Fresher’s Week Survival Tips

I’m sure many of those reading this have been given the wise old advise from ex-fresher’s. It probably went something like this;

‘Ah mate fresher’s week’ (Over-friendly and borderline painful slap on the back) ‘It will be the best week of your life!’

Fresher’s week is of course great fun. A long consecutive row of fun-filled nights out for a whole responsibility-free week! The ‘best week of your life’, is probably an overstatement, though. Moving and settling in, can be stressful. Finding your feet in a completely new place and living with new people away from home is a very daunting task. Many people, thus say ‘the best week of their lives’, or at least their university career, was later on, when they had made real close friendships with people perhaps outside of their house, who they mixed with primarily in fresher’s week.

Either way, fresher’s week certainly takes some preparation. Here’s my guide to surviving Fresher’s Week, and how to get the most out of the potential ‘best week of your life’.

Moving In / Getting to know your house/flatmates –

If you’re staying in halls, then there involves the sharing with other people. Most likely, these will be complete strangers unbeknown to you until you meet on your first day. After that, depending on the type of accommodation you’re living in, you’ll be seeing these people pretty much every day, if not at least once a week. Although it’s definitely not crucial to be best buddies with your housemates, it certainly helps to be on good terms with them.
You’re first day can be pretty hectic, with finding your house/flat, unpacking and saying your goodbyes. It can be difficult to have enough time to bond with your new potential best friends. Simply poking your head round people’s doors, or making yourself known in the communal areas like the kitchen or living room (if you’re lucky enough to have one) can be a really good way to introduce yourself o your housemates , which sets you up for good laughs later on.
When you’re parents have left, and you’ve perhaps had a little emotional private time (or not), it’s time to bond properly with those you’re sharing with. Try not to dwell in your room. Venture into the kitchen; if anyone’s in there, offer them a tea or coffee and get talking. Or if not, knock on a neighbours door and ask for a chat.
Now’s probably about the right time to ask what the plan’s are for that night’s night out. Fresher’s week, of course, offers a great array of night outs, and quite often the best one’s at the start of the week. Going out on a night out is a great way to bond with your housemates. Alcohol rids everyone of their awkwardness and by the end, the ice will have most defiantly been broken! One word of warning however; try not to get too drunk on your first night. It is definably not wise to get paralytic with a group of virtual strangers, and it may ruin first impressions.

Fresher’s flu –

I had the worst cold and cough from the middle of fresher’s week right through to just before Christmas. Fresher’s flu is just another part of being a fresher. Embrace it, and it will (eventually!). Try not to have hug coughing fits all the way through The Hunger Games in the cinema (like I did), it thoroughly hacked of everyone around me! Medicines are super expensive, but pretty essential. Budget them in and pray your illness won’t last 3 months like mine did.

Fresher’s fair –

Fresher’s Fair is a great opportunity to decide what extra-curricular activities you can do outside of your studies. There’s literally so much university can offer outside of your regular classes. It’s nott just sport at all. There’s interest groups, political societies, volunteering work, fan clubs and all sorts more to get involved in. Joining a society can be a fantastic way to make new friends you wouldn’t have otherwise met from your house or your course.
My advice: go with a game plan, a rough idea of what you want to join, so you don’t get pressured or talked into joining jujitsu like I did.. A lot of stalls will ask for your email address. Don’t give it to them unless you really want to be bombarded with emails all year round about some random clubs events and upcoming competition, don’t be so eager to be put on their email list. Another word of warning; try not to get talked into joining a club or society just because your friends are. Branch out from your already close bonds and join a society that you are actually passionate about and actually want to join and you will no doubt find people similar to yourself to bond with. It can be so difficult when you’re just starting university, to try new things alone without your friends. Far too often, people will become so close with their housemates or course friends, they’ll stop being outgoing and social and trying new things. University, especially the first year, is the time to experiment, so don’t be scared to try something new if it means straying away from your already formed friendship group. It’s okay to do something without them! It’s okay to make friends outside of them!

So there it is, my guide to Fresher’s Week. Above all, just enjoy the experience as much as you can. Us fresher veterans can only look back on the good times of being a fresher, so make sure you make the very most of the week.

A Level results day is in a few days, so I know people will be beginning to look toward university. Personally, this time last year when I was in the same position, I was terrified of the prospect of university. I hope this reassures any nervous soon to be freshers. I can’t promise the week of your life, but if you make the most of it, it will be fun as hell.

7 Reasons Why Going To University Was The Best Decision Of My Life (And My Be Yours Too)

I can’t speak for everyone, and I certainly can’t tell you what your university experience will be like, because everyone will experience it differently, but I can tell you what me and my friends have found, and hope this helps. Here is a list of 7 definitive things about university which told me that I had made the right decision in going.    I am still currently between my first and second year, so I can’t tell you about its advantages employment-wise (although that is of course a massive factor why most people go), but here’s what I found in my freshers year.

 

It puts things into perspective

The worries which plagued my mind at home, once taken out of the small town which I live during university holidays, became insignificant. The friendship quarrels, and relationships when greeted into a brand new world of people and experiences seemed simply to become irrelevant.

 

Nothing else can compare to University

At no other time in your life, will you find yourself in a place where everyone is in the exact same boat as you. You will find people who think the same as you, and it will be so refreshing. It makes for so much fun, because everyone you meet will be going through similar things, and are so relatable to. Don’t worry about making friends at the beginning, guaranteed you’ll find your cup of tea, I did.

 

You will learn so much, probably not about archaeology, but about yourself

You pick a course, and go to university to learn about it. It sounds cheesy but I have learnt acres more about myself and who I am, than my course (archaeology). University is the time to find yourself. You won’t understand at all what I am talking about until you have experienced it, but enjoy it, it’s amazing!

 

You will meet a variety of people

At home, your friendship group probably consists of people from your town, school, class ect. They are thus, probably very similar. University attracts people from all over the country and the world, from a variety of different backgrounds. Within weeks, you’ll have learnt so much about UK geography from all the people you meet, and have met a vast array of international students from around the world, you probably would not have found without university.

 

You will make up your mind about things

Up until university, I was an awkward teenager with a very vague idea about what I wanted to do, and absolutely no clue about where I stood on my opinions. Now, after a year of drunken debates, and talks with many many people, I am opinionated and strong in my mind about what I believe. I think staying in the same town would have left me still shy about my beliefs.

 

You will have some amazing nights out

Before university, I had only been clubbing a handful of times, now, looking back at my first year, most of the most memorable times have occurred whilst intoxicated. Going out is a great way to bond too. Friendships are sealed by shared toilet cubicles and the holding back of hair whilst your new ‘best friend’ from that night spills her dinner onto the pavement.

 

You will leave first year different than what you started

I have changed so much now, from when I first started university. I am more confident and opinionated, and I like my new self a lot more than my old. It’s a life changing experience, that’s for sure, which happened at the perfect moment in my life.

Introduction

Starting university can be a stressful and confusing time.

It will also probably turn out to be the best time of your life.

The people you meet and experiences you have will be unlike any you can have at any other point in your life.

On this blog, I will share my own personal experiences of being a fresher, the antics I got up to, and hopefully provide some tips onto some of you who may be making the daunting transition yourselves.