So, You're Moving Into University Halls. Here's What You Need to Know...

This illustration was kindly contributed by the endlessly talented Hollie Startup. You can find her on Instagram at @HollieStartup to see more of her beautiful work!

Whilst the months leading up to results day may have dragged, the last days of summer have somehow passed us by as September has rolled around, and with that comes the start of a new academic term. If you completed your A-levels this year, September might not just be bringing a new term, because if you’re heading to university, you’re about to experience a new city, living in a new flat, with new people, and potentially studying a new course. Before those few sentences have sunk in and your brain has registered a total oh-my-god-I-can’t-do-this-PANIC moment, take some deep breaths, turn your nervous energy into excitement, whilst we break down the top tips for any shy or insecure gal taking on university living for the first time. We got you!

Moving into university halls is nerve wracking at the best of times, but if you class yourself as an introvert at heart then the experience might feel even more daunting. So far you’ve probably watched approximately 25 ‘what to pack for university’ videos and cried about leaving your pets around 300 times, so making the settling in process go as smoothly as possible is essential in what is otherwise an emotional time. So whilst some of the following tips might feel unnatural or anxiety-inducing, the first few weeks at university are arguably some of the most important when it comes to establishing friendships, sussing out your flat mates and exploring your new city …

Freshers:

Freshers is one of the most hyped up parts of moving to university, as a chance to let your hair down and bask in your new found freedom, whilst meeting new people and getting to know your flat mates. But if you don’t drink, tend to be shy in social situations, or have never been on a night out before, the attention given to these events can feel overwhelming. The size of your new city/town and the number of students studying there will determine the size of the freshers events happening during that first week of term, so its worth looking on your university’s website to see how many tickets will be available, as well as sussing out the different venues included in the bar crawls/clubs/outdoor events in advance if crowds tend to put you on edge.

Freshers usually happens within the first days or week of moving into your halls, so whilst everything is feeling fresh and overwhelming, it can be difficult to push yourself to go out if you’re homesick or anxious about these unfamiliar situations. Whilst there will be plenty of people that don’t attend Freshers, I really would encourage you to be brave it if you can, and go to at least one event during that first week of term. It can feel terrifying and unnatural, but this is the key opportunity to find friendships in your flat or on your course that might turn into the life friends you so often hear blossoming from time spent at university. Make sure you’ve got a killer outfit (treat yourself to something sparkly!), prepare some lines about yourself/where you’re from/what you’ll be studying, and put your best foot forward- you won’t regret it!

Your halls bedroom:

When the tearful (or relieved) moment that your parents or friends leave you in your new bedroom comes (having climbed what feels like 18352 flights of stairs with an equal number of boxes later), it’s normal to be left with a feeling of, “now what?”. It’s likely that this will be your first experience of living without your family, so try to have a plan in place for the first evening/next day following the big move to help create some structure in an otherwise unfamiliar environment. Maybe it means going and doing your first big food shop with your new flatmates, grabbing your phone and Google Maps to explore the city, or even ordering a takeaway to eat with your favourite Netflix show; setting yourself these small goals will hopefully add some control back into what might feel like an overwhelming experience. Whilst it’s good to have a plan, try to be open to spontaneity too. Pack a door stop so you can keep your room open and inviting to your other flat mates, because its these conversations and bonding moments whilst all in the same unfamiliar boat that might make the difference between finding your tribe and not.

Eat in the communal areas:

I love breakfast in bed or dinner in front of a long ‘watch later’ playlist on YouTube as much as the next person, but if you can help it, try and eat in the communal areas for the first few weeks in your new digs. Time in the kitchen, whether it be cooking or watching TV, is the main bonding time you’ll have between your flat mates in which you can all be together at the same time. Try to embrace this new routine for now and make the most of the opportunity for new friendships to be founded. If you struggle with disordered eating or feel uncomfortable cooking in front of others, try and make the effort to sit in the kitchen whilst others cook so you’re not missing out on this time! I’d really recommend approaching your university wellbeing team within the first few weeks, as they’ll have loads of advice and support for you in becoming comfortable in your flat and cooking around others. The charity Beat provide great support through their online chat rooms and can give advice for a number of different eating disorders and how they may manifest during your big move.

Social media is your friend:

Whilst IRL contact with your flat mates is super important, social media also provides plenty of opportunities to help you settle into your new home too. Most university accommodation and course departments have their own Facebook groups, so it’s helpful to have a browse online and get chatting to those you’ll be living with ahead of time, as well as your new course mates! Having a flick through profiles and messaging even a few of the people you’ll be spending a lot of time with can be so helpful when it comes to moving in, as you’ve got a friendly face to look for in an otherwise totally new environment, which will hopefully make the whole experience far less daunting! You could even suggest grabbing a coffee and walking to your first lectures together- whatever makes you feel most at ease!

Don’t be too precious about your kitchenware…

Whilst sharing is caring in so many other scenarios, it’s definitely not the case when it comes to the sparkly new kitchenware that your roomie decided to leave cheesy fries and a weird looking kebab on from 3 nights before. It’s so easy to get caught up in the little things (like the annoyance of seemingly everyone being so gross when it comes to cleaning) but in university halls, it’s important not to sweat the small stuff. Keep your patterned mugs and copper cutlery in your bedroom and try your hardest to not eye roll too much at the lack of cleanliness others seem to exude. It can be helpful to put together a cleaning and bins rota at the start of the year, but don’t hold out too much hope that others will stick to it!

Push yourself and have fun!

Whilst for the anxious or perfectionist students amongst us it will feel easy to get caught up in assignments and reading lists, try to embrace the new changes, opportunities for socialising and trying new things, because without sounding cheesy, you only get to live your first year of university once! Most university’s don’t even include the grades you get in first year within your final degree certification, so whilst it’s amazing to throw yourself into your new studies, don’t get too bogged down by the fear that you need to be in the library 24/7. Freshers and the first weeks of settling in will feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end of a pool that you desperately would rather be lounging by the side of, but trust in yourself and know that the responsibility free weeks of the first term of first year only come around once.

So enjoy yourself, push yourself and believe in yourself- you deserve to enjoy your new found freedom so embrace it with open arms!