Top 10 Tips for Surviving Fresher's Week
1) Hello, Hello, Hello...Social Media
Social media is good for many things, stalking potential new friends, stalking old ones, playing games, displaying your creativity to the world, but it's also good to get in touch with your future fellow students. Facebook is perfect for setting up meetings before you've even set foot on campus. There will be groups set up for all sorts of things, the course you're on, the halls you live in, the societies you want to join or even just a group for all freshers at your university, no matter what you're studying.
Join a group, or request to join. Getting involved before you arrive sets you in good stead for the rest of the academic year, not only by setting you up with potential friends or peers, but for other opportunities that may be advertised there, long before you even move in.
2) I Come Bearing Gifts
Now, I'm not saying to go out and buy you and your future flatmates a plasma television or a state of the art smoothie maker, but it would be nice to bring something which could help soften the blow of being away from family and squeezed into accommodation with people you've never even met before. I, personally, would gift something that they could eat, or that you could all share.
If you make fudge for example, make some, and stick them in little individual bags with bows and ribbons. I however would bring a tray of brownies! They don't even have to be of the naughty variety either, I have a low fat recipe for you right here on my blog! You could even try cupcakes, scones or muffins. The way to anyone's heart is usually food ;)
3) Hold the Door!
Bring a doorstop. Super simple, yet super effective. It can be very easy to just shut yourself away after your family leave you in a place that's completely new, unfamiliar and very scary. But this is possibly one of the worst things you can do. First impressions are everything, so when you have to live for a whole year with the people you've been plonked randomly in halls with, its important that you all get on, because its not very easy to get out. I talk from experience on this one!
By bringing something as simple as a door stop, you can prop open the door to your room (as it'll be a heavy fire door by the way), therefore lifting the barrier between you and your potential friends. It's important they don't think you're a closed book, or even being rude, it'll be very much out of your comfort zone, but you'll very quickly feel more and more comfortable with the idea, and eventually, you'll be in and out of each other's rooms, watching Bake Off and snacking on those brownies you bought with you ;)
4) Changing Rooms
If you're lucky enough to live in halls that were built after it was acceptable to construct the place with lovely hints of asbestos, then you may not need to do this as much as the average student does. But it helps to bring things from home that make you feel comforted. Bring photos, your favourite pillow or blanket, or even an ornament which means a lot to you. Home comforts are imperative so you feel a little less isolated and a bit more connected to your life, or even people, at home.
5) Let's Go 'Out Out'
Fresher's week has a reputation for drinking games, stealing traffic cones and rocking home at 5am. But if the rave paint, themed nights or sticky night club floors don't quite float your boat, then there are loads of other, fun, quirky alternatives to your average fresher's week experience. Many universities offer cinema trips, cocktail making nights, comedy nights and pub quizzes for those who don't enjoy a night filled with WKD, S Club 7 and walking home bare foot.
6) Counting the Days
Get a calendar. Not the one on your phone, not the one on your emails, not the one built into your computer, a real, paper calendar. Then stick it on your notice board, somewhere you can see it effortlessly. The life of a fresher can get quite complicated. You've got loads of different activities planned, meeting up with the Harry Potter Society Monday night, Tuesday is a two hour lecture followed by a PT meeting and a cinema night in the evening, Wednesday it's your turn on the cooking rota, Thursday you have to do your washing, a weekly shop and get an assignment in and Friday is pub quiz night followed by a binge watch on Netflix.
My point is, keep all of your affairs in order. When I say everything, I mean everything. Especially if you're living in a shared house. Keep track of when bills need to be paid, when rent is due, any medical appointments, meetings with tutors, assignment deadlines, literally everything. trust me, it's a life saver!
7) It's All About the Dollar Dollar
Budget. I know, boring right? But to avoid blowing the whole of your student loan in the space of a week, then budgeting is what you need to do. It's tempting to see that amount of money in your bank account and then go on a huge shopping spree, but don't forget, that money has to last you three months. It doesn't sound like a lot of time, but it is. Within those three months, you have rent and bills to pay, if you're self catered, you have to factor food into that as well, save some money for your jollies, but don't blow it all on the latest MacBook or a holiday to the states.
8) Get Involved!
At some point during Fresher's week, there will be a fair. At this fair, there will be stalls, full of different societies trying to get you join up to their clubs. Some people trying to entice you in can be a bit much, I get it, it's easy to be scared away by those who have already been there a year or two who think they're the bee's knees because they're chairman of the darts society. But don't let that put you off. There are loads of clubs and teams you can join, anything from sports to chess to photography.
Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to look around, and sign up to whatever takes your fancy, then go to a session or two afterwards and see how you feel. Once you've signed up, you aren't locked in for the duration of your time at uni, you can decide to leave or quit whenever you want. It's just a way for you to decide what you enjoy and what you don't, not only that, but it helps you prioritise as you won't have time to fit everything into your busy schedule.
9) Get Your Hands Dirty
There's nothing worse than sharing a house with people who don't clean up after themselves. So if the washing up hasn't been done for three weeks and there's an ominous cluster of fluff that's been growing on that jam on toast that's been left there for goodness knows how long, then at least attempt to do something about it. Throw that bit of toast in the bin and just tidy up after yourself. If you do everyone's washing up every time, then they'll take it for granted that someone else will do it for them and you're back to square one. If you've been cooking in pairs, wash up in pairs, if you've cooked as a group, clean up in a group. Better still, start a cleaning rota. Don't feel like you have to live in squalor just because you're a fresher!
10) All Aboard the Student Discount Train
It's now your chance to go out and take full advantage of any student discount events or sales that are available. Most places nowadays offer it, whether you're wanting tasty food, fruit cocktails or the latest fashion, there will be loads of places offering student discounts or fresher deals, so keep your eyes peeled. If it's not obvious, then ask a member of staff, if you don't ask, you won't know. Saving money is crucial as a student, so start here!
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and use it to your full advantage going into the world on university. I will see you soon with another! Good luck to all you freshers out there :)
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