daunting and like any anxious person I became a complete internet sleuth about everything BGU. I know everything, from the history of every building right down to which tap poured hot or cold water in my room. I must’ve messaged half a dozen students, which I’m sure you’re wanting to do, but I’m here to give some advice from someone who's just been through it all.

When I first put in my application to university I didn’t even know where to start my personal statement. I wrote about eight drafts before submitting the first real one for my tutor, which was immediately returned and I was told to try again. I went crazy trying to construct the best 4000 characters which summarised my own character.

Meg's transition to university couldn’t have been smoother!

I ended up writing a big piece about my life being an Armed Forces child. Anyone who has a parent in the military will know how much it impacts your life. At the time for applying I was at my tenth school. It was chaos moving all the time, especially abroad.

I was one of the fortunate Armed Forces children who got a ‘Sunny Side Posting’ and ended up in Saudi Arabia. This shaped a big part of my personal statement as I talked a lot on the transition of uprooting my entire British education to attend an international school, which was a complete shock. I was over there for a couple years and it was a complete culture shock returning to the UK for secondary school as the system for education here is completely different. I was in year 10 and couldn’t wrap my head around the fact college wasn’t university, and that I had to do another two years after year 11. But I clearly made it!

But it wasn’t without any hiccups, I couldn’t decide between a degree apprenticeship or university. The biggest reason that I chose university was that I was desperate to move out. I needed to have firmly planted feet, I was so tired of moving I was trying to find stability in my life. So moving into accommodation was very much a pro and if anyone has lived in army housing, yes the walls are the same shade you’ve seen your whole life. Magnolia.

My transition to university couldn’t have been smoother, I was lucky that the university I chose was one of the most supportive and accommodating. No matter the questions I threw at them, or how many articles I read there was never a question I was left pondering. The actual move to university level education was actually very easy as my course is 100% coursework, so I haven’t had to deal with exam stress. My lecturers are some of the loveliest people and my classes don’t ever exceed 15 people, which is even better for learning when you’re known on a first name basis with everyone who you learn from.

If you’re from an armed forces family my biggest tip is to put it on your personal statement! I applied to 5 universities and received reduced contextual offers because of it. I made sure to include my own experiences - moving to different schools and how difficult it can be trying to settle in different educational environments especially during the middle of the school year.

If you are a learner with from an Armed Forces family, please view LiNCHigher's range of advice and support here.

Alternatively, if you know a learner from Lincolnshire that you would like to nominate for a 2025 LiNCHigher Service Child Award, please visit here.