It’s September and that can only mean one thing, it’s time to head back to university, or for thousands of people around the country, time to take the plunge for the first time. As students flock back to Newcastle, the university is gearing up for its biggest Fresher’s Week yet to welcome over 4,000 new people to the city. Are you one of them? Here are my top tips for getting the most out of your first year in The Toon.
1) Get a Fresher’s Wristband and USE IT
It seems obvious but the best way to meet people in Fresher’s Week is to go out with them. Everyone knows that the best way to make friends is by getting drunk wearing matching t shirts. About 90% of the people you meet this week will become “that guy dressed as a gladiator in Freshers” but it’s worth powering through all of the random drunken encounters to find the 10% of people you actually remain close to. The wristband also gets you access to loads of great activities in the day time as well. DO NOT OVERLOOK THESE. I know you’re hungover but you’ll seriously regret not making the most of the activities on offer. These are also a great way to make friends as you can bond over how hungover you are and have a much better chance of remembering each other’s names.
All the info you need on Newcastle University Freshers Week can be found here!
2) Join a sports team
Whether you’ve been playing football since you were 3 or have never ran further than the kitchen, there is a club for you in Newcastle. The university has a fantastic elite athlete program but also offers sports like Ultimate Frisbee which take on complete beginners and train them to become part of the team which competes at regional and national BUCS events. There are also more casual inter-mural leagues and most clubs offer second and third teams for those less interested in competition. I’ve found that playing a sport is a fantastic way to make friends and the Wednesday socials are easily the best nights out of the week.
If sports really aren’t your thing then joining a society is your next best bet; they have everything from Pokemon to baking so don’t even try and pretend there’s nothing you’d enjoy. You can also get involved in campus media such The Courier newspaper and TC TV. I know a lot of people who seriously regret not getting involved in more extra-curricular things in first year. Don’t make the same mistake! Just head down to the Freshers Fair in the sports hall at the start of the week to see everything that the university has to offer.
3) Think carefully about who you want to live with in second year
Rushing into signing for a house is such a common mistake as rumours start around November that the good houses in Jesmond for second year will be gone by Christmas. Whilst it is true that good houses go fast, take a little more time to be sure about who you want to live with and you’ll still easily be able to find a house after new year. Look at estate agent Easiliving for great properties all year round. I was lucky that I signed early and had the best time in second year but in general, a slightly worse house with good people is way better than a great house with people you fell out with a month after signing for it.
4) Saturdays are for Throwback
I’d definitely recommend heading into town on a Saturday night at least once as it can be quite a fascinating experience seeing the Geordie in its natural habitat, but most Saturdays, the entire student population descends on the Union for Throwback. It doesn’t really matter whether or not you like the retro playlist, everyone that you’ve ever met will be in there and it’s a great way to expand your circles. Also, £2.50 pints of Diesel*…What more do you want?
*Diesel is the Newcastle version of Snakebite, half lager, half cider with a bit of blackcurrant. You need to get on board with this drink if you’re going to survive here, especially if you’re a medic or plan on getting involved with anything the Union does, ever.
5) Make friends with people on your course
At the end of the day, you need course friends to stop yourself going crazy. Lectures are slightly more bearable if you have someone to sit with and gossip about the weekend. These are the people that will wait with you when your timetable gives you an awkward hour (a free hour between lectures that is too short to go home in but too long to just sit around). The people that will be there when you need someone to hit the library with when deadline day is looming, and, most importantly, the people you will take silly photos with on graduation day. Almost all courses have societies you can join to get to know people No matter how many friends you have in the evenings, you can’t escape the fact that 9-5, 5 days a week, university owns you and you’re going to need some help getting through it.
6) It’s cold in Newcastle, be prepared
Although in first year you do get the luxury of central heating included in the price of halls, it can get pretty nippy pretty early on in the year. Invest in jumpers, hoodies and blankets, especially if you’re from the South and consider anything below 20 degrees to basically be the Arctic. I’ve found that a Slanket (blanket with sleeves) is particularly useful as you can go about life (in the house…I wouldn’t recommend wearing it out) whilst still snuggled up in the comfort of your blanket. Fleece lined tights (if you don’t own any, you can grab a pair here) are also pretty handy for all those winter nights out in short skirts that you young whipper snappers insist on. By third year you’ll be much happier getting together on a cold evening with your duvets for a movie marathon whilst eating your body weight in take out.
Wow, I feel old.
Good luck to everyone starting university this year! I hope you love it just as much as me! If you’re heading to Newcastle, feel free to ask any questions in the comments below!
Katie x
