Is freshers’ week going stale? According to the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, cash-strapped prospective students want to get on with squeezing out value for money from their expensive university courses, not waste time partying or picking up flyers for societies and clubs. Teetotallers bristle at going to places where “you can’t say no to drinking”, while others worry about the change from a structured school day to student life. But what do students themselves think of freshers’ week – did it start their university year off with a bang, or leave them whimpering?
Sam Lloyd, 19, Swansea University (classical civilisation with history), first year
I had a brilliant time at freshers’ week. It was a massive eye-opener for me. I’m from a tiny little town in Hereford, so I’ve never seen so many people in one place! It was a bit overwhelming, but I am quite outgoing.
I’m glad I was here before classes started; it was a great way to find your feet, although I have spent a lot. I started lectures today and I am less nervous because I have been round the campus and the city and know where I am going.
Marina Carnwath, 22, St Andrews, (history), fourth year
Looking back, I do think lectures should start during freshers’ week, because in your first week you want more stuff to fill your days. You didn’t want to be unoccupied, because that’s when things felt a little scary. At St Andrews, all our clubs shut at 2am, so lectures would have been fine – they don’t start until 10am anyway. Freshers’ week doesn’t help you make friends, because you don’t remember each other’s names if you are drunk all the time. But now we are in our fourth year we love freshers’ week, because we have all our friends with us. This year was brilliant!
Dominic Stanley, 18, Cardiff, chemical engineer, first year
I’m not someone who goes out very often, but my freshers’ week was pretty good. You don’t need to think about making friends – you just go out and have a laugh. Now I see people wandering about who I’ve met on a night out, which eases you in. I managed to get away with not spending too much, so I don’t think it’s a waste of money. It is good to be able to get on with making friends without having to worry about getting up for a 9am lecture.
Antonia Packham, 21, University of Brighton (3D design and craft), second year
My course started in freshers’ week, which was quite difficult. I didn’t go to much freshers’ stuff because I had 9am classes. I wasn’t in halls, so freshers’ week wasn’t a big experience. I was living in a house with four flatmates; we went out a bit, but paying £60 for a wristband was a waste of money. The freshers’ nights are not the kind of nights I like either – they are in massive clubs. I had a better time later in the year, when we knew where to go.
Grace Brodie, 20, Teesside University (criminology), second year
I found freshers’ week really helpful but I didn’t go out. I think the nights out are over-commercialised and I wasn’t that bothered. It should be about helping people settle in, not spending money. Some people are £600 down, but I have budgeted out my loan for every week.
Some people who have come straight from sixth form enjoy it, but my group of friends are focused on work and ready to learn. There was a lot of information about lectures and work experience, which was good. I think the focus should be on adapting to your first year.
