SETTLING IN AT UNIVERSITY

It’sonly natural to be worried about making new friends when you start university.

Moving away from home and from the pals you’ve probably known for probably most of your life can be daunting, but the most important thing to remember is that everyone is in the same boat, and that means everyone is looking for anew friendship group.

If you areinuniversity accommodation, leave your door open while moving in. This will make it easier for people to approach you and will also mean you can see when everybody else arrives and be able to introduce yourself.

These arethe fellow students you will see every day,and whileit’snot guaranteed they will automatically become firm friends, being friendly and approachable will make abig difference.

Making everyone in your flat acuppa or having some biscuits or chocolates to offer around can be agreat way to break the ice. Whatever you do don’tjust sit in your room by yourself, make sureyou are giving yourself plenty of opportunities to make friends by attending activities around the campus.

Whether it’sthe kitchen or lounge, spend time in the communal roomsin your accommodation. Having acommunal meal is agreat way to get everyone out of their bedrooms and having fun together

Therewill be plenty of chances to meet other people through any clubs or societies you join. Joining clubs and societies at the start of university means you will have lots of chances to meet other like-minded people.

When you go to your first lecturemake suretosay hello and introduce yourself to the people sat around you.

Come up with some general questions to get people talking, such as what course areyou doing or wheredoyou come from? It may be difficult to take the plunge and start aconversation, but the person next to you will no doubt be feeling just as nervous. Rather than sitting in silence, be brave and be the one to make the first move. If it doesn’tworkout, then sit somewheredifferent next time and try again.

But don’tbetoo hardonyourself if you haven’tmet your next best friend by the end of the first week, thereisnoset rule that says you have to make friends straight away.

While alot of people say that university friends arefriends for life, this doesn’t mean they all met them during those first days. Give yourself time and friendships will slowly and naturally form.