How to prepare for ‘Operation: W.e.l.c.o.m.e Week’

The thought process associated with Welcome Week for some new students might be ‘Move in, stock up on drinks, meet your flatmates, flat night out, party all of freshers week’ and then inevitably spend the last weekend of freshers’ week curled up in your new bed, Netflix on, ‘dying’ from too many late nights. Now of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that and with so many fantastic clubs, venues and things to do in Manchester and Salford – who can blame you for wanting to dive headfirst into your new home! But, since things have changed over the past year, freshers week might have too…🏙️

There are a lot of perks to joining in with our Welcome Week – from making new friends, meeting our helpful staff, signing up to new societies and the freebies. It’s a great time for everyone to get involved and for new students to explore campus. However, it’s completely natural to feel a bit overwhelmed on the run-up to coming to university. I know I did, but I do not for a minute regret getting involved with Welcome Week and exploring campus – think of it as a fun adventure or mission to step out of your comfort zone and make the most of the beginning of your time at Salford. Let’s call it… Operation W.E.L.C.O.M.E Week. I think it has a nice ring to it!😉

W – Where is everything?

By the end of your final year at Salford you’ll probably know our main campus like the back of your hand. You’ll be able to walk from Maxwell, to the library, to the Students’ Union, to the New Adelphi and back again blindfolded. But, it’s completely normal on that first week to feel a bit lost. Luckily for you, we have countless campus tours on during Welcome Week – find what times they are on through our Welcome Week schedule! Otherwise I’d recommend seeking out the key places on campus you’ll need for the rest of the year:

• The student shops🛒
• The askUS desk🙋
• The Clifford Whitworth Library📚
• Laundry room (if you live in halls!)🧼

E – Email

If you don’t come away from Welcome Week with at least one tote bag full of freebies and signed up to 10+ societies and sports clubs, you’re doing Welcome Week wrong. Ahead of Welcome Week and the famous ‘Freebies Fair’, create a new email that you can use when signing up for newsletters, taster sessions, and events – so that you can organise them all separate to your personal email!📥

L – Library

I know, I know – books aren’t always at the forefront at everyone’s mind like they are on mine. But when you’ve got a free minute during Welcome Week, make sure you go and check out the Clifford Whitworth Library on our main campus. You can get to grips with the borrowing system, explore their three floors of fantastic material and borrow a laptop to check your social media and let everyone know what a great time you’re having during Welcome Week.📖

C – Commuting

Not every student will be moving into halls but that definitely doesn’t mean they should miss out on Welcome Week. Double check our Welcome Week event schedule ahead of time to decide which events you’d like to tag along to, and then organise your commute from there. Our nearest train station, Salford Crescent, is literally next to our main campus and is only a 5 minute walk from the Students’ Union. You can use the Transport for Greater Manchester website to plan your journey in and check what buses you may need to use to get to campus.🚇

O – Open to anything

Welcome Week is probably the best time during your entire time at Salford to be a ‘yes’ person. You’ve just started, the assignment deadlines haven’t kicked in yet, and there’s so much going on that there’s something for everyone – you don’t necessarily have to head straight to the bar. If you’re moving in to halls, see what your new flatmates all want to try during Welcome Week and tag along with them. There’s plenty of events to get to know them such as a tea party, boozy portrait painting or maybe even through singing your heart out at Bandaoke! If you’re strolling through the Sports and Societies Fair and a sport that you’ve never considered before catches your eye, dare yourself to go to a taster session!🎟️

M – Make time for yourself

There’s a certain pressure with ‘Freshers’ and starting university that means you might think you need to spend every waking minute of the first week doing something, being somewhere, talking to huge groups of people and only being inside your flat if it means a flat party or get together. Whilst I highly recommend that you use this time to get to know your flat, make friends and meet new people through societies and events – don’t forget to give yourself a break and chill. Remember that great opportunities don’t grind to a halt right after Welcome Week at Salford and don’t let the F.O.M.O (fear of missing out) take over. One night off to recharge isn’t the end of the world.🛌

E – End on a high

You’ve made it to University and starting soon after Welcome Week you will be in a regular routine of lectures, studying, revising, going to societies and handing in assignments. Make sure you make your last night off something to look back on fondly and enjoy. As we can’t really confirm what will be open and what won’t be this fresher’s, be sure to get involved in any way you can! Just because clubs might not be available to you, doesn’t mean this should stop you from making great friends and some HILARIOUS memories. So, whether you get the chance to go wild at the club night finale with your Students’ Union wristband or kick back with your flat mates at the comedy night and have a chill one – enjoy yourself because you’re now a Salford student!🎉