6 tips to surviving the first day at Uni

It's that time of year again where students are packing their cars with every last thing they own and heading for the motorway to start their first year at University.

First year is scary, exciting, fun and an amazing experience. A time where you meet so many different people who hopefully will become your friends for life. For me First year was everything and more than I had imagined.

 Here are my top tips to surviving the first day at Uni:

1) Last days at home:

Spend these wisely. Uni comes around so quickly and before you know it you are heading down the A3 to your new home. Fill your last week of summer with plans and spontaneous trips out with friends and family. You probably won't be seeing them until Christmas which is a long time if you are someone who has never lived away from home before.

2) Stay calm & don't stress:

 At the end of the day there is nothing to stress over as 'Everyone is in the same boat' ,the phrase every student must hear a thousand times over, but it is SO true, everyone really is. Even though some may not show their nerves, trust me they are totally freaking out inside. Be excited! Uni is an experience that you will never forget.

3) Be confident:
 Shy does NOT exist. Speak to everyone and even if you are not the most confident person, pretend you are, how will they know? If your flatmates don't like going out then it is entirely up to you to put yourself out there and find people who do as you don't want to be alone during freshers week. Also be friendly, you become friends with people you least expect.

4) Say YES:
Nights out, casual drinks, cooking together, going for meals... say yes to it all! You don't want to be the one missing out in all the fun even if it is something you don't think you'd enjoy.

5) Your uni room:
Loads of people complain about the size of their uni rooms but this really doesn't matter. Your room doesn't stop you from having fun. Once you have added your bunting and stuck pictures all over the bare walls of you and your friends and family it will be like you never left home.

6) Be yourself:
 The most important tip. Everyone worries about making friends at uni, with the repeated questions 'Will I fit in with these people' or 'What if no one likes me'. Honestly if you are yourself someone will like you. Uni is filled with such a variety of people that there will always be someone that you have something in common with. Whether that be your flat mate whose guilty pleasure is Taylor Swift or the girl on your course whose obsessed with Gossip Girl, there is someone for everyone. 

What tips would you give to freshers on their first day?

Sian X.