Meeting people
The first few days
When you first arrive at university, you are likely to be struck by the apparent chaos that surrounds you. Hundreds of new students, the majority of whom are unfamiliar with their surroundings, will be milling around, making frequent trips to and from the car park with boxes and luggage, saying goodbye to parents and family, and generally trying to get organised.
After the flurry of activity the families depart and the new students are left to unpack their belongings and prepare for the term ahead. At this point the atmosphere can become strangely quiet: people don’t yet know each other so may opt to remain alone in their rooms. It can seem like an anti-climax after a big build up but don’t worry; this is only a temporary lull.
As lectures will not begin for a few days this is your opportunity to get to know your neighbors and your new location. You will meet a great number of new people in the first few days at university.
However, it’s common for students to team up initially with people who they will rarely spend time with after the first few weeks, and everyone seems to ask the same questions about where you live and your course. Be prepared to repeat your stock answers endlessly with a smile as the settling-in process does actually work and eventually you will find your niche and establish your own group of friends.
Ways to meet people
One of the best ways to meet people is through activities provided by the Students’ Union or the University.
The Students’ Union offers a whole range of different ways to get involved in activities and you can find information about all of them here.
These include a vast range of sports clubs and societies. For sports enthusiasts there is a comprehensive array of team and individual sports for all levels. Musicians can expect the opportunity to sing or play their instruments in a range of classical and contemporary music societies, such as the Concert Band. There are societies for enthusiasts of film, the environment and many others.
If you don’t fancy committing to a club or society straight away, the Union now puts on a Give it a Go programme. These are one-off events, from rock climbing to knitting, that allow you to get a taste of the activity but you can just ‘Pay & Play’.
Many students opt to join voluntary community action groups, which benefit the local community. Projects undertaken may include running youth initiatives or offering practical assistance to the elderly. These can help you meet like-minded people and also give your CV a boost.
You might also want to consider becoming a course representative, or contributing to the student newspaper, magazine or radio station.