Freshers week: how to have the BEST week possible

Some things you only get once: your first drink; your 21st birthday and your freshers week.

As someone who made many silly fresh mistakes, I can give the tip top advice I would shake into my younger self, if I could (still not giving up on time travel though ;)).

So let's get stuck in:

1. Freshers' fayre: sign up via FACEBOOK not just email

As someone who didn't have Facebook during school (fb was for the 'old' people, even my parents had it) I happily relied on snapchat and Instagram to sustain my everyday disappearing selfies and stalkerish needs. But, my word, would I have missed out if I hadn't downloaded it! By being so late I was already too awkward to slide into offer holder group chats and the like.

Anyway, the fayre. It is daunting and you DO NOT have to say yes to everything, even if it makes you feel evil. However, it is 100% worth going, not just to get the freebies, but so you can sign up to as many clubs and societies as you like - and there are many.

Each stand will take down your email address, this is where I went wrong, this DOES NOT mean they will email you. Find the facebook page and join it as well- that is where you will get most of your info from.

You can even join a page if you didn't give your email and also later on in the term, don't worry if you missed it!

2. Bring ~weird~ stuff

I don't know where your mind went when I said weird but just to clarify, I mean things you need but wouldn't necessarily bring on a sleepover, say. Such as q-tips and cheese graters- who remembers those?! Try and spend your last week at home taking note of things you use so you don't forget anything.

Everyone thinks they over pack, it really doesn't matter. Do check what is already in your room though!

Bring dress-up stuff too, you will have wacky costumes you need to prepare, not to mention, Halloween.

3. Don't take for granted how you can just rock up and chat to anyone

Where I went we ate in a grand hall type area. And you can just sit next to anyone and talk to them- you are all in the same boat here! And you never know who will be your closest friends so it is worth the gander.

4. It does not mean you have to hook-up

It actually means you shouldn't hook up with flatmates or course mates or people in college (and not in public places, yikes). That being said, it can be fun and everyone is able to laugh it off later on, after much teasing, so can be just as risky as it is risqué.

I would get involved with as much as possible, but you don't even need to go out or get drunk at all. Alcohol isn't everyone's cup on tea!

5. Lower your expectations

To be honest, freshers week isn't that fun. A club is a terrible way to get to know people as you can't chat. Outside clubbing, you have the same conversation over and over ("What's your name? What are you studying? Where are you from?" etc). There are also boring, mandatory activities, like fire safety talks.

My cheeks hurt from fake smiling at everyone through sleep deprivation and I couldn't remember anyone's name (bonus tip: get their social media so you can look them up when you forget).

It gets so, so much better!

As soon as you establish that group chat and have a consistent group of friends it all falls into place and night outs are just as fun as nights in.

Overall: CHILL OUT.

x