Students need lots of things when they go to university, including a computer, basic kitchen essentials, and all kinds of miscellaneous bits and pieces. Many things are provided in halls of residence, furniture being an obvious example,but there are lots of items you can take from home. Naturally you will want to have a decent mobile phone if you are at university, so if yours is in a state of disrepair, you may wish to invest in a new handset. So what would happen if you didn’t take a mobile phone with you—could you even survive or would life as we know it cease?
Stay in Touch with Home
Heading off to university can be a difficult time for young people. At home you are usually waited on hand and foot by doting parents, so being thrust into a state of independence is a shock to the system. Keeping in touch regularly will make things easier, especially if home is a very long way away from university. You can call home and have a chat with mum and dad, or send a few text messages if you are too busy drinking in the pub to call. You can even email from a smartphone if calling is not an option, but you still have lots to say. The possibilities are endless.
Personal Safety
Students love to party, but this often entails walking home late at night. You won’t have a problem if you are a 6’6” man who likes to play rugby, but if you are petite female, personal safety should always be a consideration. Mobile phones are very useful in this regard. Should you feel threatened in some way, you can call for help. Or, if you don’t fancy the idea of walking home on your own, call a taxi instead.
Make New Friends
Unless you happen to know a few other people on the same course already, it is likely that you will arrive at university friendless. This can be hugely scary, especially for those are shy and introverted. One way of breaking the ice, however, is to join interest groups and societies. You won’t make best friends overnight, but giving people of interest your mobile number will be a good start. This will enable you to arrange to meet outside of class and, hopefully, forge the bonds of a new friendship.
Arrange Nights Out
A big part of student life is socialising in bars and clubs, either on campus or in town. Mobile phones make organising a student social life so much easier. You can check what’s happening on Facebook or issue an invite via email or text message. And if arrangements need to be changed at the last minute, just give everyone a call and let them know.
Google for Answers in Class
It is hard to imagine a life without the internet. Previous generations used encyclopaedias and textbooks to find the answers, but today’s students don’t need to bother with such old fashioned study methods. Instead they have a huge source of valuable information online. Websites such as Wikipedia are written for the people, by the people, so if you need an instant answer in class, all you have to do is use your phone to go online and perform a quick web search.
Order Takeaways
Most students don’t do much cooking. There are many reasons for this. Many lack the expertise to prepare a healthy meal; some can cook but the kitchen in their student house is so unhygienic that they prefer not to. But whatever your reasons for choosing not to cook, owning a web enabled mobile phone makes life a lot easier. Instead of restoring to dried noodles again, you can go online and order a takeaway from the nearest outlet. There are lots of apps to help you find a great takeaway that delivers, or you can do a web search and give your favourite takeaway a call.
The Cost of a Mobile Phone
As a student, you will probably have no money, which can be a problem if you need a new mobile phone to take to university. But although mobile phones can be expensive, it doesn’t necessarily need to be this way. If you already have a decent handset but your existing contract has expired, don’t bother renewing it—just look into SIM card only deals instead.
No student should head to university without investing in a new smartphone. You might not have any spare cash, but don’t let this worry you. Look at the best SIM only deal experts and find a plan that suits your aspirations and budget. If you are waiting for the latest handset to be released, go for a one month SIM, but if you are happy with your new iPhone, choose a twelve month contract SIM only plan instead.