How To Survive Freshers' Week

How To Survive Freshers' Week | durhamStudent™

Durham University crest Congratulations! A-Levels are over and you've got your place at Durham University - but what do you do now? Panic about finding new friends, struggling to survive financially or not being able to cope with your course? Don't panic, durhamStudent is on hand to help...

Don't Forget To...

...join durhamStudent, to keep up to date with local events in and around the university. It's free, too!
...join Facebook, a networking website - 10,000 of the 15,000 or so students in Durham are members, and it seems to control their entires lives (in a good way!). It's free to join, and proves priceless for organising your social life, finding friends across Durham and further afield and checking that you've done the right assignment the night before it's due in!
...pack pens, paper and books: you'd be surprised how easy it is to forget these!
...bring some biscuits, mugs, tea and coffee, and to pick a bottle of milk up closer to Durham: this way you can welcome your new neighbours with something to eat and drink, which is a great way to make friends.

Watch Out For...

Durham is a very safe and friendly city in which to come to university, but there are a few perils to be aware of.

...people who insist being called by their 'nickname' which was an in-joke amongst their friends at school. Seriously. It's like a cheap marketing slogan: you know you shouldn't be taken in, but you just can't help it.
...you may want to avoid Prebends Bridge late at night unless you're in a substantial group - it's not particularly well lit, and there have been (rare) instances of people being attacked there.
...second years, third years and post-graduates on the prowl (especially during freshers' week), pretending to be first year students.
...societies and clubs at the freshers' fair: they'll do (almost) anything to get you to sign up and pay a registration fee for regular meetings which you probably won't even turn up to! Wait a week or so before signing up to every club, but by no means don't get involved in societies or clubs at university - they can be fantastic fun and provide a great break from essays, calculations and deadlines!
...drink-spiking: it's very rare, but does happen, so keep an eye on your drink, both in college bars and bars in Durham.
...your parents lingering once you've unpacked - most colleges have a tea and small buffet where they can talk to the college's principal or master, which means you can get on with making friends and getting to know your neighbours!

Finally...

Have a great time at university; some say it's the best time of your life, and durhamStudent certainly doesn't disagree with that! Take time to look around our directory of pubs, clubs and bars in Durham, and remember to smile!

Elsewhere on durhamStudent...

A to Z of Durham University.

How To Survive Freshers' Week