Here’s how to survive Notts Freshers’, from a weary third year

If you want to survive, tackle and avoid fresher's flu, this is the article for you.

I've experienced my fair share of the Nottingham night life, and I'm now sharing my advice to Nottingham youth, like a fresher's guru.

Here is a list of tips and tricks to help you avoid embarrassment and mistakes you may never be able to recover from.

1. Student Finance Loan – save it

Don't make the rookie mistake of splashing your entire maintenance loan within 2 weeks. It won't be cool, you will just be super poor. Buy drinks before going clubbing, so you can limit how many VK's you'll be consuming.

2. Being in your overdraft is not a personality trait

Linking to the previous point, telling everyone and their nan you're in your overdraft at the beginning of term is just embarrassing. I promise you, it is a better feeling to be financially stable rather than bragging about your mistakes.

3. Don't buy a freshers wristband or tickets before actually moving in

A mistake I once made was to buy tickets to an event that I ended up never going to. See what your flatmates or course mates are going to and then buy tickets.

(Side note, Bierkeller is FUN)

4. Join the Buy/Sell and Lenton Student Group Facebook pages

These Facebook pages will literally save your life. Whether you're desperately after an Ocean ticket to join your mates on a night out or just looking to have a laugh at memes or other people's misfortunes.

5. Go to fresher's fair

You will gain some freebies, info on some societies and probably get some slices of Domino's pizza. Get in.

6. Be yourself

Don't try to pretend to be someone you're not. People will see through it, and it won't help you in the long-run. Don't worry, people will like you for you! (probably).

Ocean is like cheese, you can't have too much.

Advice from other third years

Here are some quotes from some of my buddies, most of them I became friends with in Freshers. Take on board their advice, they're not as wise as me but they are pretty cool.

'Student loan will run out quicker than you think' – Phoebe (she was so broke first year she reused teabags.)

'Don't feel obligated to shag during fresher's week' – Sofia

'Don't force yourself to go out just because everyone else is' – Latif

'There is more to pres than playing ring of fire' – Mark (Think outside the box!)

'Having a gap year is not a personality trait' – Tom (I promise you, no-one cares how spiritual you've become after going to Thailand.)

Take my advice with a pinch of salt, and have some fun! You're only a fresher once, enjoy it and live it to your fullest.