Seven Reasons You Should Attend O-Week If You’re Starting University or TAFE

Hint: You’ll be able to figure out where your classes actually are.

If you have accepted an offer to study a course at university or TAFE, you’re probably kicking back and soaking up the holidays until the semester rolls around. You deserve it, after all.

In fact, an older friend or family member might have even told you that attending Orientation Week is pointless, and you shouldn’t bother to rock up until the first teaching week begins.

But here’s the thing: attending O-Week is a smart idea for a number of reasons. Not only will it help you ease into campus life, but afterwards you’ll also be totally across everything you need to know about your course. 

What is O-Week?

First of all, let’s unpack what Orientation Week actually is, considering you have probably already started receiving a landslide of emails about it.

Basically, O-Week is the start of your transition into uni or TAFE, generally occurring the week before the start of an academic year. You’ll see a heap of activities, music, food stalls and campus tours taking place.

A lot of events are not compulsory, and you’ll be able to pick and choose which ones you want to go to. On the other hand, you will be strongly encouraged to sit in on course information sessions or welcome lectures.

So, if you’re still tempted to opt for beach days and brunches instead of going along, here are seven reasons why you should reconsider and attend O-Week.

1. There are heaps of freebies.

Who doesn’t love free stuff? Nobody. You’re lying to yourself if you don’t want to get your hands on some free food, stationery, study planners or coffee vouchers. During O-Week, your uni will pull out all the stops to thank you for choosing to study there.

2. You’ll meet new people.

If you are worried that you’ll have no one to hang with on your first day of classes, O-Week is where you want to be. Fortunately, everyone else is feeling just as uncertain as you, so it’s the perfect time to strike up a conversation with a new friend.

Plus, if they’re studying the same course as you, it’s likely that you’ll share common interests.

3. You will avoid getting lost.

There is absolutely nothing worse than not being able to find your class on your first day. Given the size of most campuses, it’s all too easy to spend half an hour wandering around and completely missing your tutorial (this writer is guilty).

By taking part in a tour at some point during O-Week, you will avoid being late or having to make a mad dash across campus.

4. It’s an opportunity to suss out the parking situation.

University and TAFE campuses don’t always have masses of parking bays. If you’re planning to drive, Orientation Week is your chance to figure out where the best spots are. Additionally, you can find out whether your institution offers student parking permits or if you’ll need to pay as you go.

If you’re planning on catching the train or a bus, you can also check how far the bus stop is from your classes.

5. You’ll figure out which textbooks you need.

Course information sessions are designed to make your life easier. That’s why your teachers will go through important details, like which textbooks you definitely need to order. Textbooks sell out fast, so attending O-Week will help ensure you’re prepared with the appropriate materials.

Extra tip: Head to the secondhand bookshop on campus first before ordering new ones.

6. They’ll explain what a Census Date is.

Not sure whether the course you’ve picked is right for you? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. It is fine to swap courses as much as you want, but make sure you know what the Census Date is.

The Census Date is the point in the semester or study period at which your enrolment is considered final, and the last point at which you can apply for a Commonwealth supported place or submit a HECS-HELP/FEE-HELP form.  If you drop out after the Census Date, you may not get a refund on your tuition fees.

Again, this is something they’ll definitely go through at O-Week.

7. It will be lots of fun.

If you’d still rather give it a miss, maybe this will convince you: O-Week is super enjoyable! By immersing yourself in campus culture, you’ll start looking forward to the next chapter in your life. Isn't that enough?

Header Image: AntonioGuillem / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images