Students swarmed to Skegness last week to hear from a range of speakers about what their chosen career might hold.
The spread of topics on offer was broad but there was only one thing on most undergraduates' minds, the pre-reg year.
In much the same way as the famous old railway posters painted a picture of Skegness as a great way to spend a seaside holiday, so the delegates were informed that the pre-regyear may prove to be a little bracing too.
Those holidaying in Skegness run the risk of being sandblasted on the barren shores of the icy North Sea, but with the right conditions they may find themselves spending a delightful fortnight dancing along the dunes of the beautiful English coast. It's a mixture of luck and preparation.
Those embarking on their pre-reg sojourn must be aware that they could be starting a holiday in hell if they fail to do the groundwork.There are many Optician readers today who look back on their pre-reg year as a baptism of fire and on that front little has changed.
Our correspondent got up close and personal with delegates at the Butlins bunfight, just as with students from yesteryear the apprehension of the pre-reg placement remains undiminished.
Today's students' fears have also been heightened by continuous assessment log books under the changes in routes to registration.
What with finding the right supervisor, passing exams and finding a placement, it's quite a journey.