The ultimate guide to making friends in Freshers Week

Most new students worry about making friends when they move to university. While it is true everyone is in the same boat, not every boat is the same. So whether you are an introvert or an extrovert – living at home or moving away, here are some of my top tips on how to make friends.

Start before you go:

Once you’re assigned your Uni accommodation you’ll get an email to join a group chat on Unibuddy which will have everyone else staying in that same accommodation in that group chat. Speaking online with those you’ll be living with before you all get to uni allows you to find out what you have in common. If you are shy around new people, this could be a good way of making you more comfortable when you move in, as you will already have topics in mind for chatting in person.

Lend a helping hand:

If you are one of the first people to move in, be sure to help out your flatmates. They are your term time family so treat them just as well as you would treat your actual family. If you help them when they need it, they will be sure to help you when you need it too.

Join a sport or a society:

With over 100 different societies ranging from Ultimate Frisbee to the Crochet and Knitting society, no matter what you like, there is guaranteed to be a society that you would enjoy. Joining a society allows you to spend time doing something you enjoy with other like-minded people. This is great for making new friends and with lots of inter-society competitions and activities, it is also a good opportunity to take a break from university work.

If your flat/accommodation has public spaces use them:

We all know the best way to watch your favourite movies and TV shows is in bed surrounded by snacks. But it is unlikely you are going to make friends at uni that way. Try spending some of your free time in your kitchen or living area instead. It is likely there will be people constantly coming and going so you can chat to anyone who pops in. Watching what you like in your shared space is also a great way of finding something you and your flatmates both enjoy.

Cup of tea anyone?

Whether your drink is tea, coffee, hot chocolate or even a cold drink, when you make yourself a drink ask your flatmates if they would also like one. It may seem like a small gesture, but it will give you a good opportunity to chat, particularly if your flatmates are spending lots of time in their rooms.

Bake or bring something to share:

The way to any students’ heart is good food. Bringing some food, be it home made or shop bought, to share on move in day can be a great talking point. Baking is also a great team building activity to help build friendships too so get creative!