It's getting to the stage in the year that either you're about to head to uni or you're already there. So I thought I'd give a few tips and ideas to help you through the madness that is - freshers week.
Freshers week in the UK tends to be either 1 or 2 weeks in the first semester of university, where the uni and the clubs in town put on events every night. This tends to result in 2 weeks of very heavy drinking, eating copious quantities of takeaway food and catching the inevitable 'freshers flu'. The concept of freshers week is certainly odd and, whatever people may say or think, it isn't for everyone. Drinking ridiculous amounts with people you've known for a matter of hours (or at best a few days) and then going to the worst clubs in town to listen to shit pop music, throw up, eat takeaway, sleep until 2pm and then repeat for 7-14 days... in hindsight it does sound weird!
I lived with and went to uni with people who saw freshers as the best week of there life. For me, freshers weeks improved through the 3 years. Certainly I did not find my freshers week easy. I was really homesick, found I was far shyer that I thought, hid in my room and hated where I lived. The first night in uni I went out and didn't enjoy it at all, and that terrified me. Now I know that I was probably not ever going to enjoy it because I simply don't like those kinds of nights out and I was generally not in the right mood to have fun. It freaked me out so much at the time. I remember being in the taxi home (at like 1am) thinking "if this is what uni is like, I'm not going to last a week". I went out 2-3 times across Liverpool's 2 week long freshers. Most people went out every night or every other and the least. But like most people I luckily made friends with another girl who wasn't enjoying the clubbing and going out and she really helped me push through until term started. Maybe you're thinking "who is she to tell me how to survive uni if she hated it?" Well I'm hoping here to help people like me but also those who will love the freshers week lifestyle. I want to be real and hopefully make you feel more relaxed about the madness that is FRESHERS.
If you want to read more about my university experience, I've done a post on it here.
Don't hide in your room.
I did this and it did me no favours. You may well be feeling sad and homesick but being on your own won't help - I learnt this the hard way. Go into your communal areas, bring some chocolates to share around and offer to make everyone a cup of tea. It's small things like these that will help you to get on with your flat. Also if you're not into clubbing or drinking, by being present in the flat my experience has generally been that people don't care if your not on the night out as long as they get to meet you in other ways. You make more of a bond and friendships in the flat than on a night out.
If you don't want to go out, then don't.
There is nothing worse than going out, spending money, drinking lots and not even enjoying it. If you know you're not in the mood for loud music and drunk people then either don't go or see if others feel the same and offer to do something else. I wish I had been more confident in saying this. Clubbing isn't for everyone. There are so many other things you can do! If you go out when you don't want to you'll generally not have a good night and you'll probably end up resenting it!
Go to predrinks even if you're not going out.
Predrinks are a heavy feature in freshers week. If your flat is where people congregate then it's probably going to get loud. For this reason (and because they are often the best bit of the night) I'd recommend joining in. You don't need to drink, just being there will do wonders for meeting new people and making friends. They're also a great opportunity to actually get to know everyone (preferably not as much as you may find out by playing 'never have I ever').
If you don't go out prepare for loud and rowdy people interrupting your sleep.
I'm afraid that this is a fact of life. Don't hold a grudge or become passive aggressive, that will only make things worse. If you've got to be up early then tell your flatmates that and just ask if they could try and keep the noise down. My logic was generally to ignore noise because it normally isn't loud for too long. Try not to adopt the "because they were loud on Monday I'm going to be loud tonight" approach. It won't make you friends and it just means you're as bad as them.
Be considerate.
When you come back at 4am don't decide that's a good moment to kick a ball around the corridor or to continue the party in your communal area. However we all get carried away, so if you are really loud then make a conscientious effort to apologise. This extends to those living in student houses too, many houses surrounding you won't be filled with students. Get to know your neighbours, introduce yourself, apologise in advance for any noise and suggest how they can contact you if there is a problem.
Don't get into messy habits.
Try and keep on top of your washing up. Don't let your living space get gross and then hope someone else will sort it out. That is a sure fire way to make some enemies. If you're clean in your habits it will also help encourage others to do the same.
Sign up to the doctors and get organised.
In Liverpool during freshers there aren't lectures so during the day there is often nothing to but sleep and eat cold pizza. However tempting this may be, I'd really suggest signing up to the doctors ASAP because they often won't see new patients in emergency appointments, meaning that when you next get ill you may not be able to see a doctor and have to waste yours and the doctors time in a hospital. Try and also sort out your space and your life too because it will make you feel a million times better and more at home.
Do other stuff (other than drinking) with your flat.
Suggest going for a meal or the cinema with your flat. Not only will this be good for the group, but it will also be great for those people you don't enjoy drinking and going out. Include everyone in these sorts of events because you don't want the tables to turn and subsequently not be invited on another occasion.
Eat as a flat.
I don't think I ever managed this but my boyfriends flat was awesome at it. His flat cooked and ate together every night until nearly christmas. Not only is it so much cheaper (cooking for one is very expensive) but they were super close and it gave them a chance to talk to someone about their day and how they're getting on. The added bonus, you get home-cooked food that will do you more good than 19p noodles from Tesco!
Eat before a night out, after a night out and drink lots of water.
Getting wasted is inevitable if you're partying your way through freshers. Help your body out by eating before you drink, aid the hangover by eating something when you get home and drink lots of water before bed. Obvious I know, but we've all been there and hangovers only get worse as you get older!!
Don't put yourself or others at risk.
Sorry guys, another mothering point. If, like me, you decide to go to uni in a city having lived all your life in a small village, you need to look after yourself and others. By this I mean totally straight forward things like; locking doors and windows, don't make your valuables easy to steal, don't walk home on your own or let someone else walk on their own and only take out the valuables you really need (AKA ID, preferably take out money before so you don't need to take out bank card, keys and phone). As an added extra I'd suggest bringing a cheap old phone and a pay as you go sim so that you can get a hold of home if you lose your phone. Also I'd recommend putting a list on the fridge with every ones names and mobile numbers.
Be safe.
If you have sex use protection. Don't let yourself get into a situation with someone where you feel uncomfortable. Tell your flat mates or a friend where you are going and who with. Yes this may mean ridicule at breakfast, but it's honestly the safest thing to do.
I hope this has been helpful. Remember to enjoy yourself, do what you want and throw yourself into it. I'm worried this is biased towards drinkers and sadly yes freshers is a drinking fest but if that't not your scene there are always tonnes of other things to do (signing up to clubs and keeping up with the uni's social media will massively help.) I think it's also important to say that uni isn't for everyone, if you're unhappy most uni's have a counselling service of sorts. Also keep in touch with home - your mum will be missing you and will be worrying, so help them out by letting them know you're ok.
Now go forth freshers and have fun.
Lots of love,
C xxx
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