Freshers week partying when living at home.

[NicoAndTheNiners]

So dd is living at home and will be starting at the local uni in sept. They've emailed her about freshers week wristbands which can be bought for the bargain price of £140!,!, sounds like its access to various clubs in both town and on campus.

Now dd is fretting about who would she go clubbing with and I don't know what to answer. I'm guessing most freshers will initially make friends with people in halls. Because I don't think proper lectures start until the following week, so she won't really have met her course colleagues unless they have course registration together?

I said she might miss out on stuff like this but as she gets to knkw people on her course or through societies she will then have friends to go out with.....but maybe not by fresher's week. She's adamant everyone will have friends by the end of freshers and she won't have met people!

Anyone with kids who stayed at home have any advice?

Does the Uni have any social media for new students? Might be a way of identifying some potential friends to go with?
But loody hell, I'd want clarity on what £140 is getting me!!

I was a fresher only a few years ago and our bands didn’t cost a fraction of that! It’s a good point about not living in halls, most people do go out with people from their flat and halls in the first few weeks.

It may take her a little while to build up friendship groups on her course, for example for my first few weeks I was with a different set of people each lecture for the first few weeks. Societies and sports clubs are an excellent way to make friends but most will only have taster sessions on after freshers week because most will be out drinking! Social media is a great way to make friends, Facebook groups are good but also Student room can be good! Presuming your local, does she have any friends attending the same university in halls? For the first couple of nights she could ask to go to drinks at their flat? The university student union may have some good advice so it may be worth her looking at the website. Most uni’s run different events and fairs in freshers week during the day time, which may be a great way to meet new people!

Thanks. The uni recommended her/set up a group. But it's only for her course. The majority of whom are boys so don't think she's using it much. She doesn't have any friends who will be starting. Just hope she meets some people quickly at freshers fair , etc.

A lot of what goes on at freshers week will mean she meets other students- there will be introductory lectures, registration at medical centre, gym etc, freshers fair. However you have identified one downside of being a “home” student and if your DD really does want to go to some of the party events (as opposed to thinking she ought) then it will be big girl pants time, just turn up and get chatting with people. If she hasn’t already I’d be getting her signed up to Uber as she won’t have the safety in numbers aspect of getting home afterwards when most others will be piling back to Halls

One of the best things she can do is get herself to the freshers fair and join a couple of societies. Pretty much guaranteed to have a social or two that way. She might have less socialising opportunity than those in halls, but it gives her an in road for at least one or two nights out in freshers week.

My DS2s uni had an event for home students early in freshers week which DS2 found useful as he met a couple of people who he went to other events with. Not sure he saw much of them after freshers but he made friends from his course particularly when the reality of halls hit. He also volunteered to show some exchange students around the city which he enjoyed (they were lovely Spanish girls). Both my home based boys only went to 1-2 club events so didn't buy the wristband just bought individual tickets. They are used to nightbuses/ubers but I think there was some sort of ride share scheme set up by the home based group. I should add we are in an area with lots of home based students.

Hi Op. It will be more difficult the first week, but the student union should have lots of events on that they will advertise nearer the time - often things like guided walks round the City/Town, quiz night, film night, craft event, yoga event. she will also have introductory lectures probably. So as someone else said, it will be big girls pants time, and she will have to take a deep breath and go along and join in. If she has any friends who are staying at home, she could drag one of those along with her.

Does the uni have a society for students who live at home? I know there one I work for does, able they are v active/responsive in the run up to a new student cohort. Might be worth a Google.

She should join a few student societies in line with her interests. They’ll have socials, mixers, and activities all through Freshers’ Week.

But she WILL need to be proactive. She’s right, there will be a lot of friendship groups developed around halls flats or corridors. But these won’t necessarily last ....