September 3rd 2007 
Personal Development 
3 comments
Last week I did 10 tips for college and university students that covered a variety of ways to make your studying, financial juggling and social life as easy as possible. However one of the hardest parts of going to university can be that very first freshers/freshman week so I thought I would dedicate 10 tips covering how to get through it, make the most of it and establish yourself.
Prepare to wait around
For all the free time you will probably have in your first week, there will also be a lot of waiting around as you get registered, receive your student card, go to introductory meetings and so on. Either get there early or make the most of the queuing around to talk to people.
Don’t spend all of your student loan
Though it can be very tempting to spend all of your student loan in the first week on treats to get you through, be sensible with it. It may not seem a big deal to start with but you don’t want to end up getting stressed out over being in your overdraft and having to take out a bunch of loans during your first semester.
Don’t slip into bad habits straightaway
It will happen. You will start eating takeaways all the time, leave dishes piled up, drink a lot, sleep in late and miss lectures. But please try and put up some fight and don’t slip into bad habits your first week 
Once you start with a bad habit it’s difficult to break. When you are strapped for cash and have difficulty fighting the urge to buy another takeaway (with no plates because they are all piled up in the sink) or go on another night out you will see why.
Be prepared for boyfriend/girlfriend friction
Most couples who were together before university, won’t last beyond the first semester (and to those who you say your relationship lasted and you are now getting married, you are in a very small minority). You are both going to be facing new opportunities, new people and new experiences and you will both be facing them separately in different parts of the country. While I certainly wouldn’t suggest you split up on your first day at university, keep an objective view of your feelings towards each other. It’s no good for anyone to cling onto a failing relationship.
Make yourself approachable
The people who made few friends at university were always those who were never seen and typically locked themselves away in their room. So, make yourself seen! If you are eating food do it in the kitchen or canteen and if you are in your room, leave your door open so people who walk past can say hello. If you are staying in halls of residence/dorms the first place you want to go to is a communal place like the kitchen. Everyone will have the same idea and your dorm mates are usually the first group of friends you make.
Bring a few ice breakers along
If you have a console or a few DVDs with you at your halls of residence/dorms these can be great ice breakers. I doubt few guys would turn down an opportunity to play some Pro Evo Soccer on the Playstation, especially if you have a couple of beers available. In my first month at uni we took a TV into our communal kitchen, put on a few DVDs and had a mini party there.
Go to as many events as you can
This works in two ways. Firstly your course will most likely arrange a bunch of events so you can get to know exactly what the course is about, who the lecturers are, what rooms are used, etc. It’s a great excuse to get to know everyone involved in the course and will ease any doubts and questions you have in your mind. Likewise the student union will have plenty of freshers week events too such as pub crawls, themed nights, quizzes etc. Again these are great ways to get yourself known.
Get to know your location
Freshers week is a great chance to learn about your campus and the surrounding town/city. That way you won’t have no panic moments when you are running late for a lecture and can’t find the room. Having a walk around your town/city will reveal important places like doctors, dentists, the hospital, taxi ranks, supermarkets etc. Your uni should have plenty of maps and details to help you. Again, it’s a good way of easing doubts and anxieties in your mind about where things are, how you’re going to find them etc.
Join clubs and teams
There will be plenty of clubs and sports teams advertising their interest in new members during freshers week and can be a great way of getting to know people with the same interests as you as well as people who have been at the university longer than you with all the extra knowledge that that brings. Sports teams are especially good as it keeps you healthy and active (something you won’t otherwise be at uni). The more sources of potential friends you create the better. The most popular people at my uni were those who offered their services to the Student Union and were members of different clubs.
Talk to as many people as you can
Don’t be picky about who you hang around with the first week or so. There will be a lot of small talk and though it may get annoying asking the 20th person where they came from and what grades they got at school, it’s just part of the process of getting to know people. Everyone is in the same boat. A lot of students don’t work out who their real friends are till months into their first year.
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