Freshers: unless you caved in to the relentless Facebook promotion more quickly than I did, right now you’re probably wondering whether it’s worth shelling out nearly two hundred pounds to join the Cambridge Union. You’re also probably wondering about a multitude of other things related to starting university, but I don’t have the column inches to help with those.

Sticking to the Union, then, I’m going to weigh in with ‘probably not, actually’.

I personally haven’t got my money’s worth out of my membership and, especially in my first term, this wasn’t for lack of trying. If there’s anyone particularly famous – or infamous – scheduled to appear, you can forget about ensuring you’re free from 7pm to go and see. If your college isn’t central, expect to be clearing your diary from half-four, so you have time to speed-walk into town as well as join the impenetrable queue.

If it’s a very popular event, there’s still a chance you won’t get in and will end up watching it on Livestream with a bunch of people who aren’t even members but enjoy the same experience as you for zero cash. If last year was anything to go by, the speakers booked for the initial ‘open period’ non-members can attend are generally the biggest names of term. If you join after that and anticipate similar going forward, expect to be disappointed.

However, the reason I chose to become a member of the Union had little to do with the speakers and debates on offer. I joined because almost everything advertising Union membership described it as some variant on ‘the social hub of Cambridge’.

I know a lot of people who joined for the same reason; it would take an unusual level of confidence for an incoming fresher not to feel even slightly compelled to pay up, when the alternative is apparently exclusion from their university’s purported centre of social events.

For some people, perhaps the Union is the social hub of Cambridge. I haven’t met these people. Even friends who not only feel their membership was worthwhile, but also take active part in organizing Union events and debates, don’t see it as their primary source of social activity or friendship.

If your main concern about not joining the Union is that it will render you friendless and alone of a Thursday evening, whilst the masses flock to hear Lembit Opik again, you can rest easy in your bed.

All of that said, there are some of you who will really like the Union. That’s great. If you love formal debating, or you’re that person who was on every possible secondary school prom committee, I can see it being for you.

Just as you shouldn’t feel obliged to join the Union for fear of being left out, if it’s something you’re happy to spend the money on, don’t be scared off by miserly second-years writing articles for student newspapers, or the accusations of elitism that surround most Cambridge institutions.

I don’t mean to say accusations of elitism are unimportant or unfounded. But you shouldn’t take from them that you should, for whatever reason, discount yourself as someone whose contributions would be welcomed. Finally, those who do decide not to join take note: you can still frequent the Union bar without being a member. They do a really good daiquiri.

@ImogenShaw_otr