The chances are before you go to Uni your only experience may have only been a day visit to a few different Uni's when you were making your choices. Also lots of people have visited friends and relatives at University and have experienced the student nightlife and the student social life that goes along with it. Starting Uni yourself is a whole new issue though.
1st Day
You arrive at University, enrol and pick up your keys for your room. After you’ve dropped your stuff off it’s a good idea to go shopping with your parents (if you’re in self-catered student accommodation) so you're stocked up for fresher's week.
This is likely to be your first time living away from home and so when everyone has left and said their goodbyes everything is likely to feel quite daunting. You’re in a strange room, in a strange place and surrounded by people you’ve never met before. Everyone feels the same, remember this. At every University, every fresher has this experience and so you are all in the same situation.
First of all, prop open your door so anyone passing your room can say hey and so that you feel more involved in your surroundings. This helps you to meet other students in your student halls from day 1. The first day is all about getting to know each other, not inside out but just basic details such as names, where people have come from and what they're studying at university.
Try and organise yourselves so that your student flat/halls all go out together for a drink on the first night which will help to break the ice a bit. This is the start of your Uni life!
1st Week
In the 1st week you’ll register on your course and attend some introductory university lectures. It’s an easy break in and gives you a chance to meet some of the other students on your course. The rest of the time is left for you to get involved with university life. There will be loads of student activities for you to get involved with, and every night there will be the cheapest drinks deals at bars and clubs around the university campus/city. Freshers week is all about socializing, so you can meet other students and start to see what Uni life is all about!
Don’t worry if you find it strange being in this situation and miss your old friends. It’s normal because going out with people you’ve only known for a couple of days is not the same as going out with old friends, who you've known for years. Just remember that in the long-term, some of these new people are likely to become friends for life and you'll soon feel completely relaxed around them too.
Top Tip
Make the most of Freshers Week, you'll have no work to do and it's just a week of drinking and socializing.
Fresher's Fair:
Most universities hold a "Fresher's Fair" in the first couple of weeks of university term. Here you’ll find information on local businesses such as cinemas and student radio. You get loads of student freebies like posters which you can use to brighten up your dorm room.
Activities Fair:
Most universities also hold an "Activities Fair" in the first couple of weeks, or it is held together with the Freshers Fair. You can find out loads of information about different university clubs and societies at your uni, from Skydiving to Netball. You’ll be amazed by the various societies which you wouldn’t even expect to exist! Most student societies will ask for an email address and will then send you further information before you sign up for the year.
Top Tip:
Sign up/leave your email address with loads of societies. You can always decide later exactly which university activities you want to join but it's easier to sign up to lots in the first place and then decide which ones you like later.
