By Megan Stannett, Fourth Year, Cellular and Molecular Medicine
As a fourth-year student who fell victim to the Panic Masters epidemic, it's only right to share some tips and tricks for the fresher’s cohort to ensure you get the most out of your time at Bristol.
1. Freshers’ Week is not the be-all and end-all
Having survived 3 years of Bristol Freshers’ Weeks, I can say wholeheartedly that my first-year freshers was the least memorable of them all. The perception of fresher’s week as the ‘best week of your life’ is, in fact, a myth that does not define your upcoming uni experience.
It’s a week full of intense emotions – excitement, anxiety, hangxiety and stress – but this is all a natural part of moving to a new city, finally becoming independent and pursuing a degree subject you’re (hopefully) passionate about. So know that if your fresher’s week doesn’t live up to expectations, trust me, it only gets better. And don’t forget that everyone is in the same boat: being in a new environment, making new friends and adjusting to adulthood. Given all of this, it makes sense that Freshers' as a fresher can be different to what is expected!
Instead of buying the Freshers' wristbands advertised on Facebook and your accommodation look on Bristol Student Union's website for the official uni-organised events.
2. Your first-year flatmates don’t have to be your best friends
Throughout your three (or more) years at Bristol, you will continue to meet new people and make new friends, so don’t freak out if you don’t immediately click with your flatmates. The university is massive, so getting somewhat unlucky with your first-year accommodation does not mean you’ve been set up for failure. As long as you're happy with the accommodation you're in, there's always alternative ways to socialise with new people outside your flat. Meet your neighbours, go to the Student Union's 'Give it a Go' events hosted by societies, and start a conversation with someone on your course.
Wherever you go, there will be people just like you wanting to get to know others and mingle as much as possible. And if the flat just isn't the right fit for you and you can't see yourself staying for the rest of the year – you can move! It’s completely ok and happens a lot more than you think. The process is straightforward, and you'll be supported by the University. So, if you find yourself unhappy with your situation, there are always avenues to try again.
3. The Bristol accommodation stereotypes are true
Yes, Wills Hall is full of London private school students, and Goldney is a hub for ‘I found myself in Bali’ gap years. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but take the memes and sometimes harsh stereotypes into consideration when choosing your first-year accommodation. They can be scarily accurate.
However, if you find yourself not quite falling into your accommodation's perceived niche, don’t be put off by this. At the end of the day, Bristol has such a diverse student population that there is a group for everyone. Take it more as a guideline to distinguish what you do and don’t want from your first-year accommodation, and let it help you when making your decision!
4. Take advantage of the freedom that is first year
Don’t spend your days grafting in the library nine-to-five during first year – trust me, you will regret it. All you need is a 40-pass mark to continue to second year, where things start to count, so please use your time wisely. Not to condone skipping university – it is important to attend lectures, bond with coursemates, and get a feel for your degree – but with the year not counting towards your final grade, you have the chance to take advantage of the lack of academic pressure and lighter workload.
Allocate as much time as possible for meeting people, making memories with friends, going to as many societies as possible, and getting to know the city. In hindsight, this will be far more significant to your uni experience than breaking your back over first-year exams that will be forgotten soon enough. In second year, when life begins to skew towards days in the library rather than pints at the pub, you don't want to realise that you wasted your freedom as a fresher by studying instead of socialising.
5. Getting lost in Bristol is the best way to get to know the city
Bristol is such a beautiful city and arguably one of the best locations for university. There will always be endless recommendations for restaurants, shopping, pub gardens and more, but don’t limit yourself to these. The best way to fully immerse yourself is to get outside and explore the remarkably diverse city that is Bristol. A common regret among many final years is not branching out to different areas like Gloucester Road and the city centre enough, the result of sticking to the student classics like Park Street and the Triangle. This can be applied to eating out, café spots, shopping, pubs and nights out. Clubbing in Daisy’s on a Friday night is not the peak of Bristol nightlife – and that would actually be offensive to some.
So, take a walk along the harbourside, go to the pubs down King Street and spend a day exploring the shops and cafes on Gloucester Road. Even if they aren't the ‘popular’ first-year student areas, it doesn't matter; get ahead of the curve and find the areas of Bristol you love rather than conforming to the social norms.
In the end, being a fresher isn't a make-or-break moment: university is a marathon, not a sprint, and the early days are just the warm-up. You’ll survive the awkward flat kitchens, the questionable club nights, and the inevitable maze that is the Arts Complex. The real secret is giving yourself room to breathe, try new things, meet people and occasionally get lost – all without the crushing weight of academic perfection. Bristol will keep surprising you long after the free tote bags and uni merch stop, so pace yourself. You’ve got years of chaos, caffeine and memory making ahead!
After 3 years, I can confidently say that the Bristol experience is unmatched, and I have no doubt you’ll feel the same soon enough.
Featured Image: Epigram / Megan Stannett
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
