Making friends when you first come to university can feel overwhelming, but there are lots of opportunities to meet new people. Let me share my four top tips.
When I applied to university, I was tempted to apply to the same school as one of my friends. I thought it may be fun, sharing another experience with people I had known so long. But, it didn’t work out. The universities that topped league tables for their course were lacklustre in my chosen field. We realised some of us wanted an intimate campus, others wanted a bustling city. One friend realised doing a medical degree meant she wouldn’t have time to go out clubbing, something I planned on doing a fair amount of. It was heart breaking to realise, but we needed to separate.
I was then left with a sort of sinking feeling. Who was I going to talk to? Who would I hang out with? Who would be my friend?
In hindsight, I didn’t need to worry. I love all the friends I met at uni, and can’t imagine my life without them. I’m even living with some of them in my second year, and I can’t wait! So, how did I do it?
It can be easy to cling to the first group of people you meet at university. You see them at a freshers' mixer, tell them your name, and start planning your wedding with them as bridesmaids. But I wouldn’t recommend this approach. These could very well be your new BFFs, or they could be people that you’ll never see again. Spread yourself out and try to meet as many people as you can, don’t just settle for the first people you find. Similarly, if someone gives you a bad vibe feel free to move on. You’ll meet other people, so don’t stick with people you’re not certain about.
There are so many different societies at university you’ll almost certainly find one you like the sound of. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people, and it’ll be easy to talk to them as you’ll already have at least one thing to talk about. I met some great people through going to societies and got some great experiences as well. Also remember it’s never too late to join a society. I didn’t join one of my societies until after the Christmas break, and I still made so many good friends there. I personally am a member of the Rowing Society, the Cocktail Society, and the Sign Language Society, so if you join any of those come and say hi!
Most accommodations have some sort of communal area. The kitchen, a games room, a study space, or something of the sort. Grab a book or your laptop and go study or pass time there. Someone will wander in eventually, and you can strike up a conversation. This is especially useful in the early weeks when people will be lonely and going in there looking for company.
If you get talking to someone cool in your seminar, as for their Instagram, arrange to get coffee and go over the work. Everybody will be scared to make the first move, and always remember the worst thing someone can do is say no. It’s better to have a few aired messages than be lonely during university. And most people will be grateful you’ve asked. They’ll also want to make friends, so most of the time you’ll get that coffee!
My name is Maddie, and I study English and Creative Writing and want to become a video game writer.
