[Freshers 101] What to do in the First Week of University

The first week of university is exciting, but it can also be a little stressful. It’s somewhat strange to some Freshers, for they don’t know what to do. They may feel lost, particularly without the guidance of their parents that they’ve had for the rest of their life. So, this post is here to help you get organised and make sure you do everything properly for a great start to university life!

Before you move to university, make sure you prepare all of the documentation that your university has sent to you. Read through them and mark down any important dates and times that you might need to remember for Freshers and for in the future. Perhaps write them down in a diary so you don’t forget them or lose them! Use these to help plan what you are going to do each day.

The first week you’re at university can be quite hectic, so I’ve separated the following into little sections.

Photo belongs to the University of Hull

 

Accommodation

Of course, the first thing you need to do when moving to university is moving into your accommodation! (If you’re not living in university accommodation, you can skip this section entirely!) Book yourself in at your landlord or university’s accommodation services, depending on who you’re renting off, and make sure you get your keys! Without these, you’ll be pretty stuck.

Once everything is unpacked, you may want to take note of what other comforting or convenience things you might need to buy in the future. Most university accommodation will have everything you need, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself taking a trip to your local Argos branch to buy something! If necessary, make sure you contact any utilities that need connecting or re-connecting. These include gas, electricity and water, but if you’re living in university accommodation, you probably won’t need to worry about this!

Most importantly, make sure you take out insurance if your rent doesn’t include it! It’s important you do this as thieves like to target often naive and vulnerable students. You should be able to find information about insurance companies at your accommodation office.

Meetings with Administration Staff

This may seem like a scary idea, but meeting with the staff in your department is extremely important! You probably haven’t seen these faces since your last Open Day, so use this as an opportunity to meet those who you’ll be seeing every day for the next three years or so. Go over any course-specific documents that you’ve been given and write down any questions you might have for your tutors. That way, when you meet them to discuss your course and module options, you’re super prepared!

You’ll also need to make sure that you go through the enrollment process properly, so make sure you read any instructions given to you about how to do that! It may be an online process, but sometimes you may have to go to an introductory lecture and register there, so make sure you know what is expected of you. At this stage, also make sure you pay any fees that you might have to pay (although I didn’t have to pay any, I don’t know the procedures for other universities!) and that you obtain your student ID. Not only is your ID crucial for accessing university resources and buildings, but it can also get you discounts!

 

I was always out exploring…

 

Organise Yourself

You can’t really do anything at university without some sort of organisation beforehand and that includes your first weeks there. Make sure you know your academic timetable and make sure you make a note of it, whether that’s in a paper planner or using a timetable app on your phone. In your introduction lectures, you’ll also find out about important deadlines and submission dates, so make sure you take note of these too! Ensure that your virtual learning environment (VLE) has the right information for you.

Make sure you know where your department is based and try to remember where your lecturers and tutors’ offices are. Get to grips with the university campus by simply going out and exploring, if you can. That way you’ll know how long it takes to get from one building to another, as well as knowing where important buildings such as the library and the Students’ Union (SU) building are!

If necessary, make sure you know where the nearest GP and dentist are, as well as where to go if you have a problem with your accommodation. It’s also a good idea to make sure you write down the addresses of these places, as well as any other contact information you might need, such as telephone numbers. If you need to register with the GP and dental practice, make sure to do that as well.

Transport

If you’re going to be using public transport a lot, make sure you apply for any travel cards. You can get these for buses, rail, tram and underground services, so research into these by searching for your local transport company. If there are multiple companies, make sure you get a card for the company you’re going to use the most! If you have a car, make sure you apply for any parking permits you need.

Become familiar with the public transport timetable and how reliable the public transport is. For example, make sure you know when to be at the bus stop for and at what stop you need to get off at.

 

There’s nothing wrong with doing the Macarena! (RIP Cheeky Mondays)

 

Have Fun at Freshers!

Read your Freshers pack and make sure you know what you’re going to do and when. I’d recommend attending a variety of different events just so you get used to the vibes the campus has and also meet a variety of different people. Go on tours around the campus, town and library if you’re still unsure of where you’re going, attend societies fayres and just try out everything… You never know what you might discover!

---

I hope this helps in some way! I can remember not having a clue what to do when I first got to university, but sitting down with one of my new housemates and planning everything out was a brilliant idea and we managed to do a bit of everything! I still remember my Freshers Week as if it was yesterday, so hopefully, with this advice, you’ll also have a stressfree Freshers that you’ll remember for years to come.

– A x