“I was really nervous before I started university because I lived at home and didn’t want to miss out on Welcome Week. I joined the Not in Halls Facebook group and created a chat with over twenty other people in the same situation, so we could arrange to meet up to go to events together. Some of the people I spent Welcome Week with I no longer see, whereas others are very good friends.
Reach out to people and don’t be afraid to talk to strangers!
Create Facebook chats before you start and arrange to meet with people for an activity, night out or just a drink or meal together.
You will be nervous, and it probably will be slightly awkward at first, but don’t let it stop you from going to places alone, you will meet people and they may turn out to be your best friend!
Sign up to a society, even if you just go once, see what it’s like.
As soon as Welcome Week is over, you’ll make loads more friends from your course too.
The Local, Commuting and Not In Halls Barbeque is a great activity for people in the same boat.
The themed nights out are very fun – get in touch with other people before you go out in the evening and arrange to meet up somewhere.
If you don’t get in touch with people individually, pop along to the night-time meeting point in the Students’ Union before a night out and get chatting!
Try taster sessions for a sport.