Lesson 2: Surviving your first week

Your first week at university is one of the most crucial weeks at university. It can be a very daunting prospect; you'll be living with people you don't know, cooking for yourself, getting yourself up and motivated for the day. DO NOT PANIC! Everyone else is in the same situation as you. Some people might seem like they're the most confident people in the world but deep down, they're almost definitely as worried as you are.

• Make sure you go to all of your introductory lectures and talks. These are designed to make your transition to university as easy as possible. 
• Keep yourself occupied. If you have too much time to yourself, you'll start thinking about what you've left behind and homesickness could creep up on you before you know it.
• Talk to anyone and everyone. This takes a certain amount of courage but you never know what someone is like until you talk to them. I met my best mate on the first day of university by turning around before a lecture started and introducing myself. It's almost like buying a pair of shoes - you never know what suits you perfectly until you have tried loads on.
• Don't get completely wasted. While the temptation to get slaughtered in your first week away from home is there, your reputation as the one who vomited everywhere on the second night will stick.
• Get involved. There will be a whole load of clubs and societies who are itching for freshers to sign up. Have a look around, see what takes your fancy and try something new. 
• Don't be afraid to ask for help. Everyone was a fresher once. If you're lost, stop and ask someone. If you don't know what to do, someone else will.