Catrin Lewis writes for Swansea University’s The Waterfront on the eight golden rules for getting to the end of your freshers year intact – and with that all important 40 per cent:

Oh, you freshers, with your shiny new student accounts and enthusiasm, eager to experience all that university can throw at you.

For many of you, this is the first time away from home. You’re anxious to assert your independence, and mostly this will come in the form of consuming far too much exotic-looking alcohol and being in pictures that you definitely won’t want your parents to see.

Now, I’ve been a fresher twice – yes, I made a Poor Life Choice (hereby known as a PLC) when I first applied to Portsmouth University, but I made up for it tenfold by switching to Swansea as soon as I could. So it is with my wisdom and experience of making some serious PLCs that I am here to guide you through the next year. I want you all to make a point of learning from my mistakes. Alternatively, you could make some even bigger ones so that mine look good in comparison…

Full article here.