Before the chaos of Freshers' Festival begins, it’s important that you’re aware of some common mistakes to avoid during your first few weeks here.
It seemed like the moment would never arrive, but here we are, just a couple of days away from welcoming you to Royal Holloway for the best few years of your life.
With all of the Freshers’ Festival hype that has been going on through the summer, it’s no surprise that you absolutely can’t wait to get here ASAP. But before the chaos begins, it’s important that you’re aware of some common mistakes to avoid during your first few weeks here.
Not reaching out for help
University life can be extremely overwhelming. Leaving home to a place full of strangers sometimes requires stepping out of your comfort zone, and that’s easier said than done.
We want you to know that we’re here for you to support you all the way. First of all, it’s normal, and second of all, it’s okay to feel scared. A great choice to make during Freshers’ Festival is to reach out for help, and you can do so at our Advice Centre.
The Students’ Union offers free, friendly and confidential advice about anything that you feel you need help with. So don’t stress, book an appointment with one of our advisors, come have a chat with them and make the best out of your first weeks here!
Going too big, too early
For some of you, nights out will involve consuming a few alcoholic bevs. It’s okay to have a couple of drinks with your new friends, however, don’t feel like you need to impress anyone by being the one that drinks the most. It’s important that you avoid drinking to excess, because it can really make the difference between a great Freshers’ Festival, and a not so great one.
If you’ll be drinking, here are some tips to make sure you have a great night without exceeding yourself. Firstly, don’t drink on an empty stomach! Probably one of the most important things to do to ensure you don’t feel unwell is to eat before you drink. We have an awesome Union Shop to give you some food babies before your night out. Another important thing is to stay hydrated – we’ve got your back here too. There will be free water at the bar in all of our venues, so make sure you drink a lot of that good H20. And last but not least, pace yourself! Don’t drink it all before the night has even started because it won’t get you very far.
Not a drinker? Don’t worry. If you’re not into alcohol and you don’t want to be in an environment that is surrounded by it, don’t forget that we have tons of alcohol-free events that you’ll be able to get involved with. Just check out our events page and select the filter “Alcohol-Free”.
Where did my money go?
This one’s a big one – student loan comes in, your bank account’s looking pretty, you think you have tons of money to spend until… wait, where did your money go?
It’s very easy to spend money when your student loan arrives. But trust us, Freshers’ Festival will end and student life will continue, and you don’t want to limit yourself to pot noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day. So make sure you budget your spending and think ahead of the game.
Missing Freshers’ Fair
With over 110 sports clubs, societies and media outlets, there is an abudnance of great opportunities for you to get involved with. Freshers’ Fair is a great opportunity to meet all of the student groups, get information about their taster sessions, sign up and start getting excited about your potential new BFFs.
While missing Freshers' Fair doesn't mean you won't be able to join groups, it’s a great way to check out what’s on offer and to have a chat with the groups that you’re interested in.
The Freshers’ Fair will be held at the Sports Centre on Monday 23 September and Tuesday 24 September. See you there!
Forgetting to look after yourself
We understand you’ll most likely want to be going to a lot of our events during Freshers’ Festival, and that’s fine because we’ve got such a great programme this year. However, coming to a lot of our events can exhaust all your energies.
To avoid getting the freshers’ flu, we recommend you look after yourself during your first weeks at Royal Holloway. Make sure you’re drinking lots of water every day, eating proper meals (get some greens in there), getting your fix of vitamin C and loads of sleep.
We can’t wait to meet you all in just a couple of days!