How I met my friends at university

This article was written by Fashion Marketing student, May.

Some people say making friends at university is easy and that you will find your 'people' before the first few weeks are over. This might be true for some, but for others, making friends takes a little more time. I want to reassure you that even though it might not happen in the first week or even the first term, you will find your way. 

Adrenaline runs high when you first join university, and everyone is eager to meet each other. Courses often begin with activities designed to help you get to know the other students on your course, and fresher’s events offer similar opportunities to meet new people. However, it's worth remembering that some of the friendships you form early on may shift as the year progresses. As you grow, explore your interests, and settle into university life, you may find yourself gravitating toward different people - or expanding your circle to include both old and new friends. 

Making friends when you first arrive at university

I lived in student accommodation at Maritime Studios in my first year, and my neighbours were the first people I met on move-in day. My biggest tip is to wedge your door open with a doorstop. This allowed me to say hello to my neighbours as they, too, moved into the building, and by the evening, we were all heading to the pub together. As we got to know each other better, we began travelling together to university and going shopping together, and these connections helped me settle into life at Falmouth. Living in Falmouth also meant that we could hang out at the beach together or walk along the seafront.

Join a society  

Student societies are an amazing way to find like-minded people who have the same interests as you. It can take a lot of courage to go for the first time, especially if you go on your own, but once you take that first step, it becomes easier, and you’re introduced to a whole new group of people.

At first, I felt a bit overwhelmed with the choice of societies to join, and I also felt anxious about going along on my own, but I bravely decided to join one, the Swift Soc. Despite not being a massive fan of Taylor Swift, I was made to feel welcome, and this led to me meeting lots of new people. The most important thing about joining a society is to let yourself have fun and to let yourself try new things; I still wouldn't call myself a "Swiftie", but I still really enjoy attending events run by the society, from nights out to crafternoons and I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to join. When you meet people outside of your course, it can lead to meeting their friends, too, and quickly, you can become part of a bigger group.   

Be open to new experiences

Being open to new experiences, remembering to smile, and being friendly can go a long way in making you more approachable. Over time, you will see familiar faces and begin to feel more at home. As the year went on, I built meaningful friendships - not just with classmates I could study and chat with during lectures, but also with those I spent time with beyond university, whether it was hanging out at the pub, grabbing coffee at a local café, or relaxing at the beach.