Socialising at Uni

[guesty]

Hi people.

Im starting uni in a week and want to get the most out of socialising. The thing is, I won't be living there. I will be living at home, does this put me at a disadvantage?

[pill 'ed]

Having not been to Uni yet, I wouldn't know, but I don't see how that would be a problem?
You'll still get to socialise and make friends with people on your course, just try and hang out around the campus and in the SU bars e.t.c with people you start talking to.
Also you have Freshers week, which is basically there so that you socialise and make friends, whether you're living in halls or at home.

[Yerascrote]

How close is the uni to your home?
Do you have friends going to the same uni or already there?

The reason I'm asking is because the best way to meet new people is going out at night. I can honestly say that no strangers are going to come up to you during the day and ask all about you and if you want to be their friends...that's just weird, even in class people tend to not really talk much. At night time though, it's a different story, lots of drink and people mixing together is a good way to make friends, so you'll either need to live closish to your home to get a taxi or crash at a mates flat there afterwards.

You can also join clubs and stuff like that but I never saw the bother, too much going on in uni as it is nevermind joining the gymnastics club or some shite like that. :thumb:

[Calvin]

I would say it puts you at a huge disadvantage, however if your insistent on living at home your going to have to make the best of it.

At uni, people tend to get into groups early on, usually based on who is in your halls and what courses your on.

Most of the getting to know people happens on an evening in the pubs and in halls of residence. This is where people get to know eachother and become friends.

I honestly think people going to uni should live away from home (if possible) because the benefits outweigh the costs ten times.

If you are going to stay at home Johnny, try and join in as many clubs and societies as possible. Make as many friends as you can and be prepared to put yourself out even after the usually 9-5 uni hours.

:thumb:

[guesty]

cheers for the replies guys.

Yera: The unis really local. (almost around the corner from me) and I have a mate who did the same course as me going as well. I see what your saying about the going out at night meeting people. Never looked at it that way.

Cal: I would have moved away but I wouldn't think I would cope too well. someone did say that I would put in the extra effort since I won't be living there.

[icey]

Definate disadvantage living at home. People tend to organise nights out at the very last minute in my experiences (we're talking like 11/12pm here). Saying that though i lived at home last year and my uni is about a 20 minute bus ride away but i still got out and about and was socialising most nights but then i spent a hell of a lot of time at my mates halls, so much so that some even considered me a fellow resident. decided to move into my own place with some mates this coming year though, university is not just about the time you spend studying...

[phoenix24]

i'd say its harder but not impossible

you'll probably struggle to get anything organised in advance because, as said, students do it all at the last minute, and to be honest the best student experiences are those totally random things that you just spontaneously (?!) come up with - thats not to say you cant have a good time and socialise.

events you know people will be at - ie a televised sports match, won't get changed and you can be sure to socialise there. you can try to self-arrange things but like i said it can all be a bit last minute.

[purplebutterfly]

Get talking to everyone (on your course, who you see regulary around the campus) go along to the freshers fair and join up to a couple of clubs/socs, go to the Student bar! Get your friends to introduce you to their friends etc

If you are living at home but its pretty close to the uni/halls then you can still take part in spur of the moment activites. It doesnt put you at a disadvantage socially, but you just have to go about things a different way!

[Calvin]

If your living just around the corner from the uni, it makes things a lot easier.

Like tim said, uni isn't just about studying, I would say 70/80% of uni, is the social side. I missed out living in halls for the first year, and its my biggest regret.

Put the effort into making friends and showing your willing and the rewards will come.

:thumb:

[Sarah Lou]

Someone did say that I would put in the extra effort since I won't be living there.

Hi Johnny :wave:

I think this is probably true. It can be a little more difficult to get the most out of uni if you don't live there. That said, it's definitely not impossible and I'm sure you'll have the time of your life.

It is important to get in there early and really try and meet as many people as you can. Taking part in freshers week will really help. Check out our article on making friends at freshers week (http://www.thesite.org/workandstudy/studying/studentlife/makingfriendsatfreshersweek) for some pointers.

Good luck, and have fun! :)

S x

[Ilora-Danon]

From personal experience, it's a huge disadvantage. I'm commuting to uni and had my first induction day yesterday. I met up with 2 girls I met on YouGo, and ironically they're flatmates (complete accident) and it seemed they'd been out to fresher's stuff every night since they moved into halls.
I'm an hour's commute away, so it's not like I can just go out clubbing with them. Which sucks because I'm looking to make new friends whilst I'm at uni.

[Monserrat]

Definitely frequent your students' union, as that was the place where I met most of my uni friends. However, student accomodation is a very important starting point for social networking. You will miss out if you're confined to the house.

[Dear Wendy]

I'd definitely recommend one of the students societies. It takes a lot of time for people to become friendly in lectures and seminars, but societies for some reason are a lot more open and people from here would be obvious to go to the pub with after a society activity. And at the pub, just make the most to grab whatever opportunity there is to talk to people.

[I'm With Stupid]

Every uni flat has someone who doesn't actually live there, but spends all their time there. Become one of those people. It's a disadvantage not living at uni, but the thing about uni is the sheer number of ways to meet new people, so I wouldn't worry too much.

[Calvin]

Every uni flat has someone who doesn't actually live there, but spends all their time there. Become one of those people.

Ha ha thats so true. We had a girl who used to spend all her time at our flat, even though her own flat was over the road in the next block.

[Ricardo R]

You simply cannot make the very most of the university experience and university life if you're living at home. Late night coffee with students in your halls when you've got an essay for the next day. Spontaneous late night chats into the early hours after a night clubbing. Clubbing till the early hours and going back to halls/campus together. Getting ready together to go to lectures, sports training, clubbing and parties. One-night stands / relationships can be akward if you're living with your parents as opposed to halls or renting a pad with uni mates. The list goes on and on.

And I don't get how people are worried they wouldn't be cope with living away, unless you've got a disability etc. I was relatively immature at 18, had never been independent and had no problems moving to a different city not knowing anyone to begin uni. It is worth every penny of the extra cost of renting, easily affordable with a part-time job.

[Sofie]

And I don't get how people are worried they wouldn't be cope with living away, unless you've got a disability etc. I was relatively immature at 18, had never been independent and had no problems moving to a different city not knowing anyone to begin uni. It is worth every penny of the extra cost of renting, easily affordable with a part-time job.

What's have a disability got to do with it?:confused: You need to remember that not everyone is like you and not everyone's experiences will be the same.

[Bri-namite]

What's have a disability got to do with it?:confused: You need to remember that not everyone is like you and not everyone's experiences will be the same.

To be fair though, if you're in a wheelchair or have severe learning difficulties then it's not always just gonna be a case of packing your bags and off you trot to uni. I think he means sometimes there's extra consideration that needs to be made.

Saying that, most people do get nervous about leaving home but once they get there then they're fine. If you're not great with new people then it's bound to be a worry at first. I was shitting it when I moved six years ago, but within 15 minutes I was fine.

[Ricardo R]

What's have a disability got to do with it?:confused: You need to remember that not everyone is like you and not everyone's experiences will be the same.I meant, if people are dependent on others or have serious problems then moving from home may be more appropriate. Yes not everyone is like me, but as I was saying I was relatively immature at the time, still not too keen on venturing outside my comfort zone - not at all interested in backpacking around the far east or Latin America like most my mates have done, yet moving out of the house for uni really was no big deal, was such a good experience, and a good time to move so you don't end up still dependent on your parents as you become an adult.

Ahh, uni was fantastic :) still experiencing university life now going back there a fair bit, friends there, student nights now and then etc.

[Sofie]

Ah, now you make sense.

[Yerascrote]

Then again I personally know a girl with learning disabilities who's doing well in uni and she doesn't live with her parents. Not everyone's the same.

[I'm With Stupid]

Then again I personally know a girl with learning disabilities who's doing well in uni and she doesn't live with her parents. Not everyone's the same.

I think he meant physical disabilities where you might need things in the house altered for access. You can probably get these things at uni, but for some people it might just be easier to stay at home.

[purplebutterfly]

You simply cannot make the very most of the university experience and university life if you're living at home.

Bollocks. Yes your uni life may be different but you can still make a hell of a lot of it. Whats to say the OP is going to spend the whole degree living at home, they might just do it for the first year and then move in with some friends. Plus of you live that close to the uni you might not get uni accomdation either. I know a couple of people who went to a London uni and had to live at home in Sussex as they where classed as living to close to qualify for halls (it was a small uni and prioity was given to overseas students and those coming from outside the london commuter belt)

Some people arnt ready to fly the nest at 25, never mind 18! My brother still lived partially at home the whole way through his degree. To that extent you must not like anyone who still lives at home whatever the reason. I'm 22 and still live happily at home. Because I had the choice of living cheaply and being able to do all the travelling I want, or living away from home and not being able to.

[your-babe]

I'm living at home, I am concerned about making friends, however I'm not into drinking/clubbing, so I'm not missing out there. I already have a relationship, and living at home doesn't hinder that, so that won't change.