In the second article in our series of Freshers blog posts, experts in Salford and Liverpool student homes, Mistoria Estate Agents, give you top tips for a successful start to your university life…
Get Creative
When you move into your student accommodation (Mistoria Estate Agents have many Salford and Liverpool student homes available), start decorating your room. Put up photographs of friends from home, your family, your dog, your pet snail, whatever makes you feel happy. Put up posters and some plants, too. Having a room that isn’t entirely bare will help you feel less homesick. And don’t worry, feeling homesick is normal. Try and meet up with your new-found friends and go somewhere together to keep your mind off it. Don’t forget about university health and support centres for more formal help. You can also explore student mental health websites such as Student Minds if you’re really struggling to settle in.
Get a calendar and put it up in a prominent position in your room. The number of events you plan to go to can be difficult to keep track of, so record everything. You might also want to fill it with your lecture times too.
Work with your housemates to try and make the rest of the house more homely. Take this as an opportunity to organise how bills are going to be split, and how you’re going to share out cooking and cleaning rotas as well. If you decide to get a TV, remember to get a TV licence. If you don’t have one, but watch TV, you can be fined up to £1000. It’s not worth the risk.
Make Friends
Easier said than done, but it IS possible, even for the shyest person. Really try and make an effort to socialise. It can be exhausting, but it’s well worth it. Go to as many events as you can to meet more people. Don’t try and pretend to be someone you’re not; people will see right through that. But one idea might be to fake-it-til-you-make-it. Sometimes if you force yourself to be sociable and confident, that’s exactly what you’ll become. Consider joining Facebook groups with your future coursemates before you arrive. It can be a great way to start to make friends without the initial pressure of meeting people face-to-face.
Keeping Up The Friendships
Not all the friendships you make in Fresher’s will last; don’t expect them to. Don’t feel obliged to stick with the first person you meet. Yes, initially, linking up with one person to help you make more friends is a good approach, but you’ll quickly find other friends. Similarly, don’t get into a Fresher’s relationship with the first person who shows an interest in you. You’ve got three or more years for that; think of the huge number of other people you’re going to meet in that time.
Take Part in Fresher’s Events
Don’t lock yourself up in your room for long periods. You don’t want to be known as the hermit housemate. Make the most of all of the Fresher’s events the university puts on for you. However, don’t be that person, and drink to excess. You’ll just end up embarrassing yourself. Eat something before you go out drinking to avoid unfortunate occurrences. If drinking isn’t your thing, remember that alcohol isn’t the be all and end all of university life, and that there are many other options for you. Even if you do drink, don’t think you can’t join the non-drinking events. Sometimes a night off from the partying can do you a world of good. Don’t let FOMO dictate your life!
Fresher’s events aren’t just limited to partying. The university might organise tours and trips to cultural spots in the city. Go to these not only to make friends, but also to orientate yourself. You might also want to find out where your lectures are and go and find the buildings before term starts properly. That way, you’ll know how to get to your lectures on the first day, and won’t end up panicking when you can’t find a room.
Mistoria Estate Agents – Providing Excellent Salford and Liverpool Student Homes
If you’re still looking for Salford and Liverpool student homes for next year, Mistoria are here to help. We have a range of properties available in both cities. To find out more about what we can offer you, call 0800 500 3015, email info@mistoria.co.uk, or fill in the contact form here.
