Everyone has heard of the event that is Freshers’ Week. Depending on what direction you look at it, it could instil excitement, joy, nerves of in the case of some local venues, fear. In this blog we’re going to tell you what you should expect, but there might be a lof of things that you can’t, it is Freshers’ Week after all and we aren’t as good clairvoyants as we would like to be. You have likely gotten a welcome pack from your university telling you what’s going on academically (this won’t be a lot) as well as many, many forms to fill out. After all the formalities are done during the day, you are free to enjoy the night. But while this week won’t vary too much from an extended weekend of partying, there will be some obstacles that may arise. To help you here is the Pads for Students’ guide to what you will see and should come to expect at Freshers’ Week. 

Expect the Unexpected

Freshers’ Fair:

Your University will have one of some kind, normally involving all the Societies, Groups and Sports at the University. You should attend these Fairs/Events and sign up to anything you think is interesting. We mean sign up to EVERYTHING that you might like, if you forget it later or change your mind they understand, but don’t miss out on these great opportunities. Plus you won’t need stationery for your first semester as you you will be swimming in branded pens, pads and other various talismans. But mainly pens, they give out a LOT of pens. There may also be small events being held at your student accommodation.

Pub Crawls:

It is likely a faculty, society or halls will plan a pub crawl. Normally these pub crawls are in some form of coherent dress, such as animals, cops & robbers, doctors & nurses, sometimes even pyjamas. If you are invited go a long; even if you don’t drink, get involved! And you may laugh at those dressed up but the joke will be on you if you're the only one who isn't.

Freshers’ Flu:

Lots of people from around the country in a small area means that a cold can be passed like wildfire, especially with newly formed student living circumstances, high intakes of alcohol and low intakes of nutritious food. Your immune system is going to be tested, heavily. However due to late nights, stress, worry and bad cooking your immune system is likely to lose, meaning you will get what is commonly referred to as Freshers’ Flu. DON’T PANIC. Everyone gets it; it is inevitable and comes in many different forms. Just be prepared with Cold & Flu medication and you will be fine after some rest, which you probably need anyway.

Introductions:

You will introduce yourself, where you are from, what course you are doing, more times than you can possibly imagine. Lecturers will make you do it. Societies will make you do it. People you meet will ask. You will do it yourself. This won’t really change after Freshers’ Week it will just reduce in frequency; you are stuck with it, so it might be a good idea to have some witty responses in mind when you feel like a drone speeling out the same thing over and over. You will also have to deal with a lot of “Ice-breakers”, however there is a chance you will do the same “Ice-breaker” again and again which is accompanied with the same groaning and eye-rolling reaction when suggested.

Fire Alarms:

Universities check their fire alarms on a schedule, so do accommodation sites for students; you will be told when this will occur during introductions. However, smoke detectors and fire alarms will also go off due them being use or detecting smoke, sometimes during the day during general cooking times (as students, you know this can be ANY time). Something you will have to get used to is the high probability that a fire alarm will go off in the extremely early hours of the morning, when you are (read: "should be") tucked up in bed. It is expected to happen at least once to everyone but it can be a lot more common than you think, so be prepared with slippers and a dressing gown for when you need to evacuate.

Drunk People:

YOU WILL MEET DRUNK STUDENTS (even if you aren't one of them). If you are on a night out, or in student halls you will come across at least one if not a couple of hundred intoxicated people during Freshers’ Week and at your time at University, especially in Student Halls. Making your feelings known about how much you dislike alcohol or binge drinking culture, will unlikely affect their habits and will likely just make them turn their drunken attention towards you. Generally be nice and they will go away. However, beware of vomit and other bodily fluid that will probably be the result of a heavy night.

The Unexpected:

Freshers’ Week is a strange time, so be prepared for anything and primarily stay safe and have fun.

To learn even more about student life and student resources visit our other blogs.

Get searching for your student pad at: www.padsforstudents.co.uk