Chapter 1
Freshers’ week
Arriving at uni for the first time, you’ll probably feel a bit like you did on your first day at primary school – nervous about the work and teachers (re-branded as tutors this time), excited about meeting new friends, and eager to check out your new surroundings (a whole room this time, and not just a coat peg). You might be a bit keener to say goodbye to the parents this time, and probably won’t hang on to their trouser legs as they try to edge towards the door, but don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel a tiny bit panicked on the first day. It’s natural that you might have mixed feelings when you actually face independence for the first time.
But your first day at uni will be so busy that you won’t have much time to stay pondering – you’ll be unpacking, organising, learning endless names, forgetting them, getting lost, being found, accepting Facebook friends, swapping numbers, meeting neighbours, eating, drinking and generally rushing around. Freshers’ week is a time when you’ll smile, laugh, drink, dance, cry and forget hundreds of names. At times you might wish you were somewhere else, at other times you’ll wish the week could go on forever. You’ll have hours when you love uni, and hours when you hate it – and sometimes you’ll feel all these feelings at the same time. That’s normal. It’s stressful to move to a new place, start a new course, meet hundreds of new people, sift through those people to find friends, arrange a new room, cook and eat new foods, explore a new town, organise new funding, impress new tutors, and go from being top banana in the highest year of school to bottom of the pack as a fresher at university – all within one very busy week.
Arriving at uni: what to expect
When you arrive at university for the first time, with all your stuff, head for your halls of residence or wherever you’re living. If you’re living in halls, there will probably be a stand set up to welcome you and your family and tell you where to go. If you’re living in private accommodation, remember to arrange when and where you will pick up the key before you set off from home.
TIP
‘I found that freshers’ week was an anti-climax – don’t worry if you don’t enjoy it – uni soon gets better!’
Daniel, 23, Oxford
Once you’ve arrived in your room (or ‘digs’, as old people like your parents will probably insist on calling your uni room), it’s a good idea to start unpacking as soon as possible. Ask any friends or family who have come with you to help you to unpack before they go, because once your room starts looking nice and homely, you’ll feel much happier about settling in. Don’t worry about unpacking every little thing (it can be nice to have something left to do when your family leave) but unpack your duvet, make your bed, put up some posters, unl... Click here to purchase the complete Guide to Uni Life |