The Stand’s Guide to May Dip

This week marks the return of one of St Andrews’ most popular and unique traditions: May Dip. Every year at sunrise on the 1st of May after a night of drinking and party hopping, thousands of students run into the icy cold North Sea in swimsuits (or naked!), before sprinting back to halls and houses for a much-needed hot chocolate and steaming hot shower. If you’re a first year and worried about making it through a boozy night before taking the plunge, or a fourth year who wants to make the most of your last chance to partake in this mad tradition, The Stand are here to advise you on how to behave in the hours leading up to your submersion.

First years

Most first years are determined to accomplish May Dip, either because it sounds fun or they’ve committed a St Andrews sin, for example standing on the PH (gasp!) or sleeping with their academic dad, and need to cleanse their souls before sitting their May exams. Organise a big party in a common area of halls or a small intimate pre-drinks in a friend’s room if you’re worried about disturbing students who’ve chosen to spend the night revising (party poopers…), but make sure to set a late start-time to avoid getting too drunk early on and failing to reach the sea at dawn. Head out at around 11pm with your swimsuit on underneath your clothes and a towel stuffed into your bag, go to a few house parties (don’t worry, it’s OK to gate crash on this one occasion), and at 5am run hand in hand with your friends to East Sands to prepare for a horrifically cold but equally spectacular swim you’ll never forget.

Second years

Second year students fall into two categories when it comes to May Dip: those who didn’t make it last year and are super keen to try again this coming May, and those who did it, enjoyed it, but have no desire to repeat the bone-chilling, exhausting experience. My advice would be to play it by ear. If you find yourself down by the seafront at the right time, you might as well make the dip, but if you’re huddled up in bed nursing a horrible hangover, don’t worry too much about it, you’ve got another couple of years to make another attempt.

Third years

Don’t do it. You’re stressed about upcoming exams (which now actually count towards your degree!), sleep deprived after endless deadlines and in-class tests, and the last thing you need is to catch a cold during the revision period. Party as much as you want to the night before, but maybe stay clear of East Sands as it begins to grow light, and save up your mental and physical energy for next year’s final dip.

Fourth years

Sadly your time at St Andrews is drawing to a close, and although this will inevitably be accompanied by tears and minor panic attacks about what you’re going to do with the rest of your life, it also means you have the excuse to really go for it on May Dip night, ignoring the fact that you have extremely important exams coming up in a few weeks time. Start drinking whenever you feel like it (you’re old enough now to know how to pace yourself), throw a huge house party involving strobe lights and smoke machines, and feel free to embrace complete nudity when you reach East Sands, no one will deny you this privilege as a mature, soon-to-be graduate of St Andrews.

See you (or not) at daybreak on May 1st!