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Social differences?

Basically I was just wondering whether the social side of university is a lot different from that of college and high school? And if it is quite different, in what way is it different?

Hopefully going to uni next year and was just curious :smile:

Reply 1

adam_

Since nobody else is replying, you get the honour of my first post...

The social side depends rather on how you go about applying to universities. If you live at home, it can often mean you don't get presented with as many opportunities to socialise early on, whereas if you move away (and i highly recommend it) you are forced to meet new people and make great new friends!

I started studying at the University of Manchester this year, moving here (from Nottingham, so only an hour and half away) was for me the right thing to do. I fancied a change and I wanted to meet new people.

I have found University to be the ultimate social and academic leveller, nobody at uni cares what you were like at college, and nobody is bothered how much cash you have or how many a levels. The feeling in my hall certainly is that we are all very much in it together!

You meet a second set of people too, those who are on your course! I have never been surrounded by so many people with similar interests to me when at Uni, its absolutely great! You can learn a lot from other people too!

Eventually groups will form etc, and people have to start worrying about homes for next year, but that will sort itself out nearer the time!

Good luck with your application process, and if you have any other questions about the social side, please feel free to msg.

Reply 2

xxxchrisxxx

at college, people are quite concerned about being cool. not so much at uni. if you make the effort, you'll find friends. otherwise, you won't.

Reply 3

Lolly-88

I find it exactly the same....except people drink more.

exactly the same.

You do need to make an effort, otherwise you'll find it easy to just disappear into the background...

I find people here are more open towards me, and less likely to say nasty things. :smile:

Reply 6

oxymoronic

i've been here 2 years and its no different to college... the only difference is that i live here. maybe if i had come from school it would have been different, as my college was very very uni like in the way it opperated (we had lectures, we didn't really have registers, if you needed any help you had to ask for it etc)... but no, I feel as though I've been at uni for 4 years rather than 2, as doing GCSEs was the last time I felt as though I was in a kid/school environment.

With the social differences thing though it depends what uni you go to, and what your life is like normally. If you're from a wealthy, private school background you will face different 'social issues' than someone from a council estate. Similarly, if you're at a top uni, life will be different to if you're at a lower down one... I've found that being at Edinburgh has given me friends who have lives I can't even imagine, and I never realised that money could create so many divides. Well I did realise it, but not how much it would effect me. I have a lot of friends who have a much bigger disposable income than I do, and as a result they have different outlooks and agendas for rent, bills, food, going out etc, which can sometimes cause problems but generally its fine.

Reply 7

Cj-Tj

Also, there are no parents arround, this works great until you get home for christmas and mum says you cant go out Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday every week!! My parents disagree with my body clock moving from 8am-11pm, to 11am-3am!!