Making friends at uni can feel daunting, even during Freshers Week. You’ve moved to a city you don’t know, armed with all your pots, pans and textbooks and ready for a new adventure. Now the first issue is – how are you going to meet anyone? Especially as many Freshers’ Weeks have had to move online.
Keep reading for our top tips on how to make friends at uni this freshers’ week.
Get out of your room
It can seem intimidating to walk into the kitchen of your uni halls for the first time, surrounded by a group of people you’ve never met before. But you can’t stay in your room forever! Take a deep breath and introduce yourself. Maybe even bring some cake as an icebreaker? You can‘t go wrong with that – who doesn’t love cake?
Go out with your flatmates
Although the club scene is pretty non-existent during the pandemic, that doesn’t mean you can’t carry out activities as a flat – as long as your group is no more than six). Go for a walk, explore the area, find cute Instagrammable cafes and spend some quality time together.
Get creative
Find fun and creative things for you and your uni bubble to enjoy. You don’t have to stick to the normal freshers’ events. How about a picnic, a murder mystery in your flat, a boozy board game evening? Although these may not sound the most thrilling ideas, they’re actually great ways to bring people together.
Online Freshers’ Week may be better for making friends than non-stop drinking
Student unions around the country have been prepping for an online freshers’ week as university will feel very different this year. Activities include yoga classes, virtual DJ sets, comedy nights, dance and cooking classes.
Some outdoor activities such as open-air cinemas and food markets are the perfect alternative to a boozy club night. Get your Pink Ladies jackets for that Grease rerun or bring a pillow to hide behind for the latest horror.
Get involved with a club or society
This is the best way to find people with the same interests as you. Like the finer things in life? Join the cheese and wine club. Feel like you were born for the West End stage? Join musical theatre. There are hundreds of clubs and societies in universities across the country. There’s a space for you to find the perfect people who are into what you’re into.
Ask someone for a drink
No, this isn’t a sweeping romantic gesture. Asking someone for a coffee or a gin and tonic is a great way to get to know someone on a more individual and deeper level. Making friends at uni takes a bit of dedication and perseverance. Remember, if someone says no, it’s ok, there will be someone else you’ll get on even better with.
Things take time
Don’t worry if you haven’t found your lifelong best friend in the first week. This rarely happens. There’s no magic formula to making friends at uni but remember to be yourself and know you’ll find your tribe eventually.
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