starting uni welp

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Reply 1

ultimatequeen

11

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Everyones in the same boat, don't worry about little things like making friends because more time it comes naturally especially if you're more confident and easy to get along with (:

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hi there,

These feelings are completely normal! Remember that everyone is probably feeling similar too. There's loads of opportunities to meet people - if you're staying in halls then you've got flatmates, you'll get to meet all your coursemates, and if you join any societies (which I strongly recommend you do) you can meet people there. It might not all happen straight away, sometimes it takes time to settle in and get to know people.

If it helps, I don't drink. I was worried as well about freshers but remember you don't have to drink. If you go out you can drink whatever you want and just focus on having fun. If going out isn't your thing then you equally don't have to - there's loads of society events during freshers, and it's not all going out drinking! Of recent I think a lot more societies are trying to incorporate non-drinking socials (at least at my university). I was part of a society that did bracelet-making socials, coffee mornings, plant pot painting, pancake brunches, coffee and ceramics socials etc, alongside nights out.

All in all, most people are nervous and don't know anyone either, and there will be others that don't drink as well. I'm sure if you just be yourself and focus on having fun in freshers week you'll have an amazing time! :smile:

Good luck in September! I hope this helps :smile:

Bethan
University of Exeter Student Ambassador

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hello, I’m a BA dance student from the University of Lincoln. My first piece of advice is… it’s okay to be a little scared! University is a massive change - from moving away from home for the first time, a kickstart on your career path and a whole lot of new information…. But that’s okay! University is a chance for you to grow as an individual and everyone is in the exact same boat. Starting for the very first time is actually the best part of it all- you can make your university experience exactly how you want to!
Freshers week is not all about bar crawls and checking out all the nightlife… it’s actually a lot more than that
It’s a chance for you to join societies, teams, clubs and any interests you have. This could range from sports teams, film clubs or even chess society. Don’t be scared to throw yourself into the deep end and sign up for things that perhaps are outside your comfort zone because you may actually love them and meet some great new individuals.
My last piece of advice is that don’t let fear stop you from being the best version of yourself. University can sometimes feel overwhelming and you can’t choose which direction to go in- but as long as your stick to your own goals and be yourself, you’ll never look back and you will make some amazing memories!

I hope you have the best time!

Abigail

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hey there!

Please don't worry about making friends, everyone is in the same boat and the majority of people share the same worries. My best advice to you is to push those worries aside as best you can. If you let your mind be overtaken by worries then those worries will overcome you and you won't even want to socialise through fear of the unknown. To make a solid set of friends at university, you've got to put yourself in the best position to do so. By this i mean, going out and participating in social occasions such as joining a society or a sports team. You don't have to go out and drink at university to make a good group of friends, you've just got to be willing to put yourself out there in other ways. If you feel like you struggle to introduce yourself to new people, try and take advantage of social media in every way possible before you go. For example, join all the freshers Facebook groups and join some groupchats. Get your name out there and make some good friends before you go. It might also help to meet some of your coursemates from these groups. By joining these, I'd already found a group of friends to sit with on the first day before I'd even gone. This was purely because it's easier to meet new people and spark up conversations over text than going up to them in person and introducing yourself.

Don't let yourself be pressured into things you don't want to do at university. There's plenty of other things you can enjoy that don't include going out clubbing and drinking. Have a look on your student union's website to see what events they're holding during freshers/welcome week. There's bound to be a societies/sports societies fair during the first week and this is a great place to go with your flatmates for something to do to bond. If you go in saying "I'm not going to make any friends" then those thoughts will start you off on the wrong foot. Try to relax yourself by speaking with other freshers and I bet you they'll have the same nervous feelings as you.

You've got this!
Lucy - Digital Student Ambassador SHU

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hi there,

I am a second year law student from the University of Kent, and I was in the same position as you two years ago. I am having a really lovely experience at my university and I cannot wait to go back in third year.

It is totally normal to be nervous and a bit worried, but take it easy :smile:

I know that moving to a new environment and meeting new people can seem daunting, but it really is not bad. When I went to University, I also did not know anyone else, I hope sharing my experience can help you. :biggrin:

Firstly, don't over worry yourself, as everyone will be in the same position. There are plenty of chances to meet people not just in freshers week, but also at society events, lectures, accommodations (anywhere really). I think a good way of meeting new people is to join societies, not only can you make friends, but also develop some hobbies.

Next is don't worry that you do not drink. I personally do not drink either, in fact I did not go to any drinking events during freshers week. (I still do not hang around places with alcohol much, and I think it is perfectly fine). I have managed to find my group of friends that I feel comfortable hanging around.

Overall, people coming to University really come from diverse backgrounds, and it is one of the best places to meet new friends and develop lasting friendships. There will definitely be a group of people that you get along well with, just be yourself.

I hope this helps :smile:

Chloe
- University of Kent Student Rep

Reply 6

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

14

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hey,
As the other reps have said, do try not to worry and don't be afraid. It is great that you are looking forward to uni and it is completely natural to be anxious - most students are for one reason or another.
When I started uni, I had moved to a different city, knew no one, was still 17 and didn't (still don't) drink. My advice is don't worry about not being a drinker, there is still a lot that freshers have to offer which I would encourage getting involved with. You'll have induction classes where you'll get to meet course mates, there is usually some freebies at freshers fayres and also come and try sessions for differnt societies. Try and not let fear hold you back and be open to getting involved with as much, or as little, as you want. I'd also say that whilst frehsers offers great opportunities it isn't the only time to get to meet people or join societies and so if freshers isn't for you, don't be put off reaching out and engaging with cubs at a later date and/or speaking to new people in your classes later into the semester/ years of uni.
Wishing you all the best and hope you have a great time at uni !
Catherine - University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hi there,
You're certainly not alone in feeling like this, I'm sure there'll be many other students in your exact position during freshers week. I didn't really drink for one but I still attended gatherings just to mingle but if you're not comfortable doing this, there are so many other ways to make friends. Get to know your flatmates, join societies and attend welcome events. I'd highly recommend volunteering at uni, if that's something you'd be interested in or even taking on a part time job. Don't panic if you don't click with anybody immediately, it took me a while to find people that ended up being my best friends at uni.

Hope this helps!

- Sophie

Reply 8

Chronoscope

Volunteer Section Leader

21

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hi!

As everyone else has mentioned, don't worry about being worried about making friends :smile:

There's many different ways like through societies, flatmates, your flatmates friends, course people, and through part time work (surprisingly this really helped this year just gone, because my flatmates were a bit antisocial). Another point about making friends, make sure someone sets up a group chat ASAP. This is especially handy for flatmates (if someone gets locked out) and one for your course :yep:

Definitely don't worry about the drinking side either (I think I lasted in the students union about 20 minutes :hide:

).

There were actually advantages to this as I didn't mind too much about keeping an eye out on my flatmates or whoever I was with. Personally, I don't drink because I don't like the flavour(s), but since I was curious, my flatmates would usually let me try a lil bit to see if I could find anything I liked but nope :rofl:

Usually, during freshers week, there'll be lots of activities you can do, can guarantee there'll definitely be non drinking ones :smile:

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hi there!

Please don't worry about making friends, remember everyone is in the same boat as you which will make it easier to talk to others.

Some tips on making friends:
If you are living with flatmates try and join your universities group on Facebook as this can be a great way of talking to them beforehand and maybe sorting that on the night you all move in that you get a takeaway and get to know one another for example.

There are other Facebook groups available to join as well just for your overall university and these can be great for just putting in a post about the course you are doing. I did this and was able to make a little group chat with people on my course which can be a great way of getting to know some people before starting.

During freshers week there will be a welcome fair where you will be able to see all the societies and sports teams on offer to join and this can be a great way to try something new or to join something you already have an interest in. These are a great way of making friends with a similar interests to you and means the conversation may flow a bit easier as well.

Don't worry about not drinking there are lots of different things during freshers that don't just revolve around drinking I know my university at some point this year had a mocktail masterclass as well. You can also put in these Facebook groups about not drinking and meet a lot of people like this as well.

Rebecca
2nd Year Geoenvironmental Hazards Student

Reply 10

University of Sunderland Student Ambassador

Official Rep

11

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Firstly, it's totally normal to be feeling this way about starting uni, it's a big change but remember everyone else is in the same position. Make an effort with your housemates and you'll get to know your coursemates over time too. Joining a club or society is a good way to make friends as you already have some common ground and eventually, you'll find yourself mixing with your housemates's coursemates and so on.

Freshers Week is essentially a week of events to socialise, not everything is centered around drinking so just focus on the ones that are suited to you. No one knows anyone in Freshers Week so try and arrange to go with your housemates or anyone you meet from your welcome week lessons and I'm sure you'll be fine.
A good tip for when you move in is to keep your bedroom door open and suggest putting the kettle on for everyone once the parents leave, again everyone will be feeling the same so breaking the ice early one will be good for everyone.
Good luck! :smile:

Reply 11

University of Winchester

Official Rep

11

Most people are in exactly the same boat at the start - a little nervous but keen to make friends. There will be loads of welcome/freshers events that don't include drinking so there's something for everyone. This goes beyond your first few weeks too - there are so many different societies, sports and extra-curricular opportunities to get involved in. My advice would be to be brave, get involved, say hello... the chances are someone else will be so happy to be chatting to a friendly face :smile:

Original post by Anonymous

hi guys, im looking forward to going to uni but I'm worried about not being able to make friends. i know that I'm easy to get along with but I'm just afraid I wont get to know anyone ahaha, I'm especially scared of freshers week because I don't know anyone and don't drink

Hi! Congratulations on getting into uni!
I know everyone says this but this is a completely normal way to feel, I felt the exact same way this time last year. My advice would be to just get involved with as much as possible, during freshers week there are plenty of daytime activities that don't involve drinking. Additionally, research what activities/societies your university offers, this will help you get exited about uni and hopefully calm some nerves.
I hope this helps, Faye :smile:

Reply 13

SawayamaFan

1

I feel the exact same and honestly, just fingers crossed we'll all find our people, is all. :smile:

Original post by SawayamaFan

I feel the exact same and honestly, just fingers crossed we'll all find our people, is all. :smile:

Hi there @SawayamaFan,

It's great to hear that you are starting university!

Please know that how you are feeling is completely normal as this is a new change in your life. Be assured that there will be lots of people feeling the exact same as you and trust me university is a really easy place to meet people and make long lasting friendships.

I'd recommend signing up to a society or club as it will allow you to connect with likeminded people outside your course. Freshers week has lots of events where you will be able to get to know your flat mates if you are staying in shared accomodation.

I wish you all the best, 😊
Sarah

starting uni welp

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