Need to know - FRESHERS

Most likely, you're first week at uni will consist of nights out and little in the way of lectures and seminars. Mine was a little different and I had compulsory elements of my course to attend during freshers, but it wasn't about to stop me going out.
Freshers is the one week where you can fully go for it! I was out every night, which is rare for me, but it's what needs to be done!

These are my tips for your first week...

**Don't get seduced by the offers
It's likely that big stores will put on student nights, offering a shocking 20% off, which seems so much more compared to the usual 10% student discount. In reality it's not, and going on a mad trolley dash around Topshop, with the reward of a 'goody bag' in mind may seem like a good idea, but ask yourself if you would really buy it without that extra 10% because it's not likely to make much difference.

**Take advantage of student status
Completely contrary to the last point, some companies will offer really great deals, especially in freshers, as a way to drum up more business. This is the time to look out for haircut offers (cut and colour for £30!), meal deals at your favourite restaurants that aren't McDonalds and stationary deals to stock up with for the rest of your year. If you keep a bargainista eye out, you're in for some good savings.

**Find that friend
As freshers week can get pretty out of control, find that friend that you know will take care of you if you get a little worse for wear, or at least have someone you can call at the drop of a hat if you get into trouble. I don't want to sound like your mum here, but it has to be done. Hopefully you will find someone on your level that will know when to call it a night or that will willingly hold your hair back the morning after.

**Get out there!
The first week is all about putting yourself out there, talk to everyone and anyone and make the most of the week where you can talk to total strangers without looking weird. Try to remember everyone (this is where Facebook is good) as they'll no doubt be useful at some point during the year. Build up those contacts, it's all about who you know.

**Go to your freshers and societies fair
If it's not just for the abundance of freebies that are thrown at you (you won't be buying pens for a while...) then it's a good way to get involved in more of your uni. The freshers fair is mainly companies that may have student offers or just want you to know about them, the societies fair is all the different clubs within the uni, with something for everyone. This is where I signed up for my skydive, and found out about so much more that was on offer than I would never have known about.

**Don't forget you know how to cook
I don't know if we were the minority, but me and my friends actually cooked really nice meals throughout our first year. Pot Noodles are the student stereotype, but aren't much in the way of nutrition, which is definitely needed after a heavy night in Newcastle. Don't always resort to microwave meals, get to your local market (trust me, every city centre has one, you may just have to search) for surprising deals on fruit, veg and meat that is normally double the price in your weekly shop.

There is so much more I could tell you, but hopefully you will learn a fair bit yourself, again, if you have any of your own tips to share, put them in the comments!

Make sure you read through my last post on what to do before you get there. There's still two instalments of this mini series left, including while you're there and one year on, so keep an eye out!

If any of you freshers to be need any advice then tweet me @Phibster, it's nice to have someone on hand you can ask those random questions to!

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