Your accommodation at York is a big part of your Freshers’ experience as it’s where you’ll be living for your first year as an undergraduate. Therefore, it is crucial that you make the most of your time there and take advantage of all that is on offer.
Freshers’ Accommodation at York
Different people will have different accommodation, both on and off campus, but the principles are generally the same. You arrive, unpack (unless you’re already in the grips of Freshers’ week fever and you leave it in your suitcase) and decorate your room to your liking. Common ideas for this are indoor plants, posters and pictures of home. I went for a house plant which I later noticed was a really common theme in most of my flatmates’ rooms.
Then you meet your flatmates! This will be either an exciting moment or a nervous moment but the important thing to know is that everyone is in the same boat. These will be the people that you’ll be sharing a flat with for a full academic year, during that time you’ll have the opportunity to really get to know them and have lots of great first year memories.
What is a college?
The University of York has its own college system, meaning that it is divided up into a number of different colleges. At York we have 10 different colleges spread across both Campus East and West, each one will have its own on campus accommodation. A college is so much more than that though, a college is its own community of students. All students are assigned to a specific college at the beginning of the academic year, this is usually decided by whichever accommodation you’re offered – don’t worry though even off-campus students are assigned a college.
What does it mean to be in a college?
By being in a college you are part of a small independent community of students within the University. College life is all about that feeling of community and having that sense of belonging. The college accommodation at York is a bit like having little nations. They have their own name, logo and personalities. Each college has its own team for the variety of sports offered at York and they compete against each other. This is something which you could be involved with as it is a great way to get a hobby, stay active, meet new people, and represent your college. Or you could do it for the glory.
What activities do Colleges provide?
Different colleges will provide different activities. There will always be a large range of activities made available – this is so that there is something for every demographic. Examples of some activities we’ve had previously include Club Nights; Winter Formals; Mixers for people of similar interests; Movie Nights; Arts and Crafts and Quizzes. Sometimes colleges partner with YUSU (York University Students’ Union) to make activities that are widespread across the university community. An example of this is the Viking Raid which is a themed bar crawl that starts in the on-campus bars and ends in the city of York.
My experiences of College Life
So far, I’ve got involved with quite a few activities whilst being in Goodricke College. These have been across the year, not all in Freshers’ week. My favourite activity was when we did the famous York Ghost Walk. Unfortunately, we didn’t see a ghost, but we did see some spooky stuff. Perhaps you’ll be able to find one when you arrive!
Another favourite activity we did was a Pumpkin Carving Night.
My Tips for College activities
My first tip is to follow your college and the YUSU (York University Students’ Union) social media accounts. This is where you’re most likely to hear about new activities. You can also find out things like this by checking your university emails for the weekly college newsletter.
Another tip is to just have a go! Try and push yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new. You never know, you might be surprised and discover a new interest or make a new friend.
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