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The
Demystifying the pomp and grandeur of the university customs, one event at a time. Freshers’ Week Special Edition 2023
FRES
HER OXFORD S TUDENT The University of Oxford’s Student Newspaper, Est. 1991
A note from the Editors-in-Chief
Congratulations! Coming to university is a huge milestone in your life and it’s not difficult to imagine the huge mix of feelings you may have in the leadup to starting your course. We’ve all been there (some more recently than others). For most, this is the first time living independently, which is both scary and exciting. This guide should contain all the information you will need to hit the ground running in your first few weeks in Oxford.
On a more personal note, I’d like to give a huge shout out to Welsh freshers, to workingclass freshers and to anyone who feels that they have come to Oxford with an “unconventional” background. You’ll quickly find that most people in Oxford feel this way! So much of the Oxford reputation is a myth these days; you are all here because you deserve to be. That said, You may feel that you need support quite soon after starting your course, and I
would encourage anyone in that position not to feel ashamed of this. We all have unique contexts and challenges that we face in life, and some take longer to overcome than others. Some only surface upon reaching Oxford, with its mix of newness and high-pressure environment. It’s okay, and the best thing you can do if you find yourself in this position is to ask for help, first from your tutor and also from your college’s welfare provision. The sooner they know,
the sooner they can help. Imposter syndrome can be especially difficult to overcome and may lead you to feel embarrassed if you are struggling, but understand that the Oxford courses are designed to challenge you in a way that you have not previously been. Combine this with how many different backgrounds and education systems people have been through before arriving, and then it is not a surprise that some may find the transition to university study easier than others. In many ways, the first year is a way to level the playing field and ensure that everyone has a good knowledge base before starting content for finals. With all this in mind, best of luck and a huge congratulations to you for making it to Oxford. There is a wealth of opportunity here, and it really is what you make it! Have fun and enjoy freshers’ week to your heart’s content. Emily Hudson I can remember exactly how Read more on page 3 I felt on the first day moving to Oxford. I was somewhat excited but mostly terrified, and it was only through other students sharing their experiences with me that I was able to come to terms with the mammoth that
is ‘Oxford life’. Freshers’ week for me last year was undeniably daunting but I also met some of my best friends through it, as well as signing up to the publication I’m now co-editing! For some freshers’ week allows you to stumble upon people and societies you will spend the rest of your degree attached to, but it isn’t like that for everyone so don’t stress about having the perfect freshers’ experience. Still, this guide is meant to at least make things enjoyable for you by giving you insight into the many niggling unknowns when you start your first year. Our team have worked incredibly hard on putting it together and we hope that the information to be found in the next pages is useful for you. No matter what degree you’re doing, no matter what societies you’re interested in, it’s perfectly understandable (and normal) to be worried about coming to a city and university with such a massive reputation. Don’t worry though - Oxford is full of normal people like you or I, excluding the occasional Union hack (more on those later!). From all of us at The Oxford Student, have a great freshers! Charlie Bowden