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Freshers Week - for those who are already a bit worried by it

About this time of year, there starts a stream of 'I don't drink/I'm worried about Freshers Week' posts from people about to start Uni who are getting a bit jumpy about the whole 'thing' of Freshers Week. It would be really useful if those already at Uni/graduated could add some reassuring posts here to explain what the first week at Uni really is like.

A great deal of utter rubbish is talked about Freshers Weeks and usually by people who aren't actually at University.

If you believe all the silly stories it must seem like a week long Ibiza Party Night, with every form of debauchery thrown in. Its actually far, far tamer than this. Yes, there are people who get off their faces on every substance possible and think thats grown-up, but the majority of people aren't like that. Freshers Week isnt all about 'getting drunk' anyway. Most of the week is about introducing you to Uni life and the practicalities of meeting tutors, intro lectures, sessions on IT provision and 'how to use the Library' etc. And there are heaps of social things to do that dont have alcohol as a focus - think of all the overseas students who don't drink at all - and Unis are careful not to promote the 'getting wasted is clever' image and make sure there are general 'fun' things for everyone to do.

Even if you aren't a drinker - go to the main Freshers Ball. Its a laugh, and you can drink coke all evening and no-one will even notice. Join up with a few other like minded (shy?) people you meet in the first few days and go together. Leave early if you want to - but go.

Being at Uni is about far more than the first week - think beyond this. Make sure you talk to to people, however shy you feel. Everyone will be feeling excited/nervous, not just you. This is the start of a great 3 or 4 years of your life - enjoy.

Useful guide to Arriving at Uni/Freshers Week herehttp://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Freshers_Week_Tips

(edited 9 years ago)

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Reply 1

OnionRing

Nice post thanks! :smile:

The link at the end doesn't work for me.

Reply 2

returnmigrant

Odd - if you google 'freshers weeks tips TSR' you can find it - but the pasted link doesn't work (very strange).
Or click on the Guide to Freshers Week in the panel on the rhs.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 3

goobypls

What happens if you don't drink ???????

Reply 4

jackisback

The link is currently:
http//www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Freshers_Week_Tips

It should either be:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Freshers_Week_Tips

Or:
www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Freshers_Week_Tips

Thanks for the post. :smile:

Reply 5

UniversalStudentLiving

Original post by goobypls

What happens if you don't drink ???????

Hi

As a student that didnt drink when I came to uni I was worried about not 'fitting in' during freshers.

My biggest bit of advice is dont let what you drink effect what events you go to- there are no rules that say you HAVE to drink alcohol to go on a pub crawl and no one is going to force you to drink if you dont want too. There are always events focused around other activities (coffee mornings, city tours, ice skating etc etc) that happen during the day if you dont fancy going out to the night events.

However I would recommend going to as many events as possible (most unions have a freshers pass for all/most of the events to save some cash) going to more events means you met more people and make more friends. I had a great time at my freshers week events including UV parties, pub crawls, and the freshers Ball where all amazing and I need drink a drop of alcohol, and was never under any pressure to do so!

Hope this helps! :smile:

Rachel
Universal Student Living Team
(UEA and University of Bradford Graduate)

Reply 6

goobypls

Original post by UniversalStudentLiving

Rachel
Universal Student Living Team
(UEA and University of Bradford Graduate)

Do these activities happen at all Unis because i've applied to Greenwich and Reading University

Reply 7

UniversalStudentLiving

Original post by goobypls

Do these activities happen at all Unis because i've applied to Greenwich and Reading University

Hi

Yeah most universities offer a wide range of activities, I recommend finding both student unions on facebook and seeing what events they ran last year (thats always a good indication). Or just drop them an email, student unions are always friendly and helpful!

Rachelle
Universal Student Living Team

Reply 8

Lollyage

Original post by returnmigrant

Yes, there are people who get off their faces on every substance possible and think thats grown-up, but the majority of people aren't like that. Freshers Week isnt all about 'getting drunk' anyway.

So so unnecessary. Yes, there are some people who don't like drinking and may be worried about what they can do during freshers week, but there is no need to shame those who do enjoy clubbing and going out.

For most people, going to university means living away from home for the first time and new found freedom. My only real advice to freshers would be to keep an open mind and be ready to try new things.
If you're not the partying type then don't worry, you will find plenty of like-minded people, but don't immediately segregate yourself from people who are - it's minor differences and a mix of personalities that make being at uni interesting. And you never know what you might start to enjoy :smile:

Reply 9

Rebeccaaaa123

This is a great thread. I do drink occasionally, but I don't get drunk and have no intentions of doing so! I've heard that Fresher's Week is all about getting completely smashed and having the biggest headache the next morning… While I'm up for going out for a few drinks, the hangover part does not appeal to me at all!

It's good to know there are other things going on for those who don't want Fresher's Week to be a huge messy, drunk blur. :redface:

Reply 10

brownsugar-xx

How formal are Fresher's Balls usually? Like floor length gown or no? I'm wondering if i can use my prom dress which is really long with a train.

Reply 11

UniversalStudentLiving

Hi
Freshers balls vary in formality, normally a cocktail dress is good enough. You will get notification enough in advance to prepare yourself (at Bradford it was no jeans, hoodies or trainers which was not massively formal). But everywhere is different.

Rachel
Universal Student Living Team

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Reply 12

Ruffiio

My flatmates and neighbors regularly did drinking games pretty much every night which I didn't participate in but I still went out to the clubs with them and I can tell you, while I was probably perceived as boring at the time they were playing drinking games in the flat,(I really don't like flat parties anyway, I much prefer the atmosphere of being in a club to get me in a good mood) by god they were the most boring people I've ever been to a club with.. just standing there with drinks in their hands for hours doing absolutely nothing while watching everyone else have fun (and these are people who supposedly you'd think would be fun people to go out with since they feel the need to get drunk of their tits every night) so I made a friend on one of my language courses that I took alongside my degree and he introduced me to his flat and they were all pretty cool and I felt a lot more comfortable hanging around them as opposed to my own flatmates and they were much more fun on nights out too and weren't like your stereotypical 'lets get ****ed on drinks to high hell' people and as such were more sensible and they never said anything about the fact that I didn't drink alcohol.

Reply 13

returnmigrant

Original post by goobypls

Do these activities happen at all Unis because i've applied to Greenwich and Reading University

Yes. All Unis are very conscious of those who don't drink for personal/cultural/religious reasons, and very aware of the need for a wide range of activities to make everyone feel included. Last year the Uni I work at ran a whole variety of walks, bus tours, 'alcohol free' pub/cafe crawls, cinema evenings, music concerts, bowling etc etc.

You really don't need to consume alcohol if you don't want to - even if you go to mainstream events (like Balls, parties etc) no-one is going to pressure you to drink (if they look at your glass, most wont even realise that that orange juice or coke doesn't have a spirits in it or that 'lite' beer isn't full strength).

Here is the Freshers Guide to last year at
Nottingham Trent : http://www.ntu.ac.uk/starting_at_ntu/document_uploads/WW_Guide_2013.pdf
Glyndwr : http://www.studentsguild.glyndwr.ac.uk/WhatsOn/Freshers2013/TheFile,32053,en.pdf
Queen Mary (London) : http://www.qmsu.org/pageassets/freshers/freshers_fair_web.pdf

Reply 14

returnmigrant

Original post by brownsugar-xx

How formal are Fresher's Balls usually? Like floor length gown or no? I'm wondering if i can use my prom dress which is really long with a train.

Just because they are called a 'Ball' doesn't mean they are 'posh frocks and DJs' - unless you are somewhere rarefield like Oxford then standard party gear will do.

Reply 15

brownsugar-xx

Original post by returnmigrant

Just because they are called a 'Ball' doesn't mean they are 'posh frocks and DJs' - unless you are somewhere rarefield like Oxford then standard party gear will do.

Haha thanks! :biggrin:

Reply 16

Tom78

I'd be worried about not fitting in because I do drink, after reading some of these posts...

Reply 17

UniversalStudentLiving

Original post by Tom78

I'd be worried about not fitting in because I do drink, after reading some of these posts...

Hi

Dont worry! Whether you drink or not you will find people to befriend and socialise with. Student Union bars are a great place to met people, or just hang out any time during the year- they normally have a wide range of food and drink to pick from and at a good price too!

I think there is a tendency to believe that people split in to the 'drinkers' and the 'non drinkers' at uni, but it just doesn't work like that. I worked in the Student Union club nights and there where plenty of people who didnt drink, and lots of people that did but they all danced on the same dance floor and all had fun in the same space.

Hope this helps

Rachel
Universal Student Living Team

Reply 18

New- Emperor

Original post by goobypls

Do these activities happen at all Unis because i've applied to Greenwich and Reading University

Yeah almost all uni's have these activates just a hint about reading we have a large mall here called the Orical if you are at a loss of what to do for lunch one day go in there on the top floor (before the car park levels there is an amazing burger bar called 5 Guys check it out it's a little price but the burgers and chips are so good oh and the drinks have free refills and there are over 100 to choose from including a very nicer raspberry coke

Reply 19

LorenzoRey

Thanks so much this has helped me a lot im not much of a partier and i dont drink a lot and tend to have atleast 1 alcoholic drink when i go out (as i dont like being drunk and i already have a failing liver)
So i was uber scared that it would be a huge party scene