Making friends at UNI

This has been worrying me a lot especially because I’m quite introverted and shy when I’m around unfamiliar people. I’ve never really had to make friends because I’ve been surrounded by familiar people all my school life.

When I went to secondary, I went to the same school as my friends and we continued our friendship from there.

When I went to sixth form, I went with one of my best friends from secondary, and I had people from primary that I knew and we just rekindled our friendships.

But I’m going to uni all alone and all of the people I know are doing different courses. I’ve heard stories of people never making friends. And I also know that some courses are full of mature students, who I obviously will not relate to or understand enough to start a friendship.

So please if anyone can provide me with tips and advice to how to maintain a social life at uni?

Reply 1

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

This has been worrying me a lot especially because I’m quite introverted and shy when I’m around unfamiliar people. I’ve never really had to make friends because I’ve been surrounded by familiar people all my school life.
When I went to secondary, I went to the same school as my friends and we continued our friendship from there.
When I went to sixth form, I went with one of my best friends from secondary, and I had people from primary that I knew and we just rekindled our friendships.
But I’m going to uni all alone and all of the people I know are doing different courses. I’ve heard stories of people never making friends. And I also know that some courses are full of mature students, who I obviously will not relate to or understand enough to start a friendship.
So please if anyone can provide me with tips and advice to how to maintain a social life at uni?

Hello!
I would recommend joining societies as these are a great way to meet people with common interests! I joined the dance society and as well as making friends I've had opportunities I didn't think I would get at university! You will also likely make friends in your accommodation as well as on your course! As long as you are a friendly approachable face I'm sure you will make lots of friends! You will also not be alone with this worry, it is common.

Hope this helps,
Lucy (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)

Reply 2

UCLan Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by anonymous

This has been worrying me a lot especially because I’m quite introverted and shy when I’m around unfamiliar people. I’ve never really had to make friends because I’ve been surrounded by familiar people all my school life.
When I went to secondary, I went to the same school as my friends and we continued our friendship from there.
When I went to sixth form, I went with one of my best friends from secondary, and I had people from primary that I knew and we just rekindled our friendships.
But I’m going to uni all alone and all of the people I know are doing different courses. I’ve heard stories of people never making friends. And I also know that some courses are full of mature students, who I obviously will not relate to or understand enough to start a friendship.
So please if anyone can provide me with tips and advice to how to maintain a social life at uni?

Hey Anon,

How are you? 😊

Please know that it's completely normal to be feeling this way as moving away to university is a big change. I'd like to assure you that at university it is very likely you will find friends who share the same interests as you. To help with this I would go into your first year with an open mind and try and speak to as many people as you feel comfortable with. You will have the opportunity to attend freshers week which is a great chance for you to get to know those you will be living with if you are staying in student accommodation. I really got to know my flat mates through freshers week and ended up moving into a house with most of them for second and third year.

As mentioned above, societies and clubs are a fantastic way to meet like minded people so I'd recommend having a look on your universities website to see what they offer and if there isn't anything that interests you, at some universities creating your own society can be an option. During freshers week many current students from various clubs and societies will attend a freshers fair so I'd recommend going along to learn more.

Almost everyone in first year will be in the same situation as you, they also will be looking to connect with others so I'm sure you'll make lots of friends. You got this!

Wishing you all the best and let me know if you have any questions, 😊
Sarah

(edited 6 months ago)