In this post, I’m going to take you through 5 things to look forward to and to expect when you arrive at university. It’s such an exciting time, but it’s always useful to know how your first few weeks and months will look!
1) Meet lots of people in the same situation
I was really nervous when I arrived at university, but I soon realised everyone else in my flat was in the same position!
At York, the collegiate system, in particular, has meant my college has felt like a huge community. The university is made up of 10 colleges, determined by your accommodation. Freshers Week was an amazing opportunity to make lots of friends in my college, and many are still great friends in my final year!
2) Lots of support
When I arrived at York, I was immediately met by so much support! At York, STYCs (Second and Third Year Contacts) help you move in and provide support and fun during Freshers’ Week. STYMs (Second and Third Year Mentors) meet your flat to give advice throughout your first year, continuing to help you settle in. Beyond this, there is lots of support for students in your college, your academic department and the wider university.
3) Opportunities to try new things – explore new hobbies
University is an exciting time to explore interests through societies. It all starts with Freshers’ Fair – an opportunity to sign up for societies – the weird and the wonderful! At York, there are over 200 societies including a travel society, photography society, and LGBTQ society! You can start searching for societies you might be interested in before you even arrive!
During Freshers’ Week, you can learn more about what you enjoy by attending taster sessions. I enjoyed going to taster sessions for Badminton, Rock Climbing and Ultimate Frisbee, before settling on Netball!
4) A chance to explore
One of my favourite things to do when I arrived at university was to explore my new home! It’s a really good time to find your new favourite café or a cool spot to hang out with friends.
At York, there are several campus bars, including Glasshouse in Langwith college, and D-bar in Derwent college. These are great places to meet other students, as well as to catch up with new friends. There are tons of places to eat and drink on campus.
5) Opportunity to be independent
Once you arrive at university, other than scheduled ‘contact hours’ (time spent in contact with teaching staff) you get to plan your own time. I love going on days out to the city, and working at the time of day that works best for me.
Starting university is a really exciting time, with so many opportunities to explore both your new home, and your interests! I’ve been having an amazing time at York, and have loved trying new things and being part of my college community.
My advice to anyone about to start university would be: enjoy the chance to make new friends and learn about yourself. And remember, there is so much support available to help you settle in!
Read more student blogs about settling into uni
