1. Don’t spend all your money at Freshers. Trust us. Despite all the hype put on it, you will end up having better nights out when, y’know, you actually have friends and you know where to go. They are the nights you’ll actually want money.
2. Learn to cook (& love) pasta, because you’re going to be living on it.
3. Cheese is expensive! If a kind family member offers to buy you something to take to uni, don’t say alcohol, that’s real cheap, ask for cheese, and when you’re chowing down on cheese on toast when everyone around you can only afford Savers Jam, you’ll be on top of the world.
4. Don’t sleep with one of your housemates, under any circumstance. Chances are you won’t live together next year, so wait it out and they’re free game, but until then, don’t do it. Because when it messes up, and it will mess up, living with them will be hell.
5. Predrink. It’s 1000x cheaper than buying drinks in a club, and with a pack of cards and a dirty pint, it’s often way more fun!
6. Whenever you can, ‘blag’ toilet roll from places. Firstly, bog roll is expensive (see point 3) also, you will have to buy cheap, thin, scratchy stuff – the results of which could be catastrophic (if you know what I mean…!) so if you happen to be in a toilet that has a nice big roll of the white stuff, slip it in your bag – quick!
7. Which leads us nicely to point 7. Ladies: Take loo roll to the clubs! We’re not sure if it’s because it’s used as bunting around the stalls, or because everyone knows about the above tip, but there is NEVER any good loo roll in a clubs scratty toilet. Slip a little bit in your bag before a night out and we guarantee you’ll be everyone’s best friend.
8. Don’t cook drunk. That’s what take outs are for. No one wants to be the guy known for burning down his halls cooking some cheesy chips. (But at least you have cheese right?)
9. Make friends with useful people. People who can cook and drive and are generous with alcohol. You’ll need them! Make sure you have something to give them in return. (Cheese?)
10. International Students! Befriend them! It’s a nice thing to do and also hours of fun come from asking your new America friend “What do you call this?!”. The best thing about this though, is if you ever visit that country, you have someone to stay with!
11. If you’re in to something weird, don’t worry, chances are there’s a group of weirdos just like you. At university it’s called ‘joining a society’ and somehow looks good on your CV.
12. PJs and onesies are totally acceptable to wear at any time, embrace this. Also afternoon naps. You’ll miss it all when you graduate.
13. Uni is a chance to get drunk, make bad choices under the guise of ‘finding yourself’, dress up, spend all day watching Netflix, Dress up every Wednesday, make friends with strangers, make out with strangers, and basically do a whole bunch of things that are unacceptable in the Real World. Make the most of it!
Originally posted on HelloU.com Sept 2014