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Original poster

What happens at "Freshers Week"?...... ( bearing in mind im a 'mature'student)

33 replies

tiredemma · 29/08/2006 09:48

I contacted my uni today to get a start date and was told that although my actual course starts on Oct 2nd, I am expected to go for 'Freshers Week' from Sept 25th. Trouble is that I have changed my hours of work as of oct 2nd and I dont think that my employers are going to be too chuffed that im not going to be around the week before.

So apart from enroling on my course- what else am i expected to participate in during freshers week and is there any part of it that is non-relevant and i can get out of?

Dp's younger brother who started uni last year keeps asking me if im looking forward to freshers week and giggling ( he is 18) - and asking Dp if he is "cool" with me going to freshers week- there isnt some kind of weird inaugration ceremony with naked frolics is there?

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JessaJam · 29/08/2006 09:50

IIRC apart from enrolling and stuff, it was mainly dodgy 'events' where various banks woudl try to get you to takeout an overdraft with them, all the Uni clubs trie dto get you to sign up to them, and stuff in the union and pub crawls and oter rubbish...

BettySpaghetti · 29/08/2006 09:52

aaah....your DP's younger brother must be referring to "F* a Fresher Week" (as it was known in my student days)

fireflyfairy2 · 29/08/2006 09:54

There are pub crawls, the union bar will have parties each night, as JJ said, banks etc... I went for the first 2 days of mine, enrolled, got my time table and then only went back when I had to, to attend lectures

Basically it is intended for those students that are away from home for the first time, to get to know the others in the halls of residence etc.. mainly for those that are going to live on campus. I am a mature student also and might have seemed a bit stand offish to my class mates last year as I went in fot the lectures and came right home again dodging invites to the union bar....

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Saturn74 · 29/08/2006 09:54

My freshers week was a long time ago now, but it was mainly a lot of fun socialising and silly frolics! We also got to meet our personal tutors, and there were people around to sort out any problems with accomodation, grants, timetables and that sort of thing. We got given our library cards and porter's lodge numbers, as well as sorting out canteen arrangements for those that were eating in. We all got our Student Union cards, had someone come in to sell us Rail Cards, banks came in to try and wrestle our grant cheques of us, that sort of thing. It's a great opportunity to meet other students, but none of the social things are compulsory, so if you don't fancy dancing in the High Street with a parking cone on your head, don't! I'm sure someone with more recent experience can bring you up to date if my info is too outdated! I'm sure you'll have a great week, and good luck with your course.

MrsBadger · 29/08/2006 09:55

if you want naked frolics I'm sure you'll find some...

tbh the important things are to enrol, get your photo taken for your id card and pick up a campus map so when you discover you have a lecture in Grimond PLT4 Seminar Room 6.2 you have a fighting chance of finding it.
The 'how to use the library' sessions can be pretty helpful too but everything else should be covered by your department in the first lecture.

See if you can get a timetable of what's happening when during Fresher's week and just go for the most vital hour or two.

LIZS · 29/08/2006 09:59

Long distance memory here but iirc there were:-
Freshers Fairs where the different student-run societies and activities had stalls and tried to get you to subscribe membership to theirs, some might be relevant to your course, some more frivolous or sporty. The Collge run services such as Student Counselling might also hand out leaflets with opening times etc
Each faculty might have an introductory session with booze and nibbles to meet staff and fellow students and familiarise you with the lecture areas, labs, senminar rooms, library etc
Student Union will probably hold a function each night, including a Freshers Ball which for an 18yr old is often the first opportunity to get dolled up, get pissed and generally misbehave !
tbh most of this is voluntary attendance as long as you turn up to register , pay your fees and do any other official stuff.

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 10:00

does anyone know if I can take my 4 yr old ds to enrolement day with me? as I have no-one to have him

obv I will not be partaking in booze fuelled naked frolics

Original poster

tiredemma · 29/08/2006 10:02

aahh thanks - I knew someone on here would be able to help.

Im really not too fussed about finding the union bar, i know it sounds a bit off but i highly doubt that i will have any time for socialising out of lectures ( how sad does that sound????)

as long as I can just do the vital stuff for the first week then crack on with the course the week after i should be ok.

Had visions of all yr one students being tied up and urinated on by yr three students......that kind of stuff.

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 29/08/2006 10:02

can't see any reason that a 4yo wouldn't be welcome, but don't let him take any of the free goody bags being given out or you'll have to have the condom discussion sooner than expected. And the Tampax one too.

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 10:03

oh so it will be a condom over the power rangers head kind of day then

Marina · 29/08/2006 10:04

Snort MrsB!
Take him Fio, it'll be nice for him to see where mummy is going to be studying hard for the next three years
Don't forget to take him round the library, natch.
Best of luck to you both tiredemma and Fio, I hope this is the start of really great times

fireflyfairy2 · 29/08/2006 10:05

I was the same emma. I was always rushing home to pick ds and dd up from the childminders or rushing to the library to frantically put the finishing touches to my essays!

What degree course are you doing? And you Fio?

You can take your dd with you, there were a few mums last year had children with them..although if it's for registration, I queued for 3 hours last year..

Original poster

tiredemma · 29/08/2006 10:14

Thank you marina for you ggod luck wishes- its very kind of you. x

Fireflyfairy- im doing a degree in nursing- as well as working parttime aswell so i know for a fact that i wont be seeing much of the bar!

the fact that its less that 4 weeks away is manking me feel quite sick....

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fireflyfairy2 · 29/08/2006 10:16

I begin my 2nd year in October and I feel ill too! My dd starts school and has just announced this morning that she doesn't want to go and she also doesn't want to go to the out of schools club I have been sending her to, I could cry.

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 10:18

I am having to work part time aswell so no socialising for me either, especially as I received a shock promotion a couple of weeks ago. I am doing a 2 yr Foundation Degree in fashion and Textiles and then (hopefully) a one year top up afterwards.

There isnt a library at the site I am on marina

Tiredemma, I know how you feel although mine is less than a fortnight now I feel half excited and half worried to death, especially for leaving the children. Then I am worrying about work placements etc!

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 10:19

what are you studying fireflyfairy2 ?

Original poster

tiredemma · 29/08/2006 10:20

I really dont know how I am going to find time to fit everything in- just going to have to bite the bullet and cope I suppose.

Its good to know that there are lots of other student mums on here though so we can all moan about deadlines together!

OP posts:

fireflyfairy2 · 29/08/2006 10:21

Journalism and Publishing Studies with Psychology

The 1st year was fine, I had to chose another module which was ancient/modern film, but thank goodness I can drop it this year!!!!

Marina · 29/08/2006 10:26

Just keep focussing on all the hassles you have both got through to be where you are now, poised to enrol for the first time. I used to love working with the mature students in my first job at a poly library (some of them were old enough to be my mummy, awwww). They were so much nicer and wiser than the Kindergarten Brigade!
Shock promotion MrsFio? Tell more...

FFF - it's in the air at the end of August. Ds, going into year 3 of a school he adores, conjured up a hissy fit about EVERY aspect of our new, more time at home after school arrangements (as requested) over the weekend. It's not school she won't like, it's change. They do all say this IME. I know it's like a knife under the ribs though

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 10:30

oh Marina you would laugh too hard

Marina · 29/08/2006 10:31

It has to be Director of the Thanet Swearing Society then Fio

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 10:34

hehe, I could not compete with people down here for their swearing skills marina, you and me know that too well!

Marina · 29/08/2006 10:37

You did say it was a shock promotion though.
Hope it means more money at least

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 10:39

yep more money! I have to go on a 'responsible person's course' and that in itself is something to laugh about

Marina · 29/08/2006 10:44

Ha ha, let me guess. It sounds like our Manual Handling and Customer Care courses, not to mention our priceless Equality of Opportunities seminar, all compulsory of course.

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