With the biggest week of year one fast approaching, it’s time to start getting prepared. Freshers’ Week will be tougher than you know. It’s a brutal combination of never-ending nights out, desperate attempts to make friends, and the looming, deadly virus (Freshers’ Flu).
It’s such a vital, unserious, and kinda exhausting experience. And no one really tells you what you need to survive it. But in the end, you’ll have some amazing friends and memories that’ll never leave you.
So, if you want to make it out alive, here are 15 bits of advice you need to know if you want to survive Freshers’ Week.
1. Where are you from? What course are you on?
Be prepared to answer these same questions relentlessly in Freshers’ Week. You’ll meet so many new people, everyone will be nervous, and all small talk will start the same way. If it’s not these, it’ll be reciting your A-Levels every five minutes. And if I were you, I’d prepare a few anecdotes about A-Level Results Day.
2. Freshers’ Flu survival kit
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Arguably, this is the most important thing you need to know about before Freshers’ Week. Build a little emergency kit because Freshers’ Flu is real. Get some Berocca, plasters, lozenges, and painkillers. Honestly, you’ll need them all.
3. Going-out tops
You will spend most, if not all, nights of the week in a pub or club. So you’ll want to build up a good roster of going-out clothes before the week starts. Just make it part of your uni capsule wardrobe.
4. Don’t buy the freshers’ wristband
Seriously, don’t. Either you won’t end up going because you’ll have other plans, or it’ll be such a boring event. Find out where everyone goes clubbing and on which days, and you’ll have a much better time. Money well spent.
5. Confidence
This one is huge. The key to making the most of uni is confidence. Putting yourself out there and getting out of your comfort zone will be the best thing you’ll ever do. Talk to those people, join that society, and just say yes to everything!
6. Buy lots of tissues
Not to put a dampener on wild Freshers’ Week, but behind closed doors it is harder than most people know. Settling into a new city away from everything you know is very difficult and everyone will feel homesick. It’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone gets homesick at some point.
7. Money (and lots of it)
Freshers’ Week is very spenny. You’ll spend money on things like no tomorrow. Whether it’s drinks, club entry, or the typical post-night out takeaways. So be prepared and save some money and try to budget a bit (absolutely do not to spend all of your student loan in one week).
8. Willpower
I won’t lie, Freshers’ is exhausting. The endless nights out combined with the complete lack of sleep and very poor diet, you’ll take a hit. A little willpower is all you need. Believe me, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
But also, just a reminder that you don’t have to attend every event! There’ll be so many throughout the year, it really won’t be a big deal if you need a break and miss one.
9. Go to the Freshers’ Fair
They might not sound super fun, but defo go to these! You’ll get to talk to some societies and figure out which you want to join (vital for the uni experience). Plus you get loads of freebies.
10. Fancy dress
Freshers’ Week is renowned for its wild fancy dress nights. The societies will have you dressing as some random things, but it is so much fun. Make the most of this and don’t hold back.
11. Uni admin
Bit on the boring side, but get all your uni admin done before Freshers’ Week, especially signing up to a GP. I promise you do not want to be doing all this in the week when you’re trying to just have fun. And when Freshers’ Flu hits, you’ll at least have the GP ready for when you need it.
12. Stock up on drinks
Keep a regular stock of mixers and drinks. You’ll definitely spontaneously end up in a random flat for pres and the last thing you’ll want to do is a long trek to the shop for drinks.
13. Make the most of the student discount
Download UNiDAYS and Student Beans immediately! So many places do student discounts, and uni gets expensive, so why not save where you can?
14. Move into your flat as early as possible
I only say this so you can get first pick of fridge shelf and cupboard space. This is weirdly an important one. You really don’t want to be stuck with the bottom shelf. Moving in early almost guarantees first dibs.
15. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect
As amazing as Freshers’ Week is, the chances are you’ll meet your closest friends and make your best memories afterwards! So if it’s not the most perfect week, don’t worry: there’s so much left to come.
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