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Did anyone live in a shared house/flat in their first year instead of halls?

I am starting my first year at uni in 3 weeks and I have just found out I didn't get a place in university halls so I'm having to have to find private accommodation in a shared house/flat. I am really worried about this as I wont know the people i'm moving in with and it will only be like 3 or 4 other people. Was anyone else in this situation for their first year? Am I going to miss out on alot? Will the uni experience be different as I wont get to go to hall socials and wont be surrounded by alot of students? I am so worried about this, im seriously considering deferring my place :frown:

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Reply 1
Reply 2
which university are you going to? I think it all depends on who you're living with...
Reply 3
was in the same position last year, literally no need to worry

try and find a flat with students similar age to you and you'll be sorted, won't miss out
Reply 4
Original post by AnharM
which university are you going to? I think it all depends on who you're living with...


I'm going to Sheffield, and i have no idea who im living with yet... :frown:
Reply 5
Original post by iamu
was in the same position last year, literally no need to worry

try and find a flat with students similar age to you and you'll be sorted, won't miss out


That's reassuring thank you! The uni has said they will put me in a house with other first years but im worried i wont get on with them or that they wont want to go out and will end up not meeting new people...
I promise you won't miss out! It's all good, relax! You won't miss out on the socialising because you'll make friends! Take my word for it, you're gonna have a blast! You usually become good friends with flat mates as you live together :smile: if you really really feel upset about this, like you said, you can always deffer! Remember, students all over the UK are probably feeling how you are feeling :smile: But just enjoy the experience if now knowing who it will be, think of it as an adventure!


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Reply 7
Original post by hollywood1
I promise you won't miss out! It's all good, relax! You won't miss out on the socialising because you'll make friends! Take my word for it, you're gonna have a blast! You usually become good friends with flat mates as you live together :smile: if you really really feel upset about this, like you said, you can always deffer! Remember, students all over the UK are probably feeling how you are feeling :smile: But just enjoy the experience if now knowing who it will be, think of it as an adventure!


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What if the student house/private accommodation isn't on campus, and is quite far from the other halls? Wouldn't you miss out in getting to know more people and going out and stuff?
Reply 8
Original post by leahk
I'm going to Sheffield, and i have no idea who im living with yet... :frown:


I'm going Bristol, I'm in the same position as you, very nervous about who I'm going to live with...really don't want to end up with boring people. :frown:
Reply 9
Original post by hollywood1
I promise you won't miss out! It's all good, relax! You won't miss out on the socialising because you'll make friends! Take my word for it, you're gonna have a blast! You usually become good friends with flat mates as you live together :smile: if you really really feel upset about this, like you said, you can always deffer! Remember, students all over the UK are probably feeling how you are feeling :smile: But just enjoy the experience if now knowing who it will be, think of it as an adventure!


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Thanks :smile: I know im probably overacting a bit, I dont really want to defer, I'm really looking forward to going. I was just a bit worried as everyone always talks about how good the halls experience is and I have been looking forward to going to uni for so long, I just didnt want to miss out on alot. I am usually quite social so hopefully I will be fine :smile:
Original post by AnharM
What if the student house/private accommodation isn't on campus, and is quite far from the other halls? Wouldn't you miss out in getting to know more people and going out and stuff?


In that case yeah you would miss out a little bit, but you'd eventually make friends with other people when you start your course and what not. I'm trying to say their Uni social experience will still be fun!


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Original post by leahk
Thanks :smile: I know im probably overacting a bit, I dont really want to defer, I'm really looking forward to going. I was just a bit worried as everyone always talks about how good the halls experience is and I have been looking forward to going to uni for so long, I just didnt want to miss out on alot. I am usually quite social so hopefully I will be fine :smile:


Okay, good luck!!!!!! :biggrin:


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Reply 12
Original post by hollywood1
In that case yeah you would miss out a little bit, but you'd eventually make friends with other people when you start your course and what not. I'm trying to say their Uni social experience will still be fun!


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Damn :frown:
Original post by leahk
That's reassuring thank you! The uni has said they will put me in a house with other first years but im worried i wont get on with them or that they wont want to go out and will end up not meeting new people...


Well, Sheffield is nice! :biggrin: and it's really not worth taking a year out over, it will all work out. Even if you don't necessarily like the people you live with that much, be civilised, and then just go out and stay at your friends'. Plus, being with other freshers I don't think you'll have an issue anyway, because they're in the same boat. The halls aren't a guarantee that you'll be with people you get on with - in a flat of 10, I think we had 5 fragmented groups (between 1-3 people) that didn't interaction much/didn't get on.

The accommodation sites are huge, and seriously during fresher's week you can just wander up to Endcliffe, go into any of the blocks, and most of the flats will just have their doors open - some for a party, and some just to be generally inviting. You need to go and register and go to your department during fresher's week, so just try and find someone from your course and get their number and arrange to go over to their flat so you don't feel too "out of it". Nobody cares at fresher's, everybody acts like the 200 people they've just met are their new best friends :tongue:

You don't need to stick to other people - if you want to go out and do something, do it! The fresher's events are all designed to help you meet other people and break the ice a bit.
Reply 14
Original post by AnharM
I'm going Bristol, I'm in the same position as you, very nervous about who I'm going to live with...really don't want to end up with boring people. :frown:


yeah this is my worry :frown: I really like to get involved and be really social so I don't want to feel excluded from the uni activities. But im just planning on joining loads of societies, or just trying to be brave and going out on my own if my house mates dont want to go out :P
Reply 15
Original post by leahk
yeah this is my worry :frown: I really like to get involved and be really social so I don't want to feel excluded from the uni activities. But im just planning on joining loads of societies, or just trying to be brave and going out on my own if my house mates dont want to go out :P


Yeah I'm just going to be out for most of the day and hang out with others if everyone else is boring, and just come back home for studying/eating/shower :/
Reply 16
Original post by Nymthae
Well, Sheffield is nice! :biggrin: and it's really not worth taking a year out over, it will all work out. Even if you don't necessarily like the people you live with that much, be civilised, and then just go out and stay at your friends'. Plus, being with other freshers I don't think you'll have an issue anyway, because they're in the same boat. The halls aren't a guarantee that you'll be with people you get on with - in a flat of 10, I think we had 5 fragmented groups (between 1-3 people) that didn't interaction much/didn't get on.

The accommodation sites are huge, and seriously during fresher's week you can just wander up to Endcliffe, go into any of the blocks, and most of the flats will just have their doors open - some for a party, and some just to be generally inviting. You need to go and register and go to your department during fresher's week, so just try and find someone from your course and get their number and arrange to go over to their flat so you don't feel too "out of it". Nobody cares at fresher's, everybody acts like the 200 people they've just met are their new best friends :tongue:

You don't need to stick to other people - if you want to go out and do something, do it! The fresher's events are all designed to help you meet other people and break the ice a bit.


Hahaa thank you :smile: yeah sheffield seems like a really lovely social place so hopefully it will all be fine :smile: wandering into someone else's flat sounds like it could go a bit wrong but i will definitely give it a go, haha :biggrin: This makes me feel alot better, thank you!
Reply 17
Original post by AnharM
Yeah I'm just going to be out for most of the day and hang out with others if everyone else is boring, and just come back home for studying/eating/shower :/


Yeah as long as we keep a positive attitude and make the effort, it should all be fine :smile:
Original post by leahk
I am starting my first year at uni in 3 weeks and I have just found out I didn't get a place in university halls so I'm having to have to find private accommodation in a shared house/flat. I am really worried about this as I wont know the people i'm moving in with and it will only be like 3 or 4 other people. Was anyone else in this situation for their first year? Am I going to miss out on alot? Will the uni experience be different as I wont get to go to hall socials and wont be surrounded by alot of students? I am so worried about this, im seriously considering deferring my place :frown:


Yeah I love it for a multitude of reasons:

1. You don't have noisy neighbours 24/7
2. You can still do freshers etc but get the comforts of your house
3. When your course friends find out you live in a house and not halls they always want to come over
4. You feel more independent
5. You have a front room etc. and places to chill which some halls don't

Personally I just liked the independence, it was like uni but with a place to actually relax at the end of the day.
Reply 19
Original post by i-love-coffee
Yeah I love it for a multitude of reasons:

1. You don't have noisy neighbours 24/7
2. You can still do freshers etc but get the comforts of your house
3. When your course friends find out you live in a house and not halls they always want to come over
4. You feel more independent
5. You have a front room etc. and places to chill which some halls don't

Personally I just liked the independence, it was like uni but with a place to actually relax at the end of the day.


great thanks! :smile:

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