Your biggest worry is catching a Pokémon before your lecture. Musical.ly is everywhere. People are still saying “on fleek” with complete confidence, and someone’s definitely just asked if you’ve got Snapchat.
At least… that’s the vibe.
This year’s Freshers is getting the FULL 2016 treatment, because if we’re going to throw it back, we might as well commit.
Back in 2016, student life had a slightly different rhythm. Your week was planned around which club night you were heading to, bar crawls happened more often than they probably should have, and a spontaneous night out could easily turn into a story you’d still be telling years later.
Uber wasn’t around to save you either. Getting home meant trusting your journey to a random taxi driver called Steve or Kev and hoping they knew the quickest route back. Deansgate Locks was the place to be, Jägerbombs were somehow five for £5, and themed nights were taken very seriously. Tight & Bright, Anything But Clothes, Zoo Animals, Pyjamas in the Club and Baywatch nights were just some of the excuses to dress up and head out.
There was also the strange tradition of bringing home completely random souvenirs from nights out. Traffic cones, pint glasses, shopping trolleys… somehow nothing was off limits (although we definitely don’t recommend trying this one).
Even the little things looked different. Frappuccinos were the coffee order of choice, with the Unicorn Frappuccino becoming an instant icon. Getting ready for a 9am lecture could involve a full face of makeup, a dramatic crease cut and making sure your Snapchat filter was on point. And if your apartment kitchen windowsill wasn’t lined with empty bottles from nights out, were you even a student?
Of course, 2016 wasn’t just about the nights out. It was the music, the trends, the friendships and the random moments that made university what it was. Across the UK, student events were bringing in some unforgettable names (yes, even The Chuckle Brothers and members of S Club 7 made appearances), and if you were lucky, you might have caught someone like Becky Hill before they became a household name.
While we’re having fun with the theme, Freshers is still about what it’s always been about: finding your feet.
You’ll spend the week discovering campus, meeting people from all over the world, signing up to societies you didn’t know existed and convincing yourself you’ll definitely wake up for that 9am lecture. Somewhere between all of that, you’ll probably collect more free tote bags than you’ll ever need.
The Welcome Fair is the best place to start. It’s where you’ll meet societies, sports clubs and your Student Officers, pick up freebies and find opportunities you might not have known were there. Whether you already know exactly what you want to join or you’re just there for the freebies (we won’t judge), it’s the perfect chance to explore what student life at Salford has to offer.
The best advice? Say yes.
Go to the event even if you don’t know anyone. Try the sport you’ve never played before. Join a society that sounds interesting. Talk to the people next to you while you’re waiting in the queue. Freshers isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about giving things a go.
Because years from now, you probably won’t remember every lecture you had in your first semester.
You’ll remember the random conversations, the people you met, the last-minute plans, and the moments that made Salford start to feel like home.
So, dig out your best 2016 energy (leave the eyebrows where they are) and get ready for a week of throwbacks, new experiences and the start of something completely new.
We’ll see you at Freshers.
It’s a 2016 Freshers!