Here are five things every University of Birmingham fresher *needs* to know

Every September, thousands of fresh-faced teenagers arrive in Birmingham convinced they’ve got university all figured out. Fast forward three weeks and they’re eating beige food for every meal.

If you’re about to start at UoB, here are five tips I’d wish I’d known before first year.

1. Learn where things are

Campus is massive. Like way bigger than it looked on the open day. No matter whether you think you where you’re going, you probably don’t. Go explore campus during Freshers’ Week and figure out where the important buildings are.

MyUoB app has a great map which still helps me out in fourth year.

Don’t be the person walking in late to your lecture because you couldn’t find the building – that excuse only really works in the first week.

2. Eat your vegetables

Freshers’ flu is basically a rite of passage, but you don’t have to make it worse. Learn to cook a couple of easy meals before arriving and try to not live off ready meals, pot noodles and beans on toast.

I know it sounds boring, but fruit, vegetables and the occasional vitamin will do wonders. Sorry for sounding like your mum.

3. Don’t go out every single night

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No sleep, bus, club, another club. Sounds fun in theory but by day four you’ll be surviving off coffee and pure determination. Save your energy and give yourself a night off.

You could watch a film with your flatmates, order a takeaway or even go and explore town. Your bank account will thank you, and Broad Street isn’t going anywhere.

4. Join Fab N Fresh

What’s that, you ask? Fab N Fresh is a Facebook group that every UoB student is in. Need a sports night ticket? Looking for second-year housemates? Lost your flute in the library (see below)? Someone in that group has the answer.

It’s time to join your mum and dad and make a Facebook account.

5. Try and lock in at some point

“First year doesn’t count.” Everyone knows it and I won’t try telling you otherwise. But sadly, going out every night and sleeping through your lectures might leave you on the verge of failing the year, and that’s not very chic, let’s be honest.

So set those alarms, step foot in the library and at least *attempt* your reading. First year is meant to be fun. It’s much less fun when you have to do it twice xoxo

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