Top Fresher Tips

This page is split into different areas, before you arrive, what to bring and what to do in Freshers Week

Before you arrive

Before you arrive, there are several things that you need to do and some things that you should do in preparation to start your uni life!

• Open up a student bank account. It seems really obvious, but it means that you are protected as a student, overdrafts are easier to manage, there are deals and support that your bank will give you just because of your account. Even if you just deposit money into the account each week, it means you will be more secure financially.
• Organise yourself! Get all your documents together regarding funding, proof of entry, any correspondece with student finance and the university, put them in one folder and make sure you have it with you, it will make all your registering and signing in much easier if you have everything in one document.
• Get directions. Sooooo many Freshers each year get lost and turn up late or go to the wrong college, it’s really simple, just go on the university website and get directions to the Uni, and make sure you come in through the south enterance, as that’s where the reception to Cartmel will be!
• Surf the web! Have a look at the Fresher Pages on this website, have a look through facebook and have a chat through the forums set up, and if you don’t have Facebook, get it, none of this, I don’t beleive in it, most university events happen through it!
• Sign up for a purplecard before hand. This is your access to the students union and all it’s events, clubs, sports teams and societies! Signing up before hand means no queues waiting for one in Freshers Week!



What too bring and what to get?

 Although this list is not everything, it does have some helpful tips that many Freshers will need that you may not think about!

• All your clothes! Think about it, any situation may happen, from swimming, to snow storms, to a formal night, you will need just about every type of clothing for uni, because you have no idea what might come up!
• All cutlery and crockery. Plus any other cooking equipment, like George Forman Grills and toastie makers, you only get a microwave and a rubbish kettle!
• Some food. Especially expensive stuff that keeps for ages, not bread or milk, you can get that easy on campus. Most important, some communal food, like cakes or biscuits that you can share with new flats mates, they are handy converstaion starters!
• Try and bring really quick meals for the first week as you are out early and so not much time too cook!
• A door stop. This is essential, nothing is better to intergrate you within the flat than an open door policy!
• A Fancy dress costume. then there is no need for costume shopping in your first week, and beleive me, everyone dresses up, no excuses!
• All chargers and batteries for you electrical items. don’t forget them as it’s really annoying to have a dead phone, laptop or camera at this time in your life!
• Homely stuff. An extra lamp is useful in your room! Plus any decorations like posters, (make sure you use white tack!) photo’s and momentos from home to put up on your wall and notice board, just too make it feel more personable!
• Bring Drink! Even if it’s not alcoholic, just the action of drinking makes people relax and gives people something to do, join drinking games, even if you just have some adult soft drinks. If you are planning on drinking and haven’t done much before, make sure you ‘have a practice’ eg. know where you limit is and stick to it! Going from one extreme to another is harder than if you ease yourself in.



Freshers Week Top Tips

• Everything is down to confidence! Even up to the point of seemingly being arrogant, people respond better to you if you are willing to put yourself on the line.
• Perfect your small talk and have some pre-prepared questions to ask. This is just to get the ball rolling, but even just ‘Hi my name is….’ is a great converstaion starter in Freshers
• Have a wingman! Going up and talking to people is easier if you go with a friend, especially if you yourself are shy. It’s really easy, just ask a flatmate to pair up and go round, suddenly it’s a lot easier!
• Don’t change! Don’t try and reinvent yourself, you’ll just trip up and fail, be truthful to yourself and people will like you for who you are!
• Don’t lock yourself in your room. A closed door means you look isolated and also doesn’t invite people to get to know you.
• Don’t ring home everyday! This will make you more homesick, try and ring just twice at most three times, if you are struggling, text a mate from home who has just been in Freshers (we have a late start so many other Uni’s will have finished Freshers), go talk to your Freshers Rep, or even just go out and do something, take your mind off of it!
• Just say yes! Go to Freshers Fair and see what clubs and societies you can join, try something new, if people are going out to do something, go with them, if there is something on, go and see what it’s all about. This is the one week in Uni where there are no commitments on your time really, so make the most of it!
• Know your JCR and Fresher Reps and older years in your flat (if you have them) these guys will help you in anyway they can!
• Sleep when you’re dead, go to all the events. Don’t miss out because you feel tired, you can sleep later on, don’t miss what could be the best night of uni!
• Don’t do anything stupid! Kind of obvious, don’t do anything you may regret, small drunken exploits are fine for stories afterwards, but anything bigger, you can really tar yourself with an image! Also don’t do anything you wouldn’t do before, like being pressured into doing anything you don’t want to do, if you do, seek out your Fresher Rep!
• Easy Tiger, Pause for a soft drink! Do have yourself a water between alcoholic drinks, all bars a legally obligated to give you a water, don’t feel awkward asking for a drink and a water as well!