Durham Freshers

FRESHERS HERE WE COME! ! ! Uni will be one of the greatest experiences of your life - meeting loads of new people and having fun are just some of the great times you'll have.

The Total Students Uni Guide:

WHAT YOU REALLY NEED
First of all, you need to find out what your Halls of Residence provides. However, if there is nothing but four walls, a bed, desk and chair, the following list may be a good guide:

THE BASICS:

BEDDING
o 1 or 2 pillows
o Quilt or duvet
o At least 2 sets of bed covers

CLOTHES
o Lots of them (take enough to not have to do washing often or even enough for the entire term! )
o Lots of socks are essential, as they go missing from laundry but check if there’s a local Primark around!
o Suit /posh dress and posh shoes for formal balls /parties /dinners
o Party /Clubbing wear
o Sports Equipment (football boots, hockey sticks etc)
o All the fancy dress items you have- there will be countless fancy dress themed events during your time at uni so the more outfits you bring, the better!

TOILETRIES
o Toothbrush and toothpaste
o Soap /shower gel
o Make-up /beauty products
o Razors
- Deodorant /body sprays /perfume /aftershave

OTHER ESSENTIALS
o Watch
o Stationary (see full list below)
o Alarm clock /radio
o Desk lamp.
o Laundry bag
o Towels
o First Aid Kit - plasters, aspirin, antiseptic cream, cotton wool
o Mobile phone and charger
o Umbrella
o Camera – perfect for capturing mad moments during Fresher’s week!
o Condoms - you will probably be able to get these free in Fresher’s.
o Clothes Hangers

KITCHEN ITEMS
o Many sets of cheap cutlery. Don’t bother buying expensive sets as they go missing very easily!
o 2 dinner plates and 2 bowls
o 2 mugs
o 2 pint glasses
o 2 saucepans - 1 large and 1 medium /small
o 1 frying pan - preferably non stick
o 1 big oven tray - good for lots of chips!
o 1 wooden spoon for stirring
o 1 colander for pasta draining
o 1 chopping board
o 1 sharp knife
o Tin opener
o Bottle opener

Or you could bring more than the above, if you don’t like washing- up!

TIP: Take a tea towel and oven gloves and keep them safe. Otherwise they will become communal and get ruined quickly.

TIP: Sponges will get messy very quickly so buy a few packs to change them often.

WORK STUFF
o Backpack or bag big enough to hold your folders
o Folders for work
o Pencil case
o Remember scissors, holepunch, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener, stapler, glue stick, Blutack and pins
o Plenty of biros
o Highlighter pens
o Lots of dividers for your folders
o Calculator, even if you're studying English, as you will find them handy to calculate your expenditures!

TIP: Keeping all your work organised is the starting point of doing well- make sure you have a folder for each subject.

TIP: Get the folders at the beginning of term and keep it organised from the start. Even if you don't do much work to start with, make sure you've got all the notes and in the right order.

TIP: Use 1 folder for current work and keep bigger folders at home for each individual subject. This way, your work will be kept neat and tidy and you won't have to carry loads of stuff to uni everyday. As the folder gets full, move some of the old stuff out and into the bigger folders. This way you only have to carry the work you need to class.

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WHAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO TAKE
These items include a computer, Hi-Fi, TV, games consoles and other electrical goods. All these things are expensive so make sure you get insurance. Check out our advice on insurance at: http://www. totalstudents. co. uk /extra_student_housing_student_insurance_and_security. php

1) TV
It helps fill those boring moments, not that you'll have many! It also helps to bring people into your room. Sometimes in halls you will need an individual TV licence so check the rules here: http://www. tvlicensing. co. uk /

2) Games Consoles
A fun thing to have but you should have better things to be doing with your time. Although, it'll get people into your room, especially with good multiplayer games, but then you need a TV as well. . .

3) Computer
A computer is essential for uni work. Laptops are portable so you can take it into uni with you but desktop computers can be more reliable. Although a computer /laptop is essential, there are 24 hour libraries around where you can have access to computers. If you have learning difficulties such as dyslexia, it might be worth finding out if you’re entitled to a free laptop.
TIP: If you're going to get a laptop, make sure you get a security chain to lock it to your radiator to stop it getting stolen and definitely get it insured. See www. endsleigh. co. uk for more details.

4) Hi-Fi
Hi-Fi’s are another one of these items that are big and heavy and not really worth bringing. Just take speakers for your computer /laptop instead.

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THE FIRST SUPERMARKET TRIP
Get your parents to take you to a supermarket when you first arrive and stock up on these essentials. This will save space in the car on the way down and save you money!
Besides the obvious food and alcohol, you will need the following:
oWashing powder
oWashing up liquid
oBig bags
oTin-foil /cling film
oToilet roll
oCleaning wipes for kitchen /bathroom etc
oStationary

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FINALLY, DON’T BOTHER WITH. . .
o DVD Players
o Expensive Bikes - bikes can be a good idea, but its best to take a cheap one- bikes are top of the
‘likely to get nicked’ list.
o Ironing board – the halls should provide you with one.
o Clothes airer – there should be tumble driers in the laundrette but you might find it cheaper to bring a clothes airer.
o Toaster – someone else will have brought one or the halls might provide you with one.

TIP: Get a D-lock for your bike as they cannot be broken. You can get them from: www. halfords. co. uk

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THE FIRST FEW DAYS: DO'S AND DONTS

DO:

*Buy tickets online at Total Students UK for all events because tickets they will sell out fast: http://www. totalstudents. co. uk /etickets. php

*Enjoy yourself! Make Fresher’s a week to remember and capture all your memories on camera. Don’t forget to tag your photos at Total Students: http://www. totalstudents. co. uk /galleries. php

* Everything! Whilst this may not be physically possible, taking part in as many things as you can is a good idea. This is the time where you can really let your hair down and generally enjoy being a typical student before the hard work begins!

* Talk to everyone! Small talk is painful and although you may not care what A-levels your new room mate took, it will make settling in so much easier if you get to know them.

* Try and remember names (even if no-one can remember yours). After this week you may not see half the people you met again, but it’s nice to remember names and they could be useful in the future.

* Remember to ring your parents. Hourly reports may not be entirely necessary but believe it or not, they will actually miss clearing up after you and having your music too loud, regardless of what they may say. But remember, calls to home at 4am won’t be very welcome!

DON’T:

* Try and be someone that you aren’t. Whilst it is all too tempting to put on an act, invent an amazing past, or create whole new persona for yourself, people will soon see through you. Everyone wants to make friends, but pretending you love that new Icelandic boy band you flatmate insists on listening to everyday, or eating Tofu to please you new veggie pal won’t work for long.

* Spend the whole week talking about or to your mates back home. Everyone gets homesick and has a moment or two when they want to be reminded of home but it is important to look forward and not hang onto the past.
*Talk about your gap year with students who haven’t been on one. It is literally the most irritating thing you can do!

* Earn yourself a bad reputation. Remember, you have the whole year to develop a decent and fitting nickname. So drink within your own limits- no one likes a slobbering mess on their doorstep at 7am crying for their mummy! Also, keep the casual-loving to a minimum because you don’t want people to think you’re the village bicycle!

* Upset your new neighbours. Although those at home may be used to your late night drumming sessions, music blasting at 2am, or your ‘quirky’ habits, it’s not the best way to start a new year in a new place with people who don’t know you. Try and be considerate- don’t inflict your personal choices on others and have a little respect.

* Blow your entire student loan. Although it may be tempting to buy up the whole supermarket, offer to buy rounds for all your new best friends and create a new wardrobe courtesy of the lovely cheque now sitting pretty in your usually-empty bank account, do try and show some restraint. Save the pennies while you can and make the goodies left behind by mum and dad last at least until the second week. For tips on how to have a cheap night out, see: http://www. totalstudents. co. uk /extra_student_nightlife_going_out_on_a_budget. php

* Don't forget to enjoy yourself! You never know when you will have the opportunity to spend a whole week lazing about, making new mates, drinking, socializing and enjoying being a student again.