| Arriving at university or college will be daunting for | | | | beer-monster; you don't have to drink all the time. If |
| everyone. For many it may mean living away from | | | | friends have a problem with you ordering soft drinks |
| the parental home for the first time, which on it's | | | | when you want, they're probably not the friends you |
| own may be daunting enough. You will most likely | | | | need. Drinking soft drinks is easier on the pocket, not |
| have a hundred questions and a hundred fears; what | | | | to mention healthier. |
| will it be like? Can I cope with the workload? Will I be | | | | 14. Beer sessions.. It's a good idea to leave the beer |
| able to fit in? It may help to know that everyone will | | | | until the weekend when you haven't got to worry as |
| be feeling similar, though some may hide it better | | | | much about getting it together the next day. |
| than others. | | | | 15. Don't let everything get bottled up. Talk to |
| Invariably the vast majority of freshers will be | | | | somebody, family and friends or a student help line. |
| pleasantly surprised. The University or College will be | | | | Being away from home, especially for the first time |
| populated by a broad variety of people, from many | | | | can make you feel well lonely and lost. Talking about |
| walks of life with a diverse range of outlooks and | | | | it usually puts everything into perspective. |
| opinions. Look beyond the initial confines of your | | | | 16. Cooking. The curry house on the corner may do |
| college, house or dorm, the establishment will have | | | | student specials. Take-away burgers may an easy |
| many more people who will share similar interests to | | | | option when you have a stack of work to do. But |
| yourself. Some of the tips we have received from | | | | your money won't see you through the term. It |
| other students: | | | | really will be like throwing it away. Try cooking. Get a |
| 1. Meet as many people as you can, introduce | | | | few basics in, salt, pepper, gravy mix, (goes with |
| yourself, smile and be confident. Everyone is in the | | | | everything). If you're house sharing, perhaps chip in. |
| same boat whether he or she appears to be or not. | | | | Veg stews are pretty easy, gut-filling and cheap, |
| 2. Be yourself. Real friends will want to know you for | | | | especially if you go to the veg shop. You'll find a |
| who you are, warts and all! | | | | good cookbook worth the investment too. Ask the |
| 3. Keep your opinions about others to yourself until | | | | bookshop for one for the catering students course! |
| you know whom you can trust | | | | It'll have everything step by step. |
| 4. Take your washing to the laundry. Don't save it all | | | | 17. When you're going out for the night. Take just as |
| up to take back home to mum at the hols. She really | | | | much as you need, or want to spend. It's very easy |
| won't want five minging black bags to see to. | | | | to have a few more beers when you've already had |
| 5. Have a good time | | | | a few. |
| 6. Join a few societies at first week fairs. If you're | | | | 18. Clubs and stuff, almost all charge a joining a fee |
| not sure it's for you but are interested take note of | | | | or pay-as-you-go. They are excellent for meeting |
| an e-mail/ contact address to get more details later. | | | | people, blowing off steam, getting invites, finding |
| Its sometimes hard to find the right contacts later, | | | | something to take your mind off your subjects for |
| it's a big place. | | | | an hour or two. But they can have a scary impact on |
| 7. Phone home and let your family know you're all | | | | your pocket. Whilst you may want to try climbing, |
| right, (even if you don't exactly feel it). They're | | | | sky diving, hockey and archery, stick to a few you |
| probably more worried than you are. | | | | know you'll like and will be able to keep up with. You |
| 8. Everyone feels at least a little homesick at first, | | | | won't have time for all of them anyway. |
| and worried or just on a down. Talk to new friends | | | | 19. Live your first year as best as you can, you're |
| you feel you can trust, and maybe write/call friends | | | | only a fresher once. |
| at home. | | | | 20. The ''B'' word .. When you have a fat student loan |
| 9. You're at Uni for a few years, make the most of | | | | in your bank balance, the easiest thing to do is spend |
| it, it's over before you know it. Then you'll miss the | | | | it, it's just sitting there itching to be used. Don't. (Or |
| freedom and long holidays. | | | | starve) There's this word you'll know very well by |
| 10. Keep in touch with family and friends at home, | | | | the time you leave University ''Budget''. Plan ahead so |
| e-mail is easiest. | | | | you don't end up with too much debt. Sit down and |
| 11. Don't hang round with one little group ignoring | | | | work out what you've got coming in, what has to go |
| everyone else. You'll miss out on the chance of | | | | out, rent etc. If there's anything left over divide that |
| making other good friends as well. | | | | by how many weeks until the next cheque clears. |
| 12. Seriously don't be careless with your money - it is | | | | Then half that; you will need panic money some way |
| the little extras here and there that have a way of | | | | down the line. Remember there's always stuff you'll |
| quickly draining your bank account! | | | | need that you don't put in the budget, stuff you just |
| 13. Don't let peer pressure turn you into a | | | | overlook - shampoo, photocopying, and toothpaste. |