Don't want to go to freshers festivals

Hi guys..
So, I'm starting uni in September and I'm freaking out a little bit. I saw all these festivals for freshers and honestly I don't feel comfortable going there, but I am worried if I don't go people will think I'm such a looser. I don't really drink alcohol and I'm not so much of a party girl either... I just prefer hanging out with friends and like small parties and stuff. Do you think I should go anyways? Just thinking of it freaks me out, it just seems like giant SKIN parties to me :s-smilie:

Reply 1

Manitude

Nobody will force you (probably, freshers reps can be very persuasive) but you should go. I didn't (and still don't) particularly like clubbing but it's a bonding experience with your house mates. You don't want to be seen as the weird one who stays at the flat every night. You never know, you might enjoy it.

Reply 2

sliceofcake

Original post by Anonymous

Typically, it's not that extreme, but if you really don't want to go out then you don't have to :smile:

so you aren't completely anti-social then perhaps be at the pre-drinks. You don't just have to drink alcohol, drink what you like. You could change your mind and go with them willingly, or just call it a night when they decide it's time to leave. Remember though it is quite likely that you'll be constantly asked to go with them if you attend pre-drinks. How you deal with that is your choice, just don't be negative. Just because you don't want to go out, it doesn't make you a loser or negative, it's just how you deal with it all, and whether you socialise with people in the day time.

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

Original post by sliceofcake

Typically, it's not that extreme, but if you really don't want to go out then you don't have to :smile:

Sure, I'm not against going to the pub and even to the club but look, here is the video that I saw: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=725153044190225
It's just seem really too much you know? I could force myself to go, sure, maybe I will but I really don't want too :/

Reply 4

MagicNMedicine

If its not your thing then don't go, there will usually be other people lounging round the halls especially if there is a common room/TV etc and you can just start chatting/hanging out with them. I found that I made more friends in the first few weeks when I was inside the halls, than when I was at freshers events, because you couldn't really talk to people that well it was just a case of queuing for ages in a bar then trying to find your housemates in a crowded club and so on. I liked going out but I found the early nights out a bit frustrating.

Also another thing I would say even if you do want to go out a lot in freshers, is don't pre-book on all the freshers events that the student union puts on, unless there are things like facebook groups where you've already found people in your halls and agree to go with other people. When you arrive, especially if you are at a city based university, all the clubs in town put on promotions and will be handing out leaflets and there were always awkward situations where everyone in your flat decides they are going to go to a club in town that they've seen promoted, and someone's running round trying to offload their school disco ticket that they've already paid £10 for but now will have to go on their own whereas they want to go to the place in town with the others.

Reply 5

DeceitfulDove

You don't have to :smile:

I only went to one event as it was the end of freshers fortnight. It was alright, just live music and drinks with some nice girls. You'll have nice nights with your hallmates too it's not all massive raves and whatnot. I'm a bit older and don't live on campus so I didn't really do anything this year apart from freshers ball and summer ball. They are the two things I didn't wanna miss, the rest of the events didn't interest me :dontknow:

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Thanks for your answers :smile:

Yes I think I am definitely going to go to fortnight at the end of Freshers week. But yes there is a common TV room where I'm staying and I was thinking that I will go there often, as well as studying in the common rooms to meet new people.

Reply 7

Limpopo

Feel the fear and just go. Whats the worst thing that can happen ? If you dont drink alcohol then dont,just get a soft drink. no one is going to think your some kind of social pariah for drinking orange juice. I dont drink much either.

Do you think everyone else will be mega confident and full of gushing enthusiasm? No they wont. Many will be just like you girl. Feeling all nervous, anxious and like a fish out of water..so you go there and network..simples.

Reply 8

cole-slaw

Just out of curiosity, how is it that so many people on here claim to have reached the age of 18 without having at least some experience of drinking and partying?

I mean I was the dorkiest, most awkward 16 year old known to man, but I still drank and went to nightclubs.

Reply 9

sarahcj95

In regards to going out to show you're making an effort at making friends if you go out the first night to show you're trying, you can then find out straight away whether you like it or not, then if you don't you can at least say you tried. It's a lot of time, effort and money going for nights out you don't enjoy and there's always communal areas, societies and lectures where you can meet friends aswell.
This is the mentality I'm going with anyway, I'm 19 so I do go out and drink, but I'm more into metal and alternative music so the freshers events don't really cater to my music tastes. Just give it a go and see what happens :smile:

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Reply 10

MrEFeynman

There will be plenty of other people with your traits attending. You don't have to participate to either extreme, just go and you will soon come across others like yourself.

Reply 11

Anonymous #1

Do you mean going to the freshers fortnight? I will definitely go, it was just the festivals that seemed too much for me. I think I could go to clubs.. Though I don't want to go alone, I would prefer to go with friends.

Reply 12

moonkatt

It's a free country, do what you want. freshers can be good fun, it's not all as insane as some of the pictures promoting it all suggest, but there are plenty of other ways to make friends at university, through societies, sports teams, your coursemates or even just by hanging about in the common room of your accommodation like you've said you're planning on doing.

Reply 13

sliceofcake

Original post by cole-slaw

I just never really cared for it and frankly the people I knew that were into that sort of thing were enough to put me off. I was 20 the first time I actually drank and went out. I'm still not really into it. I can do it if I like and I do every now and again but I prefer to spend my time doing other things :dontknow:

Reply 14

CocoaPowder

Original post by Anonymous

That video does look insane but that will just be the night events.You can go to the day events and not the night ones. From what i have learnt , freshers week wont be as wild a super crazy like they make it look in the uni promotional materials.

Im starting in september too, I'm a bit like you i don't drink i'm not a party animal. I got the shock of my life when i saw the freshers events that will be on at my uni. Stuff like BBQs, zombie apocalypse, beach party, jamming sessions, all happening DURING DAYTIME, stuff i would actually enjoy. :smile:

Reply 15

LavenderBlueSky88

Freshers week really isn't as crazy and debauched as they make it out to be. It's usually just going clubbing in some sort of fancy dress. Don't stress, try not to be that weird housemate that never goes out!