A comprehensive list of all the mistakes every Sheffield fresher will make

It’s not what mistakes we make, it’s how we correct them…


It’s inevitable you’ll make some howlers in your first few weeks at uni. From not wearing the right footwear to trek up those hills, to drinking some pretty lethal alcohol, here’s the full break-down of all the mistakes every fresher will make this term.

Getting the bus to uni everyday 

I know the hills around here are pretty scary, and you’ll get calf muscles that will take on Chris Froome’s, but walking to uni everyday is actually really nice. Save your £1, and arrange to walk in with your new course mates.

Falling out with flatmates in first week 

First impressions are lasting impressions, so don’t be the noisy one, or the one who leaves their washing up until it’s mouldy. Also, don’t be the one who whines on about everything, or the one who never takes the bins out. You will get noticed for it, and not in a good way. Conclusion: Don’t be an arse.

Squad goals

Buying a meal deal 

A £3 meal deal may sound cheap when you’re at home, but when you’re at uni, the tables have turned and every penny counts. If you buy a meal deal every weekday, by the end of the week you’ll have spent £15! That’s five blue pints at Corp, or entry price to Leadmill three times. Go and buy some bread and ham, and make your own lunch.

Sleeping with your flatmate 

“Don’t shit where you eat” as the ancient proverb says. Unless the two of you can get over the awkward “‘I’ve seen you naked!” thing, it’s a bad idea to sleep with one of your flatmates unless you really think this could be a case of everlasting love.

Fallen asleep in a communal area 

You get home after a heavy night, sit down on the sofa and pass out. Expect games of buckaroo to be played on you, or even worse, be covered in people’s mouldy washing up.

Don’t fall asleep

Trying to make a good impression on your social  but just getting really drunk 

It’s the first few weeks of term, you’re getting to know your course mates, you go to one of their socials, and decide that the best thing to do is down a bottle of Lambrini. It isn’t, and you’ll just pass out in Vodka Revs only to have to be brought home by one of your new “friends”.

Shouldn’t have had all that lambrini beforehand…

Buying Lambrini

It may well be cheap, but in God’s name don’t do it. Same advice goes for Hammer’s cider, Basics vodka and sambuca.

Writing your name on the milk 

Ok, we get it, you don’t share food, and neither do we, but please don’t write your name on the milk in thick marker pen. It’ll come across as aggressive to the rest of the flat, and make you seem really stubborn.

Offering to make the tea once and it being your job forever more

The morning after the first night of Freshers’, and you decide to be really kind and ask if anyone would like a cup of tea. Welcome to the next three years, as this will forever be your job. You’ll never be able to put the kettle on without someone piping up “milk no sugar, cheers”.

Don’t forget your ID

Forgetting your ID on a night out 

It’s your first Corp Wednesday, you’ve been in the queue for nearly an hour (despite buying queue jump tickets), you get to the front of the line, only to open your purse and realise you’ve left your ID at home. That sinking feeling in your stomach, and also the cost of having to get a taxi back to Endcliffe, will be enough to make you remember it next time.

Getting freshers’ flu and trying to cure it with vodka 

You’ve been away from home for just over a week, you’ve already drank your body weight in alcohol, and lo and behold you get the dreaded freshers’ flu. You’ve never felt so ill in your life, your head pounding, your body sweating and aching, and then your mate knocks on your door and asks “you coming Code tonight?”. The FOMO is real, and you’re force yourself out into the freezing Sheffield weather looking like death warmed up.

Drink through fresher’s flu

Putting a red sock in with the white washing 

You’ve gone out and bought a new Corp shirt from Primark. You throw it in the wash, along with your other white stuff, only to realise when it comes out that you’ve put a red sock in there by accident. You’ll forever be known as the boy who always wears pink.

Not checking the reading list for your seminar

You go in to your first seminar, sit down smiling nervously at everyone in the room, get out your new laptop, before the seminar tutor walks in and asks “so, what did you think of the reading?” Nightmare.

Please! No more cheeky vimtos

Thrown up, then downed a cheeky Vimto

You’re in Plug, grooving to the Arctic Monkeys, when suddenly you get the horrible feeling you’re going to chunder. You return to the dance floor chewing a stick of gum. But you’re mate has bought you a cheeky Vimto. You couldn’t possibly admit defeat and refuse it, so you take a deep breath, spit your chewing gum out, and down it like a true hero. Big mistake. You’ll throw up in the taxi home and have to pay the £50 fee.

Not deleting embarrassing pictures on Facebook

You’re off to uni and you’ve reinvented yourself. You’re doing well, and people think you’re really cool and edgy, until they stalk your Facebook profile and realise how terrible you used to look. Prepare to get roasted on the group chat.

Forgot to lock your door when you go home for the weekend 

Foolish mistake – you leave your room unlocked for all of 48 hours, and mayhem will ensue. I’m talking dirty plates in your bed, penis-shaped rice drawings on the floor, your clothes strewn everywhere. It won’t be pretty.

Top Tip: Always lock your door

Thought you’re too cool for Poptarts 

Nobody is “too cool” for Poptarts, or Corp Wednesdays for that matter, trust us. Who doesn’t enjoy bopping along to Mr. Brightside covered in Corp juice?

Worn nice shoes to Corp 

Keep your Kurt Geiger brogues at home love, and where the scruffiest trainers you own to Corp. Believe me, that floor is a bio-hazard, and also make sure they have a good grip – those stairs are lethal.

Too cool for the skool

Thought that everyone else was fine

The biggest mistake a lot of freshers make is thinking that everyone else is doing great and they’re the only ones that are struggling. This isn’t true, and even the toughest of people get homesick sometimes. It’s important to talk, and don’t forget to call home.