Hey! I started uni last year also about 4 hours away from my family, and it is great! I grew up with my VI but its deteriorated massively between when I was 17 and now (21).
The uni and accommodation are there to help you and want to accommodate you as much as possible.

My uni accepted me onto a primarily visual course and have both listened to what I find works for me and suggest techniques I could use, they even stayed up to date with my vision as it detioriated. Just be honest with what you need and speak up if they're not giving it to you!
No one at the uni has ever made me feel like an outcast. Some will ask why I chose my course, or be shocked I can't see, but no one makes me feel bad for it.

I did have a slightly tough first day where the uni forgot I might need someone to find me rather than the room id never been to before without ant directions! I went to reception and they managed to get my course leader to come get me, since then they've let me know weeks in advance when there's a room change.
Also, if you're in accommodation you won't be trying to find where you need to be on your own!

Uni is a great time to learn how to live independently and what works for you. Being able to navigate a city other than your home town is very helpful!
If you're in the UK I recommend seeing what services there are for you in the new area, each council offers different services! You should also contact your unis student services if you're worried that they are unaware of your VI, they will either deal with your allowances or point you in the right direction

I hope you get in!!

To be honest, I chose distance education because I didn’t want to deal with on campus uni :P It’s probably a cop out, but at this point in life I just want to be done with uni. I wish you the best of luck. People are generally nice, and will ask you if you need help. Get involved with your disability resource centre and don’t hesitate to email your tutors and professors/lecturers and introduce yourself. Get O&M around the campus too. :)

My only recommendation is to join clubs. The structured socializing in clubs is a lot easier to manage than all the more informal interactions and the informal interactions get easier after you make a couple friends who will look out for you a bit (not in a blind way, just in a normal way).

You might want to think about ways to connect to your classmates before you get to campus. If you make a good impression online that might smooth interactiosn in person.

I am in my 10th year of college. I am taking the semester off because of covid. And virtual school. But still going to school. Going through is easy as a blind personally but academics is hard for me because who I am. I am totally blind since 8 and before that I didn’t have much to begin with.

Some things I’ve learnt that are useful are.

You definitely need to learn to advocate for yourself.

What do you specifically want to know.

I’ve worked with 3 schools from a disability office who was sort of willing to help with a limited budget, a medium sized private school. To a phenomenal disability office, to one that really doesn’t do crap at all! And doesn’t want to no matter what you say and sort of have to make them. The college I am at is the worse of the three in disability. It’s a state university.

You are a lot of times on your own working with professors.

Handle your books and acomodations early.

You may have to politely ask professors to describe what’s on the board.

Get your math and science stuff in braille.

You’re your best advocate and best agent. There’s no tvi so don’t depend on one.

Always ask professors for electronic copies. And if not immediately bring papers and stuff to convert to the adaptive tech specialist for conversion it takes time.

Don’t wait last minute to submit your book you won’t have it at that point for 2 or so weeks it also takes time and it’s stressful for everyone.

If you need one for math and science ask for a in class aid or lab assistant.

Have a computer with jaws and ocr. K1000 is nice and a flat bed scanner. Braille displays are nice.

If professors give you pdfs ask the disabilities office to convert it for you. They can do that.

Ask for test acomodations. They should be able to provide whatever you need their computers, and screen reader. And if you need it a brailler. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.

Sometimes you need some pressure and asking, and keep asking and go to supervisors and stuff.

Learn the website well and the software very well.