Starting university can be a nerve-wracking feeling. Often, the thought of making friends can be scarier than actually doing so.
Student Nicol-Stella talks us through her experience starting university in a new city, and how they met their friends and got to know course mates.
"The thought of being somewhere new, sometimes in an unfamiliar city and not knowing people can be scary. I know this feeling well as I was in your situation three years ago.
What I found useful was the Facebook groups that the University sets up for applicants. There are groups for all subject areas, as well as ones for the University halls on-campus. Everyone on the groups is in the same situation as you, wanting to meet new people and make friends."
"Before I started my Forensic Science course, I joined the Facebook group and we ended up having a group chat afterwards. It calmed my nerves a lot as we were getting to know each other before we’d started, even making plans to meet socially.
There were people from all walks of life with a mix of ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. This was interesting as there were people I may not have had the opportunity to meet in different circumstances."
"While starting somewhere new and making a new set of friends can feel daunting, it is really exciting to get to meet people who may be your friends for life! So, join Facebook groups, chat to your course mates and take a look at the Students’ Union societies."
"When I first started, I made a conscious effort to chat to people wherever possible, even if it was just small talk. This can be easier said than done, but start by chatting to someone you’ve met through the Facebook groups or strike up a conversation with someone on your course.
Through doing this, I’d go out for lunch with my new course mates or grab a coffee on the way to another lecture. Here, you have the chance to get to know people that bit better."
"On my course I also met a girl who was from Cyprus like me and following this, she added me into a group chat with other Cypriots at the University. I got to meet many more people who were familiar with my home and culture, which helped me to settle in that bit more."
"While starting somewhere new and making a new set of friends can feel daunting, it is really exciting to get to meet people who may be your friends for life! So, join Facebook groups, chat to your course mates and take a look at the Students’ Union societies. There are so many ways to get involved in the social element of university."
