10 Mar 2021

Starting your uni journey can be a little frazzling. It’s a whole new ballpark compared to high school– you’ve got a new campus to get familiar with, new people to meet and a whole new student life to adjust to.

But that's where Orientation Week (f.k.a. O-Week, Welcome Week, Fresher Week or whatever your uni calls it) comes to the rescue!

O-Week is the perf time to ease into uni life. You can get lost on campus without the stress of turning up late to a lecture, check out the uni clubs, sign up to sports teams with all your mates, find the cheapest and best coffee on campus and generally just figure out what’s going on before the hard work begins. 

Here are a few things you'll learn at O-Week, from veteran to fresher.

1. Parking is a nightmare

There is probably no parking.

If there miraculously IS parking, it'll cost the price of Jesus' tears. You'll probably spend O-Week figuring out if it's worth parking a 20 minutes walk away from campus, or if you should just take a bus instead.

2. Where your classes are

During O-Week, you'll be working out whereabouts all your classes are. Get ready to have to trek for 10 minutes, getting from lecture halls to tutorials...

At least your calves will be made of steel soon. No need to get a gym membership now. Win-win.

3. What clubs, societies and teams you could join

One minute you’re going to be strolling through campus and the next you’ll unknowingly stumble across a sea of marquees and tables with reps shouting about their club and society, urging you to sign up. Don't be alarmed, they're just heaps passionate about their hobbies.

Clubs, societies and teams are a perfect way to make the most of uni life and brush shoulders with likeminded people!

And seriously, you’d be surprised at the variety of clubs and societies–from a Harry Potter Society, Golf Club to some political societies if you're into that.

4. Where the prime hangout spots are

What watering hole will you and your new mates choose for after-class bevvies? What restaurant will you choose for comfort food in the future when you inevitably drown and stress? What cafe's aroma of coffee beans speaks to your soul the most, giving each morning the caffeine kick you'll need?

O-Week is when you'll figure out where the library, uni bar and convenience store all are (the essentials, tbh).

But you'll also explore all the prime hangouts spots and chances are they're where you'll spend most of your uni life. Walk around, suss it all out and soak it all in.

5. Free stuff is sacred

Truer words were never spoken. You will be given so much free stuff that you'll be no longer able to carry anything with your two hands. And by free stuff, I mean absolute junk. Junk that is SACRED!

You’re going to have pamphlets that you’re never going to read, pens that you will chuck out and a deceptive tote that will break after a week, tops. You'll also get discount coupons which will come in handy when you need a coffee but don't want to fork out a full $4. You might also be able to nab a diary, which is always handy to have even if it’s just so you know when holidays are.

6. O-Week parties are a viiiiiibe

Quite possibly the pinnacle of O-Week are the big parties and fezzy’s that are hosted on campus. It’s the closest thing we’ll get to the college parties we’ve seen on Netflix shows. It’s an easy way to socialise and make friends on campus with the help of liquid courage. 

Remember, most of these people have no idea who you are which means it’s the perfect time to reinvent yourself. On top of that, considering campus size and the number of students who will be studying, it’s pretty easy to avoid people later if you embarrass yourself thanks to too many shots at the uni bar. 

Corona willing, some unis may be going ahead with some parties!

7. Everyone is as lost as you

If you're feeling like a martian, guess what! So is everyone else! There are tonnes of staff and representatives able to help you out. Or, just look for someone that seems to be equally zonked and bond with them over your lack of experience at uni.

I met my best mate Rachel as we both struggled to find our lecture hall. Bless!