I won't lie, probably not compared to other universities and I know in London, Kings is far better off in this aspect. It's a trade-off really, academically I find UCL extremely supportive and the pastoral care during this pandemic was good. Whilst you might not get that sense of 'belonging' and 'community' the only way is try to be as involved as possible with societies. These are really good at UCL and the best avenue for making friends.
In regards to money, I cannot stress how important it is to try secure a part-time job. Yeah first year is meant to be "fun" and working might be added time away from socialising. But I can't stress how ****ty it feels when you can't go out because you're in your overdraft.
Some cost saving hacks (which you may or may not need aha);
- Always predrink and make the most of it because drinks are spenny. There have been multiple Glens vodka days, but all I will say, the experiences I've had with Glens have been nothing short of character building.
- Try cop tickets early because early bird tickets are usually cheaper (popular events like Halloween can go to £50+)
- Be smart with your weekly shop, try not to be wasteful with food shopping.