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Starting university is something you’re probably feeling extremely excited about, imagining 5-day benders, sleeping until 4pm, bringing someone back with you who you’re convinced is the hottest thing you’ve ever seen, thanks to those naughty beer goggles and eating nothing but beans on toast and the occasional Chinese, if you’re feeling extravagant. You’ll also be quite anxious about the whole thing, worrying about making friends and finding your way around campus for your first lecture, after all, you’re pretty much responsible for yourself now. A bit daunting, isn’t it? Fear not, however, here are our top tips to ensure you make it through Freshers week in one piece and most of all, have had the best time.

BORING PAPERWORK

Make sure you arrive at your halls armed with the correct paperwork. This usually includes your confirmation letters, some form of I.D and whatever else the University has sent you, just in case. You’ll have to show this on arrival before being handed the key. It sounds geeky, but having a folder for relevant paperwork is a good idea, so that you know where to find something if it ever comes up. You can scatter your assignments over every surface of your room but important paperwork is something you should take care of. Also, make sure you go to registration. It’s a long and gruelling process where you’ll spend hours waiting around in a hot corridor waiting to have your photo taken and paperwork stamped wbut when you leave that day with your campus card complete with a hilarious photo that your friends will laugh at for years to come, it’ll be worth it.
It’s also worth registering with a doctor while you’re there. It may be an effort but you’ll be thankful when you get struck down with tonsillitis after too not looking after yourself properly. You should be given details of your nearest GP on arrival but if not, your halls will have information on finding one.

MONEY

The majority of you will have snapped up the student loan quicker than you can say “pound a pint” and you are about to have more money in your account than you’ve ever had. If you’ve organised all the paperwork correctly, you should be greeted with a nice figure in your bank account within a couple of days of moving into halls. If not, be patient; the loans company like to take their precious time about it. Then, there’s the overdraft. Although it’s one big, slippery slope, you’ll rely on this once you’ve frittered the loan away on Vodka, takeaways and shopping sprees.
Don’t go mad and get the biggest overdraft going, think wisely and use it as a back up. It’s a rare occasion that a student leaves Uni without any debt whatsoever, but you don’t want to be the one who spends thirty years paying it all off.
In your first and second year, it’s a good idea to get a part time job. It can be a nice escape from your student environment which places you back into the real world for a few hours. Plus, of course, it gives you hard earned money that you can spend without feeling too guilty. Come third year, however, you may struggle to keep working whilst you tackle that dreaded dissertation (unless you’re a machine), so make the most of your free time while you can and try to use it a little wisely.

FAMILIARISING YOURSELF

We’ve all found ourselves wandering around campus in a panicky sweat and frantically referring to a crumbled up map seconds before your first lecture begins. It will appear to be a maze at first and you’ll probably never truly understand the layout and why buildings are named as they are but don’t panic, by the end of the first week, you’ll be leaving that map behind. It’s a good idea to cling onto someone you may have met in halls or at registration who is on your course and make plans to go into Uni together for the first couple of mornings so you can have someone else to get lost with. You will also probably be advised to go along to various tours of the area, including the library and canteen which you will immediately dismiss but are really worth going to in order to familiarise yourself. You don’t want to be that person who still doesn’t know their way round the library a year on; you’ll just come across as an idiot.

As for your surroundings, organised Freshers events in various bars and clubs may seem like forced fun (and they are) but you sometimes need to just go along with your flatmates just so you know where everything is and to find your new favourite places.

ORGANISATION

Student life isn’t about keeping assignments in colour coded folders and carrying a stationery set around with you every day but some things are vital in insuring you don’t get left behind. If your course has sent you any work to get on with before lectures start, do it. You’ll be embarrassed when you’re the one left clueless and having to catch up whilst everyone else goes out and gets drunk. It’s also worth getting a little diary where you can keep your timetable and write in important dates like trips, meetings and assignment deadlines. You do want to actually get some work done, right?

Don’t forget to buy a Young Persons Railcard for those trips back home or to visit friends at other Universities and also make a note of your address so that you can dish it out to loved ones in the hope that they will send you post.

FRESHERS FAIR

Yes, this is the one event where you’ll find students from all levels queuing to get in at 9am and fighting over pizza vouchers. Freebies are the students favourite thing; from tins of baked beans, key rings, t-shirts which are three sizes too big and even condoms if you’re lucky. It may be a bit of a free for all but it’s definitely worth going to. You’ll also learn a lot about what’s going on in the city, how to join various clubs and societies within the University and start your love affair with the world of student discount and free novelty items.