|
|
Freshers Help!
Being a Fresher is fun! Helping Freshers make the most of
their 1st year is also fun, so never be afraid to ask
other students for help!
This is by no means a definitive list, but should give you some
pointers!
University accommodation is not renowned for being
spacious, so don’t bring too much – your parent’s won’t thank you
for it either when they have to hire a van to deliver you!
Documentation:
- Qualification certificates (if you haven’t already sent them
to the School) – you will need them to register.
- Passport or driving licence, in case you need access to
photo ID
- Passport Photos- Around 5-6!
- Student Loan documentation
- Acceptance letters from the School
- National Insurance No.
- TV Licence- if you are intending on have one in your room
- Contents insurance
Room:
- Duvet, pillow, bedding and towels.
- A computer is handy, but by no means a must – the computer
labs at Mile End and Whitechapel are well stocked and there is a
small computer area in Dawson.
- Message board pins and white-tack (so you don’t mark the
walls!)
- Any fave posters, photos and home comforts to help you stamp
your identity on your room.
- Multi-plug adapter (or two!)
Kitchen:
Just bring the essentials:
- a saucepan, cutlery, crockery and a can opener will probably
see you through the first few days.
- Most other things can be picked up locally, if you want to
save on space in the car!
- Don’t go mad with appliances, else you will end up with 8
toasters, kettles etc. Someone is bound to bring one, and if not
you can always club together with your new flat mates and pick
up cheap
- It is worth bringing a few staples* to ensure you do not
starve on your first night. Making friends is always much easier
over a cup of tea, coffee (Or something stronger!), so come
prepared!
- The nearest supermarket to Floyer and the Mile End halls is
Sainsbury’s, which can be found on Cambridge Heath Road. There
are Budgen’s stores with in a few minutes walk of both campuses.
The nearest supermarket to Dawson is Waitrose, Cherry Tree Walk,
Whitecross Street . There is a small Tesco Metro a few minutes
walk from Dawson, on Aldersgate Street.
*Hint: if you’re being dropped of by car/van, get the driver to
take you shopping before they leave – even better, try to get them
to pay for it!
Clothing :
- Anything warm and waterproof – although it might still be
warm when you move in to your accommodation, it will soon be
deep mid-winter!
- Something smart for your clinical and communication skills
sessions.
- Clothes for nights out with your new friends!
- Nightwear.
- A lab coat! You can pick on up in the Union, but if you have
one, save some pennies and bring it with you!
- Any bits and pieces you happen to have at home that could
form the basis of the myriad of costumes you WILL need for
Fresher’s fortnight! Trust me; by the end of medical/dental
school you will have the most amazing fancy dress collection!
Odds and Ends:
- Any medications you might need (including inhalers, oral
contraceptives if you take them). It might be a few weeks before
you finally get round to sorting out a GP, so be prepared…
- A small first aid kit.
- A needle and thread.
- Remember to bring lots of photos from back home, you may
miss home!
- I would advise only bringing only one or two items of warm
clothes for Winter and consider buying better and cheaper ones
during the winter sales. For international students like myself,
stacking my luggage with all those winter clothes can be
troublesome!
- Do not pack valuables in your suitcases. If you must bring
valuables with you, carry them in your hand luggage.
Getting About:
The East End of London has a
high crime rate – that can not be
disputed! However, taking a few
moments to think about your personal
safety can help prevent you from
becoming a statistic. Do not go out
carrying every prize valuable you
own. Wondering down the main road
flashing your Rolex, talking on your
brand new mobile ‘phone, with the
tell tale white head phones of your
iPod hanging out of your coat pocket
are probably going to make you easy
picking where ever you are! Only
take out the items you need.
Where ever you are (in London or
back at home!) it is never advisable
to walk or cycle home alone after
dark. It’s a good idea to carry a
personal attack alarm (gentlemen,
this applies to you as well as to
the ladies!).
Going Out:
During the first few Fresher’s
events, we have arranged escorts to
help you make your way back to Mile
End and Charterhouse Square. Please
use them! If there doesn’t seem to
be one around when you are ready to
leave, please ask either myself or
one of the Fresher’s Help Squad
(identifiable by their T-shirts) who
will arrange something for you.
Where ever you are off to, it’s
always a good idea to have thought
about
- Who you are going out with
- Where you are going
- How you are going to get
their
- HOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET
BACK.
Don’t leave getting home to
chance. Have a plan and stick to it.
It is really important to stick
together. This can be quite hard in
Fresher’s fortnight, when you don’t
all know each other very well and
not everyone wants to do the same
thing. Before you leave an event,
check you have everyone you came
with, and if not, go find them. If
your new friends do not want to
leave, make sure they have a plan to
get home safely, and make sure you
can too. Looking after each other is
the name of the game!
For students living at home and not
in halls, please don’t feel too shy
or scared to join in the fun! As I
said, BL students are renowned for
being super lovely, and if you walk
in to an event knowing nobody, I
promise you will have made a room
full of new friends by the end! It
you are worried about travelling on
your own, then please get in contact
with me and I will see who lives in
your general area who might act as a
travel buddy!
For more information
please check welfare section of
Barts and the London website:
Click!
|
