My guide to move-in weekend and Freshers' Week

This article was written by Costume Design for Film & Television BA(Hons) student Natalie.

Having done “Move-in Weekend” and “Freshers’ Week” twice, first at Sheffield University and then at Falmouth, I would say I’m an expert.

The first few weeks of university are an incredible opportunity to make friends and discover your surroundings. There are Freshers' events on most nights and also in the day, if that’s more your thing. The best aspect is how open everyone is to meeting new people, to the extent that it’s completely normal to introduce yourself to anyone and everyone.

During my Freshers’ Week, I found myself asking people, “what course are you on?” more times than I could count and then immediately forgetting the answer as soon as I met the next the next person. By about the third time of asking, I’d usually have their name memorised and, once we’d made it that far, I knew we’d be friends for life… or at least the rest of Freshers’ Week.

Meeting your flatmates

One thing that can be slightly daunting about university, is sharing a flat with people you’ve never seen before. My best advice would be to remind yourself that everyone is in the same boat and people always appreciate it when you reach out first. Having been through Move-in Weekend once before, when coming to Falmouth I purposefully booked an earlier move-in slot, so that I could be all unpacked when everyone else arrived. This meant that when my roommate moved in, I was able to help her unpack, which was a nice way to get to know her. You could also think about bringing some games or some snacks/drinks to share, as this will give you an excuse to gather everyone together and create a community in your flat. It’s also great to meet everyone in your flat as soon as possible, as then you can buy tickets to the same Freshers’ events, so you won’t have to go on your own.

Freshers' events

During Freshers’ Week there are various events on campus. On move-in days, there are lots of stands for things like joining the local GP and then later on there is the Freshers’ Fair. At this event, each society has a stand with representatives who you can ask all about what their group does. They also tell you all about the free taster sessions they offer, so you can decide if you would like to pay to join their society. Me and my new friends signed up for just about all of them and actually made it to possibly three? Luckily, they usually let you have a free taster session at a less busy, less tiring part of term if you ask them nicely through their Instagram.

Employability Fayre

Falmouth also hosts an Employability Fayre for all students looking for part-time work. This is a great opportunity to see what’s out there, even if you’re not sure you want a job right away, as you may change your mind later on in the year.

ResLife also put on lots of events around Freshers’ Week (and throughout the rest of the year!). This can span from terrarium-making, paddle boarding and going on days out to places like the Seal Sanctuary and ice skating at the Eden Project. These events are really affordable in comparison to if you were planning on going to them by yourself, so they are usually quite quick to sell out. I’d recommend giving them a follow on Instagram, as they usually announce all of their events there.