How to navigate the very first term of university: top tips from students

Heading to university can be hugely daunting, particularly if it’s your first time living away from home. From getting to grips with a new city to the challenge of making a completely new group of friends, Mariam, a former student at Edgbaston High School for Girls, gives us her top tips for settling into university life.

Have a pack of cards – and some chocolate – handy

Card games are a great ice-breaker. They’re really good at helping you get to know people and get closer to flat- or coursemates – and there are so many new games you can learn from all the people you are playing with. I learnt tons: Mafia, Spoons, Irish Snap and more. You may also learn different rules or names for games, which is a great way to get a conversation going.

It’s such a useful ice-break to have some chocolate – who can say no to it? You can offer it around to your flatmates and get a conversation going about what the best type is (Crunchie all the way…) – and it’s a surefire way to earn some brownie points too.

2. Have a bank of questions ready – and put yourself out there

When you’re surrounded by so many people, you may just want to hide away in your room, but don’t do this. Everyone else is in the same position and just as nervous, so try to stay in the communal areas of your accommodation to get to know people. If you are in your room, keep your door open (bring a doorstop!). This will help you seem approachable. Think about organising a pizza night or pancake morning (it can be really fun to follow a recipe together and try your skills at flipping pancakes, maybe debating which are the best toppings) with your flatmates – there are usually loads of discounts and takeaway vouchers available around campus.

When you first meet people at university, it’s useful to have a few conversation starters handy. These are the sort of questions you can ask to fill any awkward silences or when you aren’t sure what to say:

Where are you from? Where is that? How long was the journey?

What course do you study? Why did you choose to study it? What career do you want? What A-levels did you do?

Have you been to any freshers’ events? If so, how were they? If not, are you planning on going to any?

How are you finding the city? Have you explored the centre/seen any sights?

What’s your course like? How are you finding your lectures?

You will be asked these questions A LOT, so it’s useful to have some answers ready too. They aren’t particularly deep or insightful – yet they can lead you into some really interesting conversations where you can get to know people better.

3. Go to freshers’ events

There will be lots of freshers’ events, so make the most of them. Go to random ones; drag your flatmates and course-friends along – it really is the best way to get to know people.

Most societies host a free ‘give it a go’ taster session. Use these to try something you’ve never done before, like fencing, karate or even skydiving. If you can’t find anyone to go with, go alone – you’ll find some like-minded people once you get there.

4. Have a weekly budget

Plan how you are going to spend your money early on. You will need to put some of it aside for your rent (this usually gets taken out on a certain date each term). Split the rest of your money up between weeks to work out how much you have left to spend on groceries and activities. The average weekly budget depends on the city you’re living in (London, of course, is much more expensive than most), but a good ballpark figure is between £50-£100 per week.

An average grocery shop tends to be around £20 per week. Set aside £10 for public transport and getting around. The rest can be used for other activities such as a gym membership, societies, Netflix and Spotify subscriptions and meals out with friends. For nights out, plan how much you are going to spend or drink; go out with people who are responsible, and make sure you stay with them for the evening. You should never feel pressured to drink or go out – and if you are feeling uncomfortable, it’s always OK to say no. And remember, if drinking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of non-alcoholic freshers’ events to enjoy too.

5. It’s OK to feel lost

The first few weeks of university can be pretty intense, what with navigating a new campus, living with strangers and getting lots of new information thrown at you. It is understandable to feel lost. For most people, this is their first time having this much freedom: you can stay out as long as you like, drink as much as you want and eat whatever you fancy. So remember to ground yourself. This could be by talking to your flatmates or remembering to call your parents, siblings or grandparents. It’s good to have some familiarity and keep your support networks going. Establish a good sleep routine, try to eat nutritious meals and give yourself some me time – your body will thank you and you will feel much better as a result.

Universities offer many support services such as nightlines, anonymous conversations with a counsellor and mentors. These can all usually be found on your university’s intranet. It’s totally normal to need support, so if you feel like you do, then reach out. There’ll be no judgment from anyone.

6. And finally… be confident – and enjoy your time at university!

University is a place where you can be whoever you want to be. No one knows anything about you – so be confident, be social, but remember to stay true to yourself too. Don’t worry too much about making friends right away. Universities are huge places with thousands of people. Most of my friends now were not people I met during freshers – in fact, most students find their lifelong friends in the second term or even in the second year, so don’t panic. You will find a good bunch of friends you can rely on – even if it doesn’t happen right away.

Your first year at university will give you some truly amazing memories and friends. Live without regrets, be you – and just go for it!

Keep reading for some more quickfire tips from a group of students who have been through it all themselves. Here’s what they wish they’d known before they set off...

Don’t feel you need to join all of the group chats and forums before you go. It’s usually far better to meet people without having preconceptions about them.

Book tickets for freshers’ events – they sell out fast

Your first few days will feel incredibly overwhelming, but don’t stay hidden in your room. If you’re living in catered halls, make sure you go to dinner on the first night – even if it means walking in on your own. Remember, everyone else is in exactly the same boat. If you’re at a collegiate university, the college bar is a brilliant place to strike up conversation and meet new people

It’s perfectly normal that there will be groups of people who already know each other from school or home. Don’t feel intimidated by them – they’ll be just as keen to get to know new people as you are.

Decorate your room with things that remind you of home: fairy lights, family photos, your favourite pillow…

Have a plan. There’s so much going on during freshers’ week that it can be difficult to fit everything in. Go to as many events and taster sessions as possible – they’re a great way to meet like-minded people – but have a rough idea of the sort of things you’d like to try rather than attempting to do everything.

Say yes to as much as you can.

Go for a walk around campus/town with a few people from your halls/corridor/flat so you can get your bearings.

Most people will have a really exciting idea of freshers’ week in their minds, but it rarely lives up to expectations. Don’t panic – it’s an intense week of organised fun, and you’ll find your own crowd and hobbies in your own time.

The first week of lectures will feel like a huge step up from A-levels – but remember, everyone is in the same boat.

Don’t forget about academic societies. They’re really useful to be part of, and a great place to make friends with people on your course outside of the lecture theatre.

Don’t panic about finding your second-year house. Some universities encourage students to start looking for housing within a few weeks of arriving – which feels nigh-on impossible when you hardly know anyone. Whatever you do, don’t rush into making a decision. Even though it may seem like everyone has found a house, there will always still be something available once you feel settled within your friendship group.

It’s unlikely that the first people you meet at university will turn out to be your best friends, so don’t be disheartened if you feel like you haven’t met them yet.

Good luck – and, most importantly, have fun!

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How to navigate the very first term of university: top tips from students

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