So when does all the fun begin?

Having replied to offers, accepted the one you wish to attend, packed your bags and left for university, I bet you're pretty excited.

The main thing on everybody's lips when starting university is.... Freshers week! Don't just assume it's a whole week of drinking (which would be extremely bad for you!), it's a chance to meet new people. It is set to be the most fun week of your life, experiencing new things and creating new memories you can telling your friends for years to come. The purpose of freshers week is to make yourself familiar with fellow students and  the campus, to settle into your accommodation and to get used to university life as whole. Usually, various events will be organised to make this week even more memorable, for example, pub quizzes, fancy dress parties, meet and greets etc. However, freshers week isn't just a barrel of laughs, you will also have to register and welcome talks. Without this, you might find yourself not registered on courses or a bit lost when it comes to trying to find out where you're supposed to be and when! At the end of the (maybe slightly laborious) process, you are rewarded with the golden ticket to your student life - your student union card! This card can help you receive discounts in various stores, get you into many different nightclubs and also gains you access to the student union. The student union is a place where students from around the campus can socialise and hang out, and usually boasts a onsite shop and noticeboard with up to the minute events flyers! There will also usually be a freshers fair, which has many different stands advertising various things (societies etc, see below for some more info). This week can be extremely fun, but don't be fooled, the hard work starts soon!

One of the best ways to make friends similar to yourself is to join a society or club. After being to various open days, I have seen that there is such a huge variety of them that you can join! There are the more mainstream groups such as drama, football etc, and then the more alternative and unusual like parachuting or toy model making. You can honestly meet all sorts of different people through these societies, and can also give you the opportunity to add skills onto your CV!

The way you work in university will be a lot different than that you are used to, or so I am told. Self motivation is of utmost importance in university, as tutors won't badger you to hand work in, they will simply fail you. Also, work may sometimes be set without the intention of it being marked. That might sound stupid, but it is important to complete this work to maintain an understanding and to help you develop on the course. A lot of courses will have some tuition time where a group of you can get together and receive help, so make sure you make a note of anything you have been struggling with.