8 Boring but important things all new students need to do during Freshers' Week

Locating your nearest supermarket, pharmacy, taxi rank and STI clinic could save you a lot of pain towards the more hazy end of Freshers' Week

Freshers' Week is looming, and while school kids are sharpening their pencils to head back to the same old school corridors, new university students are facing some entirely unfamiliar halls.

You’ve done your A-Levels, you’ve got through UCAS, and you’re packing up your new clothes dryer to head off to university for the very first time.

But amidst the rounds of Jagerbombs, fancy dress and drunken DMCs with your new best friend Tim (who you will never see again after the second week), there are a few boring but important things you shouldn’t forget to do during Fresher’s week – if you’re still standing.

Register with a GP

Every university tells you to do this as soon as you arrive, and almost nobody bothers.

But what happens when you suddenly find that you need an MMR booster jab - or a Chlamydia test? Also, ‘Freshers' flu’ is very real thing. All that freedom (and excessive amounts of alcohol) can physically wreck you.

Register as soon as you get there so they can start the long and boring bureaucratic process of transferring your medical records from your home GP.

Open a bank account

You don’t want your student loan going into the building society account you’ve had since the nineties, nor do you want to panic and sign up for the first offer you see just because they’re offering you a Tastecard.

There are loads of different student bank accounts, each with different overdraft repayment conditions. Do a bit of research to see which deal works best for what you need.

It’s also worth choosing a bank with a nearby branch in your university town, for when you inevitably lose your bank card on a night out and need emergency cash.

Sort your internet

Many universities enjoy welcoming their freshers with the ultimate baptism by fire: setting up internet.

They often put all the necessary instructions online, which you obviously won’t be able to access. While plenty of areas will have WiFi, there’s a good chance your room won’t.

Lots of places also love to throw in Eduroam and Ethernet cables and watch as you crumble while the last of your data drains away.

Print out (on actual paper) all the information you’ll need before arriving – there are usually details on the university website or in emails from campus. Which leads me to my next point…

Read, save and print out all the info you need

All the boring emails you get from the university before you arrive, all the welcome packs online, all your actual studying timetables, all the passwords and opening times of libraries and instructions for printing... save them all and print them out.

You will reach the end of Freshers' Week as a physical shell of a human being, so it’s a good idea to have this information on your desk before you have to actually start working.

You really don’t want to miss your whole first week or first essay deadline because you’re faffing around trying to figure this stuff out on a hangover that could fell a rhino.

Explore your surroundings

Locate your nearest supermarket, pub, pharmacy, taxi / minicab rank, hospital, STI clinic…this will not only make your Freshers' Week go a lot smoother, but can really help you acclimatise and feel more at home in those first shell-shocked weeks.

In particular, being equipped with local bus / taxi know-how can literally save your life and reputation during Fresher’s week, if you need to make a speedy exit.

Also, get a map and figure out where all your subject departments are, or prepare to spend your first ever seminar dripping with sweat because you’ve been running around campus trying to find the right building.

Get cash out

Freshers who have just received their student loan (and therefore have access to a mind-blowing amount of money for the first time in their lives) are in real danger of drunkenly blowing it on a round of shots.

Taking your bank card on a night out can be the road to ruin - especially now that contactless cards have rendered being physically capable of typing your pin obsolete.

Carry it for emergencies, but make sure you get into the habit of taking cash out so you can keep track of your spending. There's also a small chance your student loan might be delayed which could leave you broke and starving before Fresher’s week has even got going.

Weather and fashion

Familiarise yourself with the local meteorological conditions and plan your packing accordingly.

You don’t need to be taking your bikini to Birmingham. Cobblestones in Cambridge rule out stilettos for only the bravest or most foolhardy. York and Newcastle might not seem that far apart geographically, but the general choice of outfit for a night out could put them on different planets.

That said, fancy dress is a staple of almost all Freshers' weeks so make sure you’ve packed some animal accessories and a spare bed sheet to fashion into a toga.

Keep copies

Photocopy and scan your ID. Make notes on an electronic and paper diary regarding deadlines and opening times.

Keep a note of all your passwords and student accounts. Have emergency numbers and contact details of tutors saved in your phone, email, and on paper.

You should prepare to lose EVERYTHING during Fresher’s week – not least your dignity.

And finally… beware the FOMO

Don’t feel that you have to attend everything on the Fresher’s week timetable. Avoid social anxiety and physical collapse by not going completely mental trying to be everywhere.

Use social media to keep track of parties, make new connections and friend the people you meet, but take it with a pinch of salt – everyone is not always having more fun than you.

While Freshers' Week can be a fantastic start to a university career, at the end of the day, it’s just the beginning. But remember, the stories will tell about your Hangover-style insanity can last a lifetime.