Will staying at home for uni really affect my social life.
Hello, I am starting uni of birmingham as a fresher in September. I originally wanted to move into halls for first year and then move back home for 2nd and 3rd, since my uni is close enough for me to commute. However, due to not being able to get more hours at work, my student loan being the minimum and my parents unable to give me any money towards university, I realised that I can’t afford to move out, or even if I could just about afford the rent and groceries, I would have £0 left for going out, societies, clothes, etc, and would basically end up miserable and broke. All the advice online is telling me that if you are a shy person then you are 100% going to struggle to make friends if you don’t live at uni, and as an introvert this is making me really worried that I’m not going to meet anyone. Does anyone have any advice about whether staying at home for uni will really affect my social life that much or how to make friends/connections, especially during freshers week, if you live at home. I am planning to join a society so I know that I could meet people there. I just don’t want to end up stuck at home during freshers week with no one to talk to and no where to go.
I'm also an introvert that stayed at home for my uni days.
Whilst it affected how I socialised, it didn't stop me meeting new people or going out. I just had to be a bit more structured in when and where I spent my money and time. I had friends outside of uni that I met up with regularly, so there was less focus on my classmates, (who I still made good friends from!).
So long as you still make some effort, (joining societies + not always dashing off home when you've nothing timetabled), you can still have a good experience.
Whilst it affected how I socialised, it didn't stop me meeting new people or going out. I just had to be a bit more structured in when and where I spent my money and time. I had friends outside of uni that I met up with regularly, so there was less focus on my classmates, (who I still made good friends from!).
So long as you still make some effort, (joining societies + not always dashing off home when you've nothing timetabled), you can still have a good experience.
Hiya im also staying at home for uni for September.I think it will only be what u make of it so joining clubs/societies, meeting up with people outside ur course and attending freshers events/welcome events will help you to make friends and socialise
Good luck tho i hope it goes really well for u
Good luck tho i hope it goes really well for u
It's worth keeping an eye on university groups/noticeboards for people moving out of halls and needing a replacement tenant.
Quite often you can negotiate with them to take over the tenancy but they cover the first term (even if you take over in Oct/Nov/Dec) which then makes it much more affordable (especially with the additional loan for living away from home) but also isn't ripping them off (they still get out of paying 2/3 terms rent).
Quite often you can negotiate with them to take over the tenancy but they cover the first term (even if you take over in Oct/Nov/Dec) which then makes it much more affordable (especially with the additional loan for living away from home) but also isn't ripping them off (they still get out of paying 2/3 terms rent).
It depends who you end up making friends with. I stayed at home for uni and I managed to make a great friendship group so I didn't miss out on socialising.
Hi there,
The best piece of advice i have is societies! I met almost all my friends through here and also discovered a new passion while at univeristy.
I know a few people who live at home during university and frankly i dont know anyone who hasnt made a single friend while there. While it may be more seperated when you first start - there are plenty of opportunities. You'll have freshers week with lots of activities to talk to people, societies and clubs, your course subject - you'll most likely have group projects which get you talking to each other.
I also know of people who lived in halls their first year and didnt really make friends with any of their flatmates so there is no garuantee that halls is the way to go. The key is confidence and keeping in mind that everyone there is totally new. Talk to any and every one because they're looking for friends just like you.
Good luck with everything!
- Sophie (uni of Bath)
The best piece of advice i have is societies! I met almost all my friends through here and also discovered a new passion while at univeristy.
I know a few people who live at home during university and frankly i dont know anyone who hasnt made a single friend while there. While it may be more seperated when you first start - there are plenty of opportunities. You'll have freshers week with lots of activities to talk to people, societies and clubs, your course subject - you'll most likely have group projects which get you talking to each other.
I also know of people who lived in halls their first year and didnt really make friends with any of their flatmates so there is no garuantee that halls is the way to go. The key is confidence and keeping in mind that everyone there is totally new. Talk to any and every one because they're looking for friends just like you.
Good luck with everything!
- Sophie (uni of Bath)
lots of good thoughts already
my additional suggestion would be 2 fold - (i) don't stress that where you sleep will have a massive impact (ii) do plan to stay around campus plenty (and get late buses home) to maximise your likelihood of success. I took an active role in a club (rather than just joining it) and got work as a Student Union minibus driver, which meant I interacted with lots of folks To save some cash you might want to cook food at home and bring it with you
My wife is very quiet, commuted (and only for teaching sessions), didn't join any clubs and mostly studied at home - she struggled
my additional suggestion would be 2 fold - (i) don't stress that where you sleep will have a massive impact (ii) do plan to stay around campus plenty (and get late buses home) to maximise your likelihood of success. I took an active role in a club (rather than just joining it) and got work as a Student Union minibus driver, which meant I interacted with lots of folks To save some cash you might want to cook food at home and bring it with you
My wife is very quiet, commuted (and only for teaching sessions), didn't join any clubs and mostly studied at home - she struggled
(edited 8 months ago)
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Should I choose my UCL accommodation or commute
- is it worth moving out for uni for this reason
- Living student life to the full, studying English and commuting to uni from home
- should I stay at home for uni?
- Stay local for uni & move in to halls?
- uni while living at home
- What uni should I choose (physics)
- university of edinburgh
- Commuting from Edin to UoG
- Popular at uni, but no friends at home.
- Commute or no?
- Regret moving out for uni?
- making friends at uni when you live at home?
- Is a 2 hour commute worth it
- Should I stay at home and commute to a London uni if I live in London?
- Lost and scared
- Commuting from Bristol to Cardiff- doable??
- 1 hour commute
- Home or Accommodation?
- Private Vs Uni Halls
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
Got a third in my second year and the highest I’ve achieved in third year was 55%Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
Got a third in my second year and the highest I’ve achieved in third year was 55%
