A dummy’s guide to your first semester at King’s College London

Dummy or BNOC first term is tough

2 months ago | UPDATED 4 weeks ago

Surviving your first semester as a fresher is hard for any student – particularly when you’re navigating through England’s capital city as well.

Whilst my days as a silly fresher are long behind me, I still remember the struggle like it was yesterday.

Here at The Tab, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know to survive your first semester at Kings, dummy or not.

Navigating campus(es)

As someone with absolutely zero sense of direction, I was STUNNED to find out there are a whole five campuses at King’s. I’m a third year and I still have no clue where I’m going. Although, I do have some tips on navigating the campuses (well Strand and Guys, sorry Waterloo and whatever the other ones are) that I have acquired in my wise old age.

Look out for Lenny the KCL cat and lazy resident of Guy’s Campus. You aren’t a true King’s student unless you’ve spent your designated library time trying to snap a picture of him. He’s a true icon.

People have spotted a huge I’m A Celeb editing error proving a bushtucker trial was staged

All the mega-famous actors who also auditioned for each Wicked role

Finally, Adam has actually addressed the rumours he and Amy are dating after MAFS UK

For all my “Strandies”, definitely get the lift in Bush House up to floor eight and go out onto the South Terrace for unreal views of the city as well as a study room and café. When it comes to Maughan Library, you may have heard about the infamous “round room”. Don’t let people scare you from going, it can get very busy but as long as you go fairly early there will be a spare seat! It is so pretty, so definitely worth the try!

Take that lanyard off

When I first got to King’s, I was in awe of our glorious red lanyard. I felt grown up and sophisticated with it hung round my neck and wore it like a badge of honour. During my first term I’d have it on as soon as I left my accommodation and long after I’d finished my lectures for the day, sometimes even at the pub after uni (ick.)

Whilst in your first term you may be tempted to treat your lanyard like a shiny new medallion, I would suggest you quickly get over this hump. By third year you’ll have shoved the card into a wallet, losing the lanyard all together, thank God, as I promise you, it’s not as cool as you think it looks.

Surviving sports night

Guy’s Bar sports nights here at King’s are not for the weak. That bar is a treacherous battle ground on Wednesday nights, but luckily for all of you, I’ll be breaking down everything you’ll need to be prepared for them.

Get your tickets in advance. Unfortunately, they sell out and you don’t want to be scampering around for one in your Wednesday 9am. Also, double check with your friends, society, or flatmates what time their tickets are for to avoid being stranded on the dance floor alone at 9pm. Be prepared to see all of the football boys in togas or absurd fancy dress. It won’t be pretty.

There is one way and one way only to prepare for Guys Bar, and that my friends, is of course at Dover Castle Bar. Just round the corner and perfect for a pre-GB cheap pint, DC will ease you into the sports night carnage before everyone charges full speed onto campus.

Just make sure to finish the night with some Café Rossi cheesy chips.

Appreciate the fact that you are in LONDON (the best city in the world)

As a fresher in can be easy to get completely absorbed into the world of Ministry of Sound and lecture rooms. (Ew.) But lest we forget you are studying in the capital and there is so much to do outside of the campus walls.

Don’t be afraid to ask your flat or course mates to escape the struggle of student life and pretend to be sophisticated born and bred Londoners (on a budget) by going to London’s many art galleries, markets, parks, restaurants, and roof top bars.

Pro tip: take your student ID with you everywhere or set up a UNiDAYS account to try rinse as much of that student discount as you can get.

Don’t panic if you don’t feel in settled yet – you still have time

Your first term is the most exciting but often the scariest part of starting at university, I certainly didn’t feel settled into the big, scary city by the end of December. Don’t worry if you feel behind, it’s easy to convince yourself that everyone has already divided off into their own friendship groups, this isn’t true. Even at the end of your first term, it’s not too late to join a society or ask your lecture friend out for a coffee or a drink.

You have plenty of time to meet new people and make King’s feel like your home. It doesn’t always happen straight away in your first term, it didn’t for me and a lot of my friends. Be confident, try and put yourself out there and trust that out of the thousands of freshers at King’s, you will find your people.