[Blaftermath]

I'm a fresher, but a 'boring' commuter. I've recently been immersing myself in the whole fresher experience and by now I feel embarrassed that I took the whole thing seriously and actually thought it was socially beneficial...it is not.

Yesterday I attended one of the many silly activities the Queens Student Union had set up. I'm not sure what the point of these are...because they are certainly never anything more than just talking with some people for the sake of talking to them for the set period of time that the activity goes onto and then you part with them, never to be seen again. As well as that, people seem to stay in groups, either people who have already been friends long before or flatmates. Thankfully however I did notice many people completely on there own...a bit like myself. Never in my life have I went to a social event on my own - I've always been very social with many friends to the point where I took it all for granted and realized how little I have now.

Outside the SU on the main road and opposite the university (the hotspot) was host to the central element of freshers week, or Freshers fortnight which is what we have here - at least a hundred PR people from at least 6 different nightclubs around Belfast, desperately competing for business by forcing a leaflet into anyone's hand. One club actually supplied a free condom with their flier, labelled 'We've got your night covered!'

I don't know much about halls but I seen my ex-girlfriends room on skype and it was ridiculously small. A small narrow bed, old sink and wardrobe complete with a small square window. The kitchen is very simple and includes a table and chairs, and the bathroom has one shower, all shared by 5 people. I couldn't do this. I'm not a rich kid, but I have everything I want at home including a business I run, my own car and a garage, my family and my dog - I'm happy. I don't feel socially inferior because I have the freedom to go wherever I want whenever I want. Sure I definitely do want to move out with friends next year, but this will be in a flat that we've looked at and actually want to stay in and with people I know and like. Moving into halls with random people assigned to your particular flat really doesn't appeal to me - Its a big risk, assuming you will enjoy the company of these new people for a whole year.

Last night I experienced the students night in a popular nightclub in town. I knew it was the biggest night and wanted to see what the fuss was all about...Is it possible to meet new people in this kind of environment? If that means shouting in their ear 3 times before they hear you, only to get a drunken response then yes.

To start with, the guy to girl ratio was about 5:1. By the end of the night every single girl had either eaten the face off some man whore or left hand in hand to make full use of the free condom. This left the majority of guys who didn't 'get lucky' feeling slightly inadequate but drunk anyway so all in all the night would have been good as long as it ended with your mate getting chased down the road by a taxi driver or ending up in A&E for hitting something you shouldn't have.

I know I sound like 50 years old but I'm 18, and I'm by no means an outcast. I have always maintained a sound group of friends who I've enjoyed but I can't understand this generations sensational surge towards alcoholism which I'm ashamed to be a part of. What does it say about the world if the only way to get teenagers excited is by them utilising the consequences of alcohol, being over-confident and out of character, feeling a sense of happiness where you don't give a ****.

That's only a rant within a rant. I used to think freshers was about meeting new people and creating links, but really its completely based on establishing early experiences with your flat mates, doing funny things you'll quickly regret to boost your friendships with the people you're going to live with right from the start. Freshers is completely overrated and not even worthy a title for a week of events. I look forward to starting my course on Monday with 2 people I met on my induction last Monday while we were all sober. I look forward to meeting the other hundred people on my course that I will actually see every day and work alongside. Meanwhile in the future, after I've developed the friendships naturally I'll start to go out with them occasionally in a social environment in which we are comfortable and not under pressure to conform.

Do what makes you happy. If you enjoy being hungover every morning and thrive on a sluttish reputation to boost your self confidence well then there's no reason to change. Otherwise DO NOT feel under any pressure about the whole freshers thing - it is hopeless and if you choose not to take part you are not missing out at all. Look towards the year ahead and enjoy each day as it comes.

[pinda.college]

I know, but I ****ing love freshers

[hothedgehog]

The general freshers experience is nightclubbing. Nightclubbing isn't everyone's cup of tea which is why a lot of people don't like it.

I would definitely not rank freshers week as a highlight of my uni experience. I didn't enjoy the clubbing much, my flatmates were dicks from the start, I didn't get to do as music as I wanted because I missed an audition because of a fieldtrip and it was a fairly standard year. Second year definitely picked up when I got into more music stuff, started running for committees and the course picked up a bit. Third and fourth year were awesome and I felt like I really belonged. Out of everything, there are very few nights out that I remember because of the awesomeness of going out - there was always something else on those nights out that made them stand out.

Anyway, don't feel jaded - enjoy your home etc. and try to get involved in some worthwhile societies - those are the places where you'll meet your friends that you'll carry through life.

[cid]

Lol these crazy kids,

I'm a mature student in the mature halls, but I've still been out every night of the week, I'm and old man and I'm paying for during the day ache all over, but I've also met a **** ton of people. However i do find myself wondering why half the freshers have gone home this weekend? At least stay on campus your first bloody weekend.

Its great best of both worlds, out drinking with the other freshers, then come home, sit in the kitchen with my fellow mature freshers, have a cup of tea and not worry that one of us is going to set the fire alarm off or start playing bass music

And plenty of stuff to do in the day, used the SU to get some job interviews, got myself registered at a GP's looking and a couple of societies and maybe the rugby team, who knows.

Pity its pretty much over, though i think after tonight i will use the weekend to rest before lectures start, i can't go for ever like these thrusting young blades.

[Blaftermath]

(Original post by hothedgehog)
The general freshers experience is nightclubbing. Nightclubbing isn't everyone's cup of tea which is why a lot of people don't like it.

I would definitely not rank freshers week as a highlight of my uni experience. I didn't enjoy the clubbing much, my flatmates were dicks from the start, I didn't get to do as music as I wanted because I missed an audition because of a fieldtrip and it was a fairly standard year. Second year definitely picked up when I got into more music stuff, started running for committees and the course picked up a bit. Third and fourth year were awesome and I felt like I really belonged. Out of everything, there are very few nights out that I remember because of the awesomeness of going out - there was always something else on those nights out that made them stand out.

Anyway, don't feel jaded - enjoy your home etc. and try to get involved in some worthwhile societies - those are the places where you'll meet your friends that you'll carry through life.

That's very reassuring to hear. I'd take this a step further and say I hate freshers because I think it actually does the reverse of what its supposed to - I think it scares a lot of people more than it welcomes them! The uni experience should not be about getting completely blitzed before doing something stupid, suffering a mad hangover and then then doing it all again. It should be about what you've said, exploring yourself, doing what you like with who you like. But your experience is what I've heard from quite a few people...I haven't spoken to my ex in a week but her brother tells me that she really wants to go home.

[Blaftermath]

(Original post by cid)
Lol these crazy kids,

I'm a mature student in the mature halls, but I've still been out every night of the week, I'm and old man and I'm paying for during the day ache all over, but I've also met a **** ton of people. However i do find myself wondering why half the freshers have gone home this weekend? At least stay on campus your first bloody weekend.

Its great best of both worlds, out drinking with the other freshers, then come home, sit in the kitchen with my fellow mature freshers, have a cup of tea and not worry that one of us is going to set the fire alarm off or start playing bass music

And plenty of stuff to do in the day, used the SU to get some job interviews, got myself registered at a GP's looking and a couple of societies and maybe the rugby team, who knows.

Pity its pretty much over, though i think after tonight i will use the weekend to rest before lectures start, i can't go for ever like these thrusting young blades.

When you say lots of stuff to do, signing up to things and taking interviews is the kind of stuff you could easily do in a day so its hardly a big time filler. Sure you meet people at the clubs, but its only for the sake of a quick one off conversation. And I thought going home was very reasonable...who'd want to sit there another 2 days...its a good break to realize you're not completely ****ed up in the head.

[somethingbeautiful]

All of the 2nd/3rd and post grads (and 4th/5th year med/dents/vets) used to call it '**** a fresher week'. Basically, fresher's seemed to be more for the benefit of the older students or non-student population of the city of a certain age range (18-30) who knew that tons of half sloshed freshies would be milling about the clubs and either A) feeling peer pressured into getting smoochy with randomers or B) Going mental with liberation. People just generally embarrassed themselves (if they could even remember it!) and had a whale of a time. It's not a serious way of making long term friends - it's just a week of meeting strangers, remembering their names for 5 minutes and then being strangers again until you recognise them in the library or a 3rd year lecture and hide behind you mate/text book.

If it's not your thing - that's fine.

[Cutmeloose]

lol why are you skyping your ex girlfriend? how odd.

[cid]

But the people running this stuff behind the scene are off their feet, sure if they were dealing with one person or a handful they could smash it out in a day, but they're dealing with 100's even over a 1000. And my Uni have 3 campuses so they have to split it because you can't be everywhere at once.

No one is forcing anyone to drink, i think the whole thing is rather reserved, 2 evening events have been running, one that requires no drinking if so it be pleased, things such as a games night, quiz night, stand up comedy night, film night and an open mic night, then running parallel to those are clubbing nights for those that wish to drink ...quite a bit

I don't know about your uni but the one here has run a bloody good freshers and to my mind there is no excuse for not taking part, except that you don't want to, and that's fine too, but no one here can claim its all about drinking, i know more people from other subject than i do from my actually classes at the moment because I've gone out and met people.

Going home point, i think the weekend will be quite chilled out, most people are looking at their wallets and wincing, it would actually be the perfect time to get to know people, there are cheap buffets in town, a huge shopping centre the next city over only a £5 20minute train journey away, go for a walk around the shops, maybe the arcades, cinema then a meal, you know the sort of things you would do with your mates back home.

[Rybee]

IMO, you sound jealous.

I had the most amazing freshers week and my time at Uni was incredible. The best years of my life without a doubt.

[Blaftermath]

(Original post by Cutmeloose)
lol why are you skyping your ex girlfriend? how odd.

I was going out with her for a year until two days after she arrived at her halls and then we both gave up because we're very far away from eachother. haven't spoken to her since and won't be...itsvery complicated.

[Blaftermath]

(Original post by Rybee)
IMO, you sound jealous.

I had the most amazing freshers week and my time at Uni was incredible. The best years of my life without a doubt.

I look forward to the next 4 years, I won't be basing it on an introductory week. But please share with me why it was so good?

[Rybee]

(Original post by Blaftermath)
I was going out with her for a year until two days after she arrived at her halls and then we both gave up because we're very far away from eachother. haven't spoken to her since and won't be...itsvery complicated.

So... you both went to uni. Nobody liked you at uni. She got ridden bareback most nights and dumped you?

Bahaha. Shame.

[Blaftermath]

(Original post by Rybee)
So... you both went to uni. Nobody liked you at uni. She got ridden bareback most nights and dumped you?

Bahaha. Shame.

Haha I guess if it makes sad lifeforms such as yourself happier to attempt cheap put downs, then go ahead

[Variations]

Well said OP. The traditional freshers experience is pointless, a waste of money and needs to change. You waste money on halls in the hope that you will make friends with a bunch of people that have nothing in common with you because although people move out for many other reasons let's be honest if it wasn't for the whole meeting flatmates experience people going to uni would give staying in their home town a bit more serious thought. You waste money on drinking for drinking's sake due to all the peer pressure and the incredible nervousness, You go to nothing but drink fuelled events where stupid **** happens, this is not the sort of environment in which to make friends. The core problem with freshers is that it is about meeting tons of random people really quickly who you are not likely to see ever again. This is not how friendships develop.

[marcus2001]

You sound really hung up on your ex brah, move on

[robthefool]

(Original post by Variations)
Well said OP. The traditional freshers experience is pointless, a waste of money and needs to change. You waste money on halls in the hope that you will make friends with a bunch of people that have nothing in common with you because although people move out for many other reasons let's be honest if it wasn't for the whole meeting flatmates experience people going to uni would give staying in their home town a bit more serious thought. You waste money on drinking for drinking's sake due to all the peer pressure and the incredible nervousness, You go to nothing but drink fuelled events where stupid **** happens, this is not the sort of environment in which to make friends. The core problem with freshers is that it is about meeting tons of random people really quickly who you are not likely to see ever again. This is not how friendships develop.

99% of students disagree with this. Sorry bro.

[Sean9001]

Sounds like someone trying to convince themselves that they don't regret choosing to live a home if you ask me. Much like the posts that preach about how pointless going to university is.

[shapes]

(Original post by Blaftermath)
x

Hmm, over-analysis I think buddy. Sure, the organised side of freshers' is corney, cheesy and a little embarrassing, but it's not difficult to decide that you don't want to subscribe to that side of things, is it?

And your views on the partying aspect of freshers' do make you come across as a boring pr*ck, definitely. Freshers' is 2 weeks of people having a taste of a rock 'n' roll, no-holds-barred lifestyle: getting wasted is prerequisite to having an absolute blast, especially with hundreds of total strangers.

[Blaftermath]

(Original post by robthefool)
99% of students disagree with this. Sorry bro.

Of course they will...they're not going to confess they made a bad decision abit like how people think I'm only making excuses for not staying in halls...its only one year for pity's sake, then I'll move out and actually put thought into it as opposed to the majority who throw themselves into halls, over confident and optimistic. In saying that, I suppose its better that they learn these kind of life lessons sooner.