From making friends to managing money: Students' advice for this year's freshers

Starting university can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety, with many new students worried about the unknown. Current students, however, share practical advice for navigating these initial challenges.

“

I was sometimes terrified trying to strike up conversations, but the fact everyone was studying English together gave them common ground.

Making friends is a common concern, especially for those moving to a new city. Isaak Hewitt, who moved to Cardiff knowing no one, found that initiating conversations, even when feeling nervous, was key. He advises freshers to project confidence and actively engage with others, particularly coursemates met in lectures. For commuter student Grace Morrell in Nottingham, joining university societies like the student magazine, radio, and theatre groups provided avenues to meet people outside of typical hall life. Mustafa Dassu found WhatsApp groups for freshers invaluable for connecting with future coursemates and flatmates before arriving at King's College London, leading to lasting friendships.

“

A lot of my friendships come from putting myself out there and just doing what I love, which I found was a bit hard at times, especially when you don't know anyone.

Homesickness is another prevalent worry, with students like Izzy Garcez concerned about missing family time. However, she found that the reality of university life often meant making friends so quickly that extended periods without contacting parents became common. The rapid social integration at university can alleviate the intensity of homesickness, as new routines and friendships take hold.

“

Everyone was typing on them all the time between that period of results day and freshers' itself, and I met friends that I'm still in touch with a lot today.

The advice from current students highlights the importance of proactive engagement and embracing new experiences. While anxieties about social connections, financial management, and being away from home are valid, the university environment itself often provides ample opportunities to overcome these hurdles. The consensus is that stepping out of one's comfort zone, pursuing personal interests through clubs and societies, and leveraging pre-arrival social networks can significantly ease the transition into higher education.

“

Realistically, you'll make friends so quickly at uni, and you're going to get to a point where you realise 'I've not called my parents in a week', and you'll realise that s