12 things every Fresher gets wrong in their first few weeks at uni

Starting university is exciting, but it’s inevitable to get some things spectacularly wrong.

You might think you’re fully prepared after buying every kitchen utensil known to man, but there are some lessons you have to learn the hard way.

Whether it’s spending far too much money on food because you’re hungry, convincing yourself the person you met on the first night of Freshers’ Week is your future partner, or constantly locking yourself out of the flat, these are the mistakes almost every fresher makes at least once.

Wearing your lanyard EVERYWHERE

We get it. You’re a fresher.

But wearing your university lanyard everywhere you go is probably the most obvious way to announce to the entire city that you’ve just arrived.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of your uni, but once you’re wearing it to Tesco, the pub and your 9am lecture, it might be time to retire it to your room.

Thinking the guy you met in Freshers’ will be something long-term

Freshers’ Week has a strange ability to make you believe that someone you’ve known for approximately 36 hours is your soulmate.

Sometimes it works out, but a lot of the time the person you meet during Freshers’ Week will simply become a funny story you tell your friends later.

I once had a guy tell me during Freshers’ Week: “I don’t do one-night things. The shortest casual thing I’ve had was still months.”

He gave me scabies.

So, you know. Keep your expectations realistic.

Thinking it’s cool to date a fourth or fifth year

There is something undeniably exciting about an older student showing interest in you when you’re 18 and have just moved to a completely new city. But maybe stop and think about the age gap for a second.

As a fourth-year myself, I can now see how strange it is for someone my age to deliberately pursue an 18-year-old who has only just arrived at university and is still figuring out everything.

That’s not to say every relationship with an older student is automatically bad. But don’t let someone being older make them seem more mature or trustworthy than they actually are.

Not making the most of taster sessions

Freshers’ Week and the weeks following are basically your chance to try out every society under the sun without having to commit to anything.

Most societies run taster sessions where you can have a go at a sport or activity for free, so take advantage of them while you can.

Even if you decide that competitive dodgeball isn’t your calling, you’ve still got the chance to meet people and potentially find your new favourite thing to do.

And even if you only end up infiltrating the socials rather than becoming a fully committed member, you’ll at least become a familiar face.

Not making the most of first year

First year is the one time at university when you can make a few mistakes without them necessarily ruining your degree.

For most courses, your first-year grades don’t count towards your final degree classification, so it can be tempting to completely switch off academically.

But don’t take that as an invitation to never attend a lecture again.

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Worrying about next year’s housing sitch

You will not be homeless.

I promise.

It can feel like everyone has already found their second-year house approximately three days after moving into university, but you do not need to sign a tenancy agreement with the first people you meet.

Going too hard every night

Of course, you should go out and make the most of first year.

But if you’re going so hard during Freshers’ Week that you don’t remember anything by the time exam season comes around, you’ve probably taken it too far. There is absolutely no shame in having a night off.

And despite what TikTok might tell you, ChatGPT will not magically come in clutch when you’ve spent an entire year not using your brain.

Forgetting to pack essentials

You can spend weeks planning your university packing list and still somehow forget something incredibly obvious.

Things like medication, toiletries, chargers, laundry supplies and a decent laundry bag aren’t particularly exciting, but you’ll definitely notice when they’re missing.

Packing EVERYTHING

On the other hand, there is such a thing as bringing too much.

You do not need to pack your entire bedroom.

You can buy things when you get to university, and unless you’re moving somewhere extremely remote, there’s a very good chance you’ll be able to replace anything you forgot.

Shopping when you’re hungry

It may seem like a money-saving idea to wait until your cupboards are completely bare before going food shopping, but remember: you’re not you when you’re hungry. Shopping on an empty stomach is a dangerous game.

Suddenly, the meal deal isn’t enough. You need the massive bag of sweets. Then you see the chocolate. Then there’s a reduced pizza that you definitely don’t need but somehow ends up in your basket.

Leaving dishes until they’re mouldy

There is a difference between being a student and living like a biological experiment.

Leaving your plate in the sink overnight is one thing. Leaving it there for so long that you’re no longer sure whether the substance growing on it is technically food is another.

Locking yourself out

This is especially dangerous if you’re living in an accommodation where the doors automatically lock.

Keep your keys somewhere you can easily find them before you leave your room. And if you really struggle to remember them, a door stop could become your best friend.