The Student Room Group

Not going out for Freshers week

I’m really not looking forward to freshers week and the constant drinking that some people think uni is about.
I would much rather stay in and save my money than go out somewhere I don’t even enjoy.
I can count the number of proper nights out that I’ve been on in my area on one hand because I hate them so much. I always end up ruining peoples nights because I can’t go into places with strobe lighting or bright flashing lights which a lot of places have now.

Would I be missing out on that much if I stayed in for most of freshers week/the whole year?

I’m not interested in the drinking side of uni, because of the University I’m going to I’ll NEED to get a first for my degree to mean anything so I’m happy to stay in if it means getting that.

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then don't go out then........
You don't have to drink to enjoy freshers, but if you hate clubs then don't go, but do try to go to as many other freshers events as you can though otherwise you might miss opportunities to make friends and get to know new people
I'm scared because at QMUL we seem to be thrown right into it, and I don't know if I will have time to Network beforehand... Usually, I go to classes, make friends, then do stuff...mmm

i don't think Freshers' week is going to effect your overall degree, though...
Go out have a few drinks, don't get drunk, just enough to enjoy yourself.....there'll be others who aren't keen on heavy drinking and/or clubbing so you could always just stick with them?

But university is a new chapter in your life, so why not try and enjoy drinking/clubbing?
Yeah you will miss out. University insnt all about just getting a degree, theres other factors
I don't generally drink or go out clubbing but it looks like there's plenty of other stuff on my freshers' week programme. There's so many people that I'm sure they'll be other people in the same boat as you.
BTW which uni are you going to?
Reply 7
Do the stuff that doesn't involve drinking. Not drinking doesn't make you a social outcast, only you can do that to yourself. If you want do be social, be sociable, drinking makes that easier/more some for the majority of people (including me), but it doesn't necessarily for you.

The most important thing is to enjoy yourself, achieve whatever you want to. If that's sitting in your room working 24/7 then so be it. However I suspect you do want a decent social life, so don't hold yourself back from it using the "not drinking" thing as an excuse, almost everyone is nervous about the whole making new friends stuff, so just join in the fun!
Reply 8
There are other things to do than clubbing, lots of people don't like that scene. I don't think you'll miss out on too much if you don't go clubbing, but you'll definitely miss out if you don't go out at all. Even if you hate it, at least go out with your flatmates a couple of times during Freshers Week. You don't have to drink, you don't have to stay out all night, but you're bound to have a better time than if you stay in, more than likely on your own. You never have to go clubbing again after FW if that's what you want, but it's a bad idea to alienate yourself from your flatmates in the first week.
Reply 9
You don't have to drink or go to clubs; but you should make some effort and at least go out!

You may NEED to get a first, but you'll also NEED friends if you want to make it through uni.
Reply 10
you forgot drugs
Reply 11
Anonymous
I’m really not looking forward to freshers week and the constant drinking that some people think uni is about.
I would much rather stay in and save my money than go out somewhere I don’t even enjoy.
I can count the number of proper nights out that I’ve been on in my area on one hand because I hate them so much. I always end up ruining peoples nights because I can’t go into places with strobe lighting or bright flashing lights which a lot of places have now.

Would I be missing out on that much if I stayed in for most of freshers week/the whole year?

I’m not interested in the drinking side of uni, because of the University I’m going to I’ll NEED to get a first for my degree to mean anything so I’m happy to stay in if it means getting that.


sounds like your an introvert, good stuff :smile:

you dont need to go out at all. tbh i just stayed in my room all of freshers week waiting for it to be over, the constant noise on a night was so annoying.

there will be plenty of people who are the same, and theres things you can do during the day which have nothing to do with going out and drinking.
there are lots of other things that go on in Freshers Week, just make sure if you aren't going out that you don't create the image of sulking when everyone else is out

for periods in my 3rd year I hardly went out, partly because of money and partly because of work, and I didn't feel like I was missing out, I had a good time with my flatmates, we often had friends round or went to friends, I met friends for coffee after seminars/went to the union bar, I wasn't going to clubs at that time but I wasn't missing out socially
Fresher's week is 100% intended and designed for extroverts; i don't see introverts enjoying it.
Reply 14
Have a few pints, go to a gig, smoke some pot - it's not like going to a boring club and getting utterly wasted is your only option.
If you don't drink, then just go out for a Coke. Is there some kind of stigma attached to what drink you order? Some people don't drink for religious reasons anyway.

Freshers Week is about getting to know the university and some of the people with whom you will be sharing it. You could also meet some of your fellow coursemates, which will be nice.

If you don't like the extrovert things, then don't do them. At my uni, there was a pyjama party during freshers week, and there's no way I'm going to partake in that kind of thing. When I was asked by flatmates if I was coming, I just said "nah, it's not my thing". I never got any funny looks, and tbh even if I did, whose problem is that, mine or theirs? :rolleyes:

Just make a little effort. No-one considers freshers week friends to be friends for life. But conversely, if you don't make an effort during that week, then you will be remembered only for the wrong reasons.
i'm worried about a mate of mine who's starting Uni this year.
Like you 'Anonymous', he seems to think he should miss freshers week
Even though our crowd from school don't really go for the whole drinking and partying scene, I think people should go out and socialise a just a little, I'm sure you'll gain something out of it (even if its the knowledge of staying away in the future)
At the end of the day, 'Anonymous', you'll never know until you try, and you must be considering, else you'd never have posted this thread
Reply 17
Its not all about drinking - people won't even notice or care if you don't. Freshers week is about making friends aswell and having fun with them - why not go out to the events to meet people & have a good dance, just to give it a try - you might enjoy it.
Reply 18

If you don't want to go out drinking, don't. It's absolutely up to you. Obviously you'll be missing something in the most literal sense, but it doesn't sound like you personally will feel like you're missing out.

I was never mad keen on going out and getting wrecked, and I pretty much avoided it. But I had plenty of friends at uni, and I'm still friends with them now. We did stuff like going to the cinema, cooking a meal together.

Do have a look at the other stuff on offer at your uni, because there are bound to be events and societies that aren't all about getting pissed - things which you might enjoy more.
Reply 19
Don't go out, then, although Fresher's Week is not just about drinking - it's about bonding with your housemates etc. It's a shame you have such a reductive attitude, because I could not imagine staying in all through fresher's week, and if anyone declined to come out for the reasons you gave, I probably would think they were being unnecessarily anti-social and not a lot of fun.

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