first year uni
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Hi there,
First of all congratulations on getting into Birmingham! I think it's very normal to feel anxious about going to university - it's a new place with new people, which can feel quite overwhelming. Try to remember that most people going are also in the same boat.
My best advice to help ease you in would be to get involved as much as you can during freshers week. There's usually lots of fun events going on and taster sessions for a bunch of societies. Going to these events is a great way to find like-minded people, and once you get to know a few people you should find your nerves calm a bit. You could even chat with your flatmates and ask to go to any taster sessions with them - it's a great way to meet new people, have someone with you that you know, and get to know your flatmates better.
During the first few weeks its also a great idea to get to know your area. What shops are around you? Are there any cool tourist areas? Knowing the area around you should help you settle in a bit better. On your campus it's also good to learn where key buildings are to avoid being late for lectures.
Once term starts, I would recommend getting a planner or diary and scheduling your deadlines etc. This is a good way to make sure that alongside having lots of fun, you're staying on top of your work and avoiding last minute panics.
If there were any societies you really enjoyed during freshers you should join them
You'll probably recognise a few people you saw during the freshers taster sessions.I hope this helps you feel a bit better, and hope you thoroughly enjoy university! Do remember it's normal to feel anxious and it may take a bit of time to settle in, but if you get involved as much as you feel comfortable with, you should have a great time!
Bethan
University of Exeter Student Ambassador
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Hello!
I'm one of the student ambassadors here at Coventry University.
I was in the same boat as you when I started university, and I have a few tips and tricks which I found really enhanced my experience at university, in order to make friends and build a support group.
My biggest one is take part in freshers, this is the best way to connect with people who are going through the same as you, and will most likely help break the ice a lot more..
Another thing is, if you're living in halls. They usually carry out activities in order to increase socialisation between people in the different blocks, this is a great way to build a support system nearby also!
Lastly, I'd recommend trying new things, or looking out for societies which may peak your interest, because these societies will not only have new students, but also older students who have been there for longer than you, and they will be able to share their experiences with you first hand!
I hope this helps!
The best of luck,
Courtney H
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Hi @randoperson26101,
Congratulations on getting into Birmingham!
Firstly, it is completely normal to feel nervous about going to university it is a lot of change at once for example potentially moving out, going to a new place and meeting new people. A great way I found for calming my nerves was talking to my friends about it and also just remember that everyone is in the same situation as you and wants to make friends.
Some tips I have would be:
1. If you are moving away try and see if you can get in contact with your flatmates and chat a bit to maybe make yourself feel a bit more comfortable about meeting them. You could also sort some freshers events with them and maybe on move in night order a takeaway or go for a meal. This will be a great chance to get to know them better as you will be living with them for at least a year.
2. There will likely be an induction week for your course which usually consists of an introduction and some icebreakers- which make it a lot easier to try and start a conversation.
3.During freshers week during the day there will be plenty of opportunity to join a society/societies and sport teams - I would recommend trying to join a society or sports team as this is a great way to meet someone with similar interests but don't be scared to try something new such as a sport as this is a great way of trying so many different things but also societies include all different year groups which can be a great chance at broadening the people who you can get to know.
4. Maybe think of a couple of conversation starters to make it a bit easier such as - where are you from? what course are you doing? what are you plans for the week? are you thinking of joining any societies or sports teams?
Don't worry if you don't find the people you 'click' with in the first week you have so much time and you are going to meet so many different people within a year so you will definitely find someone.
Just remember everyone is in the same boat as you!
Hope that helps
I hope you have the best time at university, good luck!
Rebecca
2nd Year Geoenvironmental Hazards Student
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Hi there
Congrats! Uni can be really exciting but its also normal to feel some anxiety. I remember feeling worried about making friends and moving away from home. My advice is to just throw yourself into as much as you can in the first few weeks. You can join your unis facebook page and find others who you will be living or studying with. This can be a great basis to getting to know people before you actually move. But please don't worry too much about talking to people beforehand as there are lots of events hosted by unis in the first week that encourage freshers to meet. There will also likely be a freshers fair with stalls advertising different societies. There are often hundreds to choose from and this can be a great way to develop a skill and meet new people. You can always go to a few taster sessions and then see if you enjoy them. As for friendships, you will likely find that they take time to develop so dont put too much pressure on yourself to find 'your people' straight away. Just be open minded and try and say yes to as many things as you can/want. Remember that everyone else will be in the exact same position as you and they too will be feeling nervous and wanting to make friends. Hope this helps
Best of luck!
Joanna
-Uni of Kent Rep
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Hey there @randoperson26101 !
Are there any specific questions you have? I can give you a broad overview but let me know if there's anything specific you want to know.
In terms of your classes, you'll have around 3 modules a semester. It could be different depending on your university but that's usually what to expect. For each module you have a lecture and a seminar a week unless it's a practical course then you may have some workshops. A lecture tends to be your lecturer talking at you about a different topic every week and it'll be a run-through, not going into much detail, where you can take down some quick notes or any questions you might have on the topic. Then you'll have your seminar later in the week which will be with a smaller group of your coursemates and you have your chance to ask questions and start group discussions. You can ask your lecturer to go into further detail based on the notes you made in your lecture and it's also the time to discuss your weekly reading. I definitely get on better with my seminar class because we spend a lot of class time together and have a lot of group discussions. That's a good time for you to chat to them and make friends because you'll end up spending a lot of time together during your time at university.
Moving into student accommodation is a great way to make friends and meet people whilst also getting your first experience of living away from home. Since you're going to be living with these people, it's a great way to bond because they're your support system for being away with your family. It's a good idea to go with these people and have a look round the city when you first move in. I imagine you'll be spending a lot of time together during freshers week. My advice is to not only limit yourself to just the people in your flat, I'd try and reach out to other people in your accommodation and make some friends. Your best way to do this is by joining freshers Facebook groups and from there you'll usually find separate groups for your specific accommodation. If you're into flat parties and joining other people for pre's then reaching out to other flats early is your answer. It's much easier to reach out over social media than to go round knocking on people's doors.
You can also join a society if you have a particular interest. It's a great way to meet people and gets you out the house a couple of times a week. It doesn't necessarily have to be a sport, your university has other choices to opt for as well. Have a look at your university's website at their welcome week events and sign up to the Societies and Sports Societies Fair. There may also be a Freebies Fair to have a look at which is exactly what it says in the name. Sports Societies typically have a sports night that every sports team goes out every week. It's a great way to meet new people and once again not just limit yourself to the people in your circle. If you want to make friends, your best way to do that is putting yourself in the ideal situations to meet people such as joining a society or living in student accommodation.
Hope this helped!
Lucy - Digital Student Ambassador SHU
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Hi! Congratulations on getting into uni that is such a great achievement!
It is completely normal to feel worried, I know I was feeling the same this time last year.
The best pieces of advice I received were;
1. Get involved with as much as possible - there will be loads of events (not just nights out) during freshers week and this is a great way to make friends.
2. Remember that you will meet people in all different places so if you don't become best friends with your flatmates don't panic, I didn't meet one of my now best friends until February!
3. Don't be scared to get involved with new things, I met another one of my close friends because she decided to join the dance society even though she had not danced previously.
I hope this is helpful and I hope you have an amazing time at uni! Faye
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
Hi there!
Firstly congratulations on your offer, this is a really exciting time for you! When it comes to making friends at uni, there are loads of ways to do this. Many people join societies when they join as this is a great way to make friends away from your course. During freshers week there will be loads going on as well so try and get involved as much as you can during this time! If your staying in halls this is also a great way to make friends, try having a look to see if your university has a facebook page where you can try and meet your flatmates before you start - this really helps to ease the nerves!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Rebecca
Original post by UCLan Student
Hi there!
Firstly congratulations on your offer, this is a really exciting time for you! When it comes to making friends at uni, there are loads of ways to do this. Many people join societies when they join as this is a great way to make friends away from your course. During freshers week there will be loads going on as well so try and get involved as much as you can during this time! If your staying in halls this is also a great way to make friends, try having a look to see if your university has a facebook page where you can try and meet your flatmates before you start - this really helps to ease the nerves!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Rebecca
Firstly congratulations on your offer, this is a really exciting time for you! When it comes to making friends at uni, there are loads of ways to do this. Many people join societies when they join as this is a great way to make friends away from your course. During freshers week there will be loads going on as well so try and get involved as much as you can during this time! If your staying in halls this is also a great way to make friends, try having a look to see if your university has a facebook page where you can try and meet your flatmates before you start - this really helps to ease the nerves!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Rebecca
Hi, im not moving out so how do freshers and that really work, i got into uob and there are a few societies and groups i want to get involved into but how?
Original post by randoperson26101
Hi, im not moving out so how do freshers and that really work, i got into uob and there are a few societies and groups i want to get involved into but how?
Hi ! I lived at home during my first year and still managed to get involved in freshers! During the first week you often have a few introduction sessions to your lectures and then there are freshers fairs around these times so you can sign up whilst you're on campus !
Rebecca
Original post by randoperson26101
Hi, im not moving out so how do freshers and that really work, i got into uob and there are a few societies and groups i want to get involved into but how?
Hello,
Even if you aren't moving out you still have the opportunity to do anything any other student would! You aren't isolated in any way if you do your best to join societies and get involved any way you can!
I was a covid affected student so the only people I had once tier 4 came into effect were my flat mates (which was only one person because the rest went home until third term). My only real option was online socialising. It was very hard but there are so many other ways to connect with people.
One question I would ask is how long is the commute to your university from your home?
Hope this helps,
Dom
Original post by Lancaster Student Ambassador
Hello,
Even if you aren't moving out you still have the opportunity to do anything any other student would! You aren't isolated in any way if you do your best to join societies and get involved any way you can!
I was a covid affected student so the only people I had once tier 4 came into effect were my flat mates (which was only one person because the rest went home until third term). My only real option was online socialising. It was very hard but there are so many other ways to connect with people.
One question I would ask is how long is the commute to your university from your home?
Hope this helps,
Dom
Even if you aren't moving out you still have the opportunity to do anything any other student would! You aren't isolated in any way if you do your best to join societies and get involved any way you can!
I was a covid affected student so the only people I had once tier 4 came into effect were my flat mates (which was only one person because the rest went home until third term). My only real option was online socialising. It was very hard but there are so many other ways to connect with people.
One question I would ask is how long is the commute to your university from your home?
Hope this helps,
Dom
its abt a 15 min drive, and i do drive
Original post by randoperson26101
its abt a 15 min drive, and i do drive
Then I would say make the most of the university facilities! A 15 minute drive is nothing and you'll be able to get involved in any freshers event you want. I have a 20 minute bus drive to university myself from where I live as a good comparison.
Hope this helps,
Dom
Original post by randoperson26101
hey so im abt to go into my first year at uni in september does anyone have any advice on what to expect, i dont have any friends goin into my uni, im going to uni of birmingham does anyone have any advice or anythin to help me feel a bit better abt it all
My brother just completed his first year of uni at Birmingham. He loved it. He regrets not having done more societies though. They're a great way to make friends so I'd recommend doing that. One thing to keep in mind is putting yourself out there right at the start. Everyone is starting at the same time, plenty of people are going to be there without knowing anyone and probably also feeling quite nervous so you're not alone in that. My brother also knew nobody that was going to Brum. It's a huge place I'm sure you'll find your people and have a great time!
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