So, this is where it all starts. You’ve chosen the course, you’ve given your college prospectus the once-over, and you’re revelling in the knowledge that you’ll never have to sit the Leaving Cert again. You’re ready to sink your teeth into a brand new chapter. There’s just one problem.

In our experience, older friends, family members and loved ones generally don’t offer great advice at times like this. In fact, they usually just mumble something about college being the best time of your life and send you on your way.
Of course, the trouble with the “best time of your life” yarn is that just because you’re turning up at a ginormous grey building every day and taking your education into your own hands, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have problems. Moving away from home, balancing your budget and keeping your social life on track are all stormy seas that must be navigated, and this this is precisely where the Hot Press Student Survival Guide comes in!
In part one of our student special, we’ll tell you how to style yourself on a shoestring, why you should join one of your college’s clubs and societies and where the best student club nights are to be found. We’ve also put together the essential student syllabus, covering books, film and music, because – believe us – college is neither the time nor the place to sweat the small stuff.
Excuse us for spoiling the surprise, but post-college life is full of nagging responsibilities you may not even have heard of yet (I’m looking at you, Universal Social Charge!) Whatever happens over the next few years, remember to have fun and enjoy the freedom of having absolutely nothing on your to-do list, bar making sure your bum is on a seat in Lecture Hall 2C at 12.40pm.
Best of luck!

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

How to make it through the next two to six years with your sanity (and dignity) intact!

Forgive us for tooting our own horn, but between the lot of us, team Hot Press has racked up a whole lot of experience in the world of third level education. Granted, our CVs might not boast as many PHDs as your average gang of neurophysicists, but we’ve lived through enough wild nights out, stress-fuelled all-nighters and awkward library run-ins to know that there’s a right and a wrong way to do college. For example, the right way to navigate exam season does not involve a ten-pack of energy drinks and an industrial-strength bedroom door lock.

So, without further ado, we bring you the fruits of our combined triumphs and fuck-ups, in the form of our Hot Press student survival guide. Store these nuggets of wisdom away for use throughout the academic year, and don’t forget to thank us later!

SIMPLY THE BFF
For many, starting college is a new chapter, and some of the friendships forged at third level will last through your entire life. Initially, making a hundred new acquaintainces in a day can seem daunting. It helps to remember that everyone is in the same boat. Be chatty, strike up conversations and try sitting next to a different classmate every day. While it might be tempting to stick to the group you knew before college, remember that there are hundreds of amazing potential BFFs in your class, course or year – and equally in the other classes, courses and years! Trust us – this one’s a lot easier than you think!

CLUB CRAWL
Join at least one club and one society, and choose wisely. A classic mistake during Freshers’ Week is signing up for so many groups, and becoming so overwhelmed with the number of society cards in your wallet, that you never attend a single meeting, training or Murder, She Wrote-themed box social (these are the most fun!) You’re far better off giving it some thought, and joining the clubs and societites you’ll stick with for the next few years. There’s so much variety and absolutely no excuse for not getting involved. Plus, clubs and societies are a fantastic way to meet new people!

BUILT TO CLASS
When it comes to attending lectures, seminars and tutorials, your best bet is to start as you mean to go on. Hopefully, we don’t need to tell you why it’s important to show up to class every day (hint: they don’t hand out diplomas at your local post office). As tempting as it might be to trade the lecture hall for the canteen, especially in the first few weeks of college, this is not a wise idea. Falling behind on your coursework will only put you under unnecessary pressure. Besides, tutorials are often mandatory, which means that missing them will leave a nasty mark on your grade.

TEST BEHAVIOUR
It’s as simple as this; don’t leave everything until the last minute. When starting college, it’s easy to think of exams as distant hurdles, ones you will cross easily when the time comes. Take it from us; the easiest thing to do is to keep on top of your study throughout the year. If you can get into the habit of going to the library to get your work done, do! It’s the perfect environment for productivity during off-season. Exam time, on the other hand, is a different story; communal study areas can be as distracting as your living room during busy periods, and just securing a seat becomes a game of survival of the fittest. Consider yourself warned.

JUST THE TIPPLE
For the first and last time, we’re going to take a leaf out of your Mam’s book... but with good reason! Here goes; be responsible about how much you drink. For most, college marks your first time away from home, which means no parental supervision, no curfews, and no ‘What time do you call this?’ In such circumstances, even the best of us can lose the plot. It’s easy to find yourself out every night for the first couple of weeks; pretty much every nightclub runs student evenings and it can be hard to say ‘no’. Avoid going out the night before a lecture because, let’s face it, you won’t be showing up the next day, and when you do hit the town, cut your wallet and your tummy some slack by not overdoing it. Remember to drink lots of water, and make sure you’ve eaten a hearty meal before a night out.

RIDE ON TIME
Looking after your sexual health is probably the most valuable lesson you can learn at college. Use contraception and use it properly. If you are sexually active, get tested regularly for STIs; the majority of student health centres will offer the service free of charge, while others charge a reduced fee. Trust your instincts and only do what feels right for you and your body. Remember booze will lower your inhibitions considerably, so be careful when it comes to alcohol; there’s no getting over the shock of waking up next to a twelve-eyed, sabre-toothed ogre the morning after a night on the tiles (apologies to all the twelve-eyed, sabre-toothed ogres I’ve loved before – you’re all beautiful on the inside).

FITTING PRETTY
As mentioned above, you should definitely consider joining one of the sports or exercise clubs in your college. This will not only give you a reason to stay fit and healthy; all that running around will give you the stamina you need to survive university life. Another option is the college gym, which will probably be cheaper than any gym you’ll use in your entire life! If your college doesn’t have one, seek out a local public gym or fitness studio; many offer student rates on production of a valid student card.