Six signs your time as a silly little Edinburgh fresher is over

Your first year at Edinburgh Uni is all about the trials and tribulations of perfecting a “work-hard, play-hard” balance. From the lingering Freshers’ Flu to hiking up a high bill from Bobby’s after many a night out, it was a year to make mistakes.

Eventually though, every fresher finds themselves hanging up their Honky Tonk Tuesdays cowboy hat and preferring a quiet evening in their second year flat instead. So here are some signs your time as a silly little fresher is over.

1. Pub vs Club

Good cop, bad cop x

You might find yourself opting out of Whynot for a pub quiz night instead, Southsider pint prices are where it’s at after all.

Craving wholesome activities like meadows picnics or a byob pottery painting evening seems more attractive than nursing your third case of Freshers’ Flu. Also, second year is the time for house parties instead of pres at uni accommodation, so say goodbye to fire door alarms every five minutes.

2. Actually paying for home décor

Ditching the roadwork signs and vodka bottle windowsill for some Primark fairy-lights and house plants shows real maturity.

For me, being excited about owning a set of Le Creuset mugs was a clear sign my priorities have changed in second year. On the topic of decorating, don’t forget to stock up on blankets and quilts from home as I doubt you’ll be able to pay for heating.

3. Feeling settled

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Entering second year you will have found your groove with campus and classes, so hopefully no more stumbling into the wrong seminar (we’ve all done it). By now you’ll know the best coffee shops for study dates and will have perfected the best pub crawl route in the city to avoid tourist traps. Also, understanding the bus systems does save money on late night Ubers – look at you being responsible!

4. No more Icebreakers

Leaving your pre-rehearsed freshers introduction at the door of every social gathering is one of the best feelings beginning second year. I mean a fresher can only repeat the classic triad of “name, hometown, and course” conversation so many times.

Second year is still a time to seek out new friends in clubs or societies, but you will feel more comfortable knowing a solid friend group and flat mates that you genuinely like already await you; something the lonely, little fresher you were could only hope for.

5. #Adulting

If you’ve managed to get through the Hunger Games-esque competition that is flat hunting in Marchmont, trying to message landlords less interested in you than your last situationship, or finally sticking to your budget on food shops – congratulations, you have passed adulting 101.

Living without adult supervision for over a year now, the urge to cook, clean and attempt to organise your life comes with the territory of second year productiveness. You still might need a hand from the parents with fighting the black mould plague of student flats though.

6. Feeling academic pressure, but don’t panic!

You might surprise yourself with voluntary trips to the fourth floor of the library to study outside exam season? Second year is when the beginning of your academic actions has real consequences, so actually turning up to tutorials and attending study groups can come in handy. The mysterious and sudden urge to have a successful academic term is a good thing, keep up the momentum!

Being a fresher was a learning curve for everyone, and settling in second year is the start of calling Edinburgh your home, so embrace it, at least until the days get dark at 4pm, then it might all go down the drain.

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