Attendance during welcome week usually isn't monitored, however it's pretty essential that you go, and that's not why you think. Yes, it's good to go and hear your tutors introduce themselves and the course, but what's more important is that you start to meet your course-mates and work out your way around campus. Welcome talks are a good way to ease into uni life and get used to lecture theatres and seminar rooms. I'd definitely say that you don't have to attend everything they put on for you during freshers/welcome week, but it's vital that you go to one or two of the talks at least. Here are some ways to make sure you're prepared for your welcome talks and can use them to your advantage.
1. Write them out in your diary or on your calendar and set reminders in your phone. Make sure you know exactly when and where they are. You could also print out your online academic timetable, which you should have by this point, and put that up on your notice board. It may change weekly so be sure you have the right week printed out!
2. Find someone to walk with. If you live with people on your course or at least live close by to them, arrange to walk together. It'll give you some company and mean that if you end up lost, you're not lost on your own. If you can't find anybody on your course ahead of the first talk, see if any of your flatmates are heading in for their talks at a similar time, and if they are, go with them. You'll have to separate eventually but at least you'll have somebody for the walk onto campus.
3. What to take? It's a good idea to take a notepad, a pen, a highlighter, your phone, your flat key, and a drink. You probably won't have to take any notes but just in case, it's good to be prepared.
4. Your tutors will probably introduce themselves to you, take note of which ones you have for seminars. On your timetable you should find the module, the room number, the time and the name of your tutor. Make a note of what they're called and then when they introduce themselves on the first day, you'll know that's who you're heading to next week for one of your seminars!
5. Introduce yourself to people. You'll probably be put into pairs at some point and told to chat, make sure you do so that you get to know people - take their name and add them on Facebook. I was worried to look a bit 'keen' but it's good to have as many contacts as you can at the start, you can narrow these down once you settle in and work out who you like and who you'd rather not spend too much time with.
6. Take a trip to the on-campus pub afterwards. The nearby coffee shop would also suffice. Basically, if you do manage to get a conversation going with someone and make a connection, don't just let it abruptly end there as the welcome talk does. Go for a drink or a wander round town and build the foundations for the friendship! It's going to be handy to have a friendly face on your course in the coming weeks.
7. Don't be rude to the lecturers. Don't whisper to your mates when the lecturers are talking, don't scroll through your Instagram feed when they're showing you a presentation. This is university, you're an adult and you're paying a LOT of money to be here, so don't be a dick and pay attention. These people are going to be in control of your grades and quite frankly have the power to make your life Hell in those seminars, so don't get in their bad books so early on!
8. Be prompt and look presentable. Get there on time! Set off before you need to so you have time to pick the best seat in the house and don't have to disrupt things by walking in late. First impressions count so it's a good idea to get up early and spend a little extra time on your appearance. You can spend the rest of the year looking like a slob in lectures (or the next three years like I did) but if you're going to get dressed up, this week is the one to do it! Comfort is of course key, but even stretchy jeans and a nice top shout "effort" a lot more than leggings and the hoodie you slept in last night do.
9. Check your Emails/Student Site before attending. Any room changes or specific requests from tutors will appear either via Email or as a notification on your personal student site, ours was Blackboard. Cancellations should also show up here, so be sure to keep an eye on these! 10. Don't just go to one. Make the most of all that's put on for you during welcome week, attend as many of the talks as you can fit in!
The prospect of sitting on your own in a lecture theatre for an hour with a banging head isn't an appealing one, I know, but welcome talks are a great was to ease you into university life. Head onto campus and attend as many as you can, then when the real lectures begin it won't be as scary, I promise!
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