By Justin Parkinson BBC News Online education staff

It's the day you've been waiting for with excitement. It's also the day you've been dreading.

Most students have a great time at university

Going to university for the first time is one of the biggest events in most people's lives, entering a completely different environment with little or no preparation.

So, when the parents' cars have pulled away and you are left in your new room, as a student, how will you cope?

Most likely, you will be fine, encountering only minor problems while you are an undergraduate - homesickness, a lack of cooking, cleaning, or time-managing skills, and minor money worries.

In some cases, drugs, illness, sex and alcohol will complicate matters.

Looking for answers

But Dr Peter Byrd, senior tutor at Warwick University, thinks that, with a little planning and by asking a few questions, almost everyone's university career can run smoothly.

He said: "If anyone needs help, there are people who can offer it.

"No student this year is going to encounter a problem that lots of people haven't previously encountered and overcome."

Often, the waiting to get to university is far worse than the outcome.

Dr Byrd said: "For a lot of students, it's a very anxious time before they arrive. Their parents are often anxious too, which rubs off.

People are coming from home, where they've often done nothing at all to organise their own lives Dr Peter Byrd, Warwick University

"One of the problems is that students are searching for a series of answers to very specific questions that are difficult to answer, such as details of accommodation or parking.

"What we try to say is not to fret about that sort of thing. If there is a problem, come in and see us.

"This is one of the big stages of life, a big, big step. But for 95% it's all going to be fine."

The clich�d image of a student is a disorganised, party-going fun-lover.

Dr Byrd, however, thinks study should be treated more as a job than just an occasional sideline.

In the competitive world of universities, it is easy to feel inadequate, as if others are coping better with the social and academic demands.

Adjustment

So, Dr Byrd recommends setting a timetable to cope with 35 hours' work a week, allowing time for socialising.

He said: "People are coming from home, where they've often done nothing at all to organise their own lives.

We recommend a maximum of about 12 hours a week Peter Byrd

"But getting the hang of this is very important. I'm not saying they can't afford to take free time, but there's more to fit in now, and it's necessary to adjust.

"Feel free to ask your tutor why you got a certain mark for a piece of work, rather than worry. It is better know how you can improve, by seeking positive criticism."

On more practical skills, he added: "Most of the students at Warwick are in self-catering accommodation, so they've got to learn to cook quite quickly.

"Otherwise, they face hefty costs if they want to eat out every night."

Budgeting is a new challenge to most, with student loans available and rent to pay, not to mention food, clothes and beer to find the money for.

'All in the same position'

Organising finances, like time, will reduce unnecessary stress.

There is little worse than suddenly discovering long-forgotten debts are still around.

Some students work to boost their income, but Dr Byrd feels this should not be to the detriment of studies.

He said: "We recommend a maximum of about 12 hours a week. Otherwise there's a danger of becoming full-time workers and only part-time students.

"As always, go and see an adviser, who is there to help."

With freedom from home come temptations like alcohol, drugs and sex.

Student counsellors are available at most universities to offer advice.

Dr Byrd said: "The problem with being a student is that you can't just switch off from it, the way you can go home from work and relax.

"It's always there and there can be pressures. However, everyone is in the same position.