Final Post: Checklist and Advice

And so the year of Fresher draws to a close. I really want to pass on the things I learnt this year but don't want to give away too much because the best way to find things out, generally, is first hand. I'll try and keep this post fairly short - it has been a very eventful year!

Things to put on your 'to do' list:
- Fab n Fresh at Joe's Bar (Saturdays)
- Lunch at Joe's Bar (try the chips or a pizza, for sure)
- Quiz at Bar One (Sundays if they'll replace Mike with someone decent - when he was away, his replacements just didn't get up to his level)
- Gatecrasher (Fridays are indie nights)
- Mechu
- Jam House (Thursdays are student nights, any other night and they'll only let in 21+s)
- o2 (Fridays are indie nights)
- Custard Factory (This is a club, not a factory full of custard... though it was the old Birds Factory, hence name)
- Shopping at the Bull Ring (I always visit Selfridges)
- Any student performance (usually in the Deb Hall in the Guild, any night of the week, look out for posters and Facebook events)
- Join a society and actually get involved... if not, start your own
- Get involved in the Guild Elections, even if that just means reading the campaigns and listening to the candidates
- Walk to the centre (from Maple Bank/Elgar Court it takes about 30 minutes leisurely pace, it's actually quicker than walking to the train station, buying a ticket, waiting for the train and getting out of New Street... it's also a journey through the posh bit of Edgbaston)
- Browse or buy from the fresh fruit and vegetable market on campus
- Go to one of the theatres
- IMAX for 3D films
- Visit Stratford-upon-Avon for a quiet day out
- Alton Towers (not far away at all - cheap tickets can be found on the right websites... try eBay, too)
-Visit the German Market at Christmas
- Go to a comedy club - Jongleurs and Glee Club are in the centre and always have fresh and familiar talent

Things to do in Freshers Week:
- Order an NUS extra card (I ordered mine in a room in the Guild. You can do it on your own at home but you need a webcam or good enough picture) and USE IT! I found out a Christmas that Superdrug accept NUS extra cards and buy from them regularly. The whole list of companies is on the website and I'm sure a few more will be added come September. Not all shops accept just you Uni ID card, though technically they should. Meh, it's only a fiver!
- Get to know your flatmates. I spent most of my first couple of weeks here just chilling in the kitchen with my flatmates and our random visitors.
- Pick up your Freshers Fest package and attend as many events as you can manage
- Freshers Fair (Don't miss this! I'll be there on Thursday at least, supporting the Northern Society)
- Sports Fair (if you want to join any university teams, for competition or fun, this is the place to be)
- Jobs/Volunteering Fair
- Sort out your folders/paper stash
- Put money on your ID card for printing and photocopying at any of the libraries (I put £5 on at the beginning of the year and am only just getting down to a few pennies)
- Get familiar with WebCT, you'll be using it most days
- If you're hanging out with new people, and are getting along with them really well, get their number and make a note about their halls or flat number

On a night out:
- Put away £10 for the taxi back and make sure you have change if you're sharing with friends. Most taxis do £1.50 per person if you've got 6 or more people.
- Remember your ID for entry and don't lose it!
- Keep with your friends. There's nothing quite like losing your group for a night dampener. (That said, when I lost mine on the first Monday, I met my boyfriend... then eventually found my friends again. It's not all bad!) Do make sure you know the mobile numbers of the people you're with, though, just in case.

And finally, a brief checklist for moving into halls:
*Kitchen
- Pans, plates, cutlery
- Toaster and kettle
- Cleaning stuff (yep, you'll have to clean up! - you'll be given a mop, broom, hoover and dustpan and brush)
- Food! Stock up on tins, you won't want to carry those back when you're shopping unless you know someone with a car
*Bedroom
- Sheets and other bedding
- Lamp, mirror
- Makeup, clothes, sprays
- Hairdryer and other such electricals
- Clothes and jewellery (dress/suit for Freshers Ball, dresses/shirts for nights out, thicker clothes for the looming winter)
*Bathroom
- Shampoo, conditioner etc
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash
- Cleaning stuff
*Others
- Spare change for laundry (at the moment it's £2.20 per wash - I usually do two: whites and darks - and £1 for the dryer - I put my stuff together for this) and a laundry bin/basket/whatever
- ID
- Student loan/grant/money in the bank
- A keyring. One of my flatmates lost her keys twice in the same week. It costs £20 for one key replacement. If you want it replaced again they have to change the lock. Get a keyring and you're less likely to lose your keys. Preferably one that can clip onto your jeans, or one that has a bottle opener - both useful for different reasons. At Freshers Fair there will be a few free keyrings. Mine's from there - it's an RSC one with a bottle opener. I also got one from TC but it's a mini tennis ball so it often doesn't fit in my narrow going out bags.

Good luck to all potential freshers. If there any questions, do ask me. I'm free now until freshers week so I have plenty of time to send detailed answers. See you at Freshers Fair!