You’ve made it! It doesn’t matter if it was your first choice, or through Clearing, or you’ve made an absolute plot twist – your next big step is almost here.
The first week of uni is a lot. Exciting, brilliant, exhausting, overwhelming, maybe all in the same afternoon! We thought it’d be useful to give you a few tips and note some expectations, so you can be buzzing and a bit more confident to get your uni journey going.
Your Flat is Your Base
Invest in it! You don’t have to be best friends with your flatmates immediately, but it’s worth making an effort in the first few days. Knock on doors. Cook together if the opportunity comes up. Watch something in your shared space. These small things add up. Even if your flat isn’t your tribe long-term, knowing the people you live with makes everything easier – and can lead to friendships you didn’t expect, especially while you’re all figuring everything out still.
Go to Things, Even if You Don’t Feel Like It
Freshers’ week is full of events, and is cited as being one of the best parts of your first year at uni, but it can be tempting to skip things when you’re tired, anxious or overwhelmed. Honestly though, it’s worth giving things a go anyway! You can always leave when you want to, and we’re not saying make yourself feel uncomfortable, but the friendships that form in the first week often come from showing up to something forgettable, talking to someone in the queue, and realising you actually like each other.
Essentially every uni will have societies, and these are especially worth your time. They can cover anything; sports, interests, community work, down to a very niche level, so there’s likely to be an opportunity where you can connect with a likeminded group of students. The best ones meet regularly and will be talking in group chats, repeated contact leads to blossoming friendships of course.
Sort the Boring Stuff Early
It’s not glamorous, and might seem a bit self-explanatory, but getting your admin out the way can help you have a great first term. Set up your student bank account, register with a GP, figure out where your lectures are going to be, download any useful student apps.
The earlier you get the tedious stuff sorted, the quicker you can tick it off to your list and enjoy everything else!
Your Room is Yours – Make it Feel Like it
Trust us, we know what we’re talking about with this one! It’s the little things, but putting up a few photos or bringing your comforts from home can make a huge difference. A room that feels like yours is easier to come back to, rest in and invite people over to. Don’t live out of boxes, get settled!
You’re Allowed to Call Home
There’s a version of freshers’ week advice that implies you should be having the time of your life and missing home is a sign you’re doing it wrong. That’s not true. Most people feel homesick at some point in the first few weeks, even people who seemed desperate to leave.
Call your family. Text your friends from home. It doesn’t mean you’re not settling in – it means you have people who matter to you. That’s a good thing!
Relax, Give it Time!
Remember, above all else, enjoy your time at uni as you go. It might not click in the first week, or second, or even by Christmas, but trust us it will do eventually! The students who end up loving their time at uni are often the ones who stuck with it through an uncertain start and let things develop naturally. As long as you keep showing up you’ll get there.
Settling into your new room? If there’s anything we can do to help make your first week easier our helpful team are always on hand to answer any burning questions.
