Freshers': blagging at the Fairs

Now that you’ve made it to Uni, this is when the real fun starts! During the first week at university, there will be a day that is scheduled on your first week timetable and this will be the - ta-da! - Freshers' Fair. Megababe takes us on a tour.

The Freshers' Fair is brilliant; it's here that you can join loads of clubs, and it's a great time to check out the talent at your new place. Are there any hot babes or cool blokes there that you plan to make a move on? But most importantly, the Fair is a prime place for getting loads of free stuff.

There will be a variety of stalls, and loads of local companies and organisations will be there, as will the bigger institutions such as most of the major high street banks. This is a good time to think about opening up a student bank account if you haven’t already done so - student advisors for the banks will be on hand to answer any questions that you may have. The most important thing to consider when opening a student bank account is not to be tempted by the immediate freebies and promotional offers that they have, but is it going to be a bank that is going to suit your needs? What's its loan repayment plan? Do they have flexible overdraft options? Is there a cash point near to campus that does not charge you? I remember when my brother was at Uni and he used to make trips often to the cash machine on his campus, drawing the odd ten pounds here and there and then he was surprised when he tried to take cash out that he didn’t have any! When he actually went through and checked his statement, he realised that the reason that he was overdrawn was because each time he had gone to the cash machine on campus he had been charged for using it!

Also at the Fair, there will be activity clubs that you can join. If you've always wanted to be in a rugby team or netball team, now's the time to check out the clubs and ask the pertinent questions. Sport usually plays a good part in the Uni lifestyle - it is a good way of meeting people, and more importantly, it's a good way of staying in shape after the take-aways and the alcohol!

Among all the banks and sport n' social clubs at the Fair there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved with something worthwhile, or perhaps try your hand at something new. What have you got to lose? One of the most important things about going to Uni will be that you get back what you put in (I know that is a cliché!) but at the Fair you will get a chance to try loads of things, some you may like, some you may not but the most important thing is to give it a go. As for the freebies some of these stalls offer, take as many free samples that you can, using the excuse: “I’ll think about it”. It has worked for me so many times - I mean, they have brought so many goodies and it would be a crime not to take some of them off their hands! Remember to have fun at the Freshers' Fair and also memorise the mantra: Blag Blag Blag! Click here to go back to the main Freshers' menu!