A Quick Checklist for University Freshers

The excitement and anxiety are mounting as the start of the new University term looms. To help you prepare for your first term we have prepared a check-list of things you will need to take.

1. Clothes
Don’t take too many! There will not be much storage space in the halls. But you will definitely need:
• Fancy dress kit. Freshers love to dress up.
• Some kind of formal wear – prom type dress for girls, black tie for boys (charity shops are a good source for these)
• And a dressing gown and slippers for those late night fire drills.

2. Bedding
A University hall bed is never as comfortable as yours at home so make sure you take:
• A good duvet, changes of sheets x 2, your own pillow and a mattress topper
• When choosing your duvet cover bear in mind that people will form first impressions of you based upon your bedroom, so best to leave the embarrassing ones behind…
• A hot water bottle or electric blanket also helps if you are heading to the northern hemisphere.

3. Cheering up your room
The cold welcome of a bare room in halls is sure to put even the most confident undergrad on edge so go prepared to make it feel more like home…
• Bean bags are homely and people will plonk themselves in your room to chat rather than propping up the wall.
• Rugs are great for covering up unsightly carpet stains and bare floorboards. It’s handy having a bedside rug – it makes the cold mornings less chilly when you leap out of bed.
• Really important to remember to bring lights – a desk lamp and probably a bed side one too – fairy lights go along way to making a room look a bit more sparkly.
• Buy a couple of plants to add something green and living. If you are guaranteed to kill them within the week stick to a cactus.

4. Things for the walls
• Photos of family/friends/ your gap year can be a great icebreaker. Memories of recent parties and childhood will serve as reminders that ‘old friends are gold’ and encourage you to keep in touch with everyone back home.
• Posters liven up a blank wall but bear in mind the advice re duvet cover when it comes to selecting your posters!
• Keep your eyes peeled for Student Union fairs selling innumerable discounted posters in all shapes and sizes. A multitude of websites sell every poster imaginable.
• Don’t forget the white tack to stick them all up.

5. Practical things
• Pack some basic kitchen kit – veg peeler, non stick pan, plates, bowls, cutlery – best in a bright colour then if it disappears into someone else’s room it is easy to identify.
• Take your own tea towel – you don’t know where the others have been. Wet wipes and some washing up liquid never go amiss.
• Don’t forget the electricals – Laptop, ipod, speakers for ipod, extension leads, adapters, hair dryer.
• Don’t worry about a printer – there will be plenty of cheap places to print out your work.

6. And Finally…
• A door stop - to prop your door open as you unpack and decorate, so that new corridor buddies can drop in and say hello.
• A jar of cookies or big tin of celebrations or the healthy option a bowl of fruit always help to encourage visitors as does having some mugs, glasses and a big kettle.

-- xx --

By Fiona McKenzie, Gabbitas Dubai & Jane Phelps Admissions Tutor, New College of the Humanities