Gone are the days of asking your parents for permission to have a friend over. To help you find your feet, see who is up for the first fresher’s night out and remember that everyone is in the same boat – nerves are normal so don’t worry if you are a little shy. As they say, first impressions are really important, so smile and enjoy moving in.

Hygiene, or lack of

If you are a clean freak, do not fear, habits can be established within the first few days of moving in. Once you mention to your housemates that you would prefer to avoid salmonella, they will get the hint. However, there is always one person who is oblivious to standard hygiene practices. No idea who they may be? Then it’s probably you. Just spend a few minutes cleaning dishes once you have eaten and remove all traces of yourself from the shower.

Be careful when volunteering your house for parties. You will quickly learn that they could cost you (and your housemates) your deposit.

Parties

Your first fresher’s week is one to remember and the perfect excuse to get to know your new housemates on a whole other level.

On a side note: be careful when volunteering your house for parties. You will quickly learn that they could cost you (and your housemates) your deposit.

Squatters

Everyone is entitled to let friends sleep on the couch if they are stuck. But if they are using more electricity than you, happily taking your milk, eating your cereal and becoming a permanent fixture on the couch, it’s time to evict. Don’t be guilt tripped: these chancers will have found another couch by midnight.

Friends for life

Do not worry if you didn’t get on-campus accommodation. Living in a four-bed house that’s a 20-minute walk from college has its perks. Those walks to and from college and movie nights in are perfect opportunities to bond with your new housemates.

Be wise with your money.

While it may seem like every book on your endless reading list is crucial to your degree, chances are you won’t need to buy them all. Go to the college library, look online for PDFs or ask former students for a second-hand copy and give your bank account a break.

Stop asking people how they did in the Leaving Cert. It is over and it is certainly time to move on.

Get your bearings

There is nothing worse than being 20 minutes late to your lecture because you have no idea which building is where and why they all look the same. Take some time before the semester begins to wander your college campus and figure out what is going on. Find the sneaky shortcuts and best hangout spots for between lectures (other than the college bar).

How many points did you get?

Stop asking people how they did in the Leaving Cert. It is over and it is certainly time to move on. Yes, it has likely been your entire life for the past couple of years, but leave it in the past where it belongs. There are plenty of other small-talk topics out there, don’t worry.