Ask a Student
Posted by David
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Have you got any student living or university based questions that haven’t been answered on this site, or you simply can’t find an answer for? If so leave a comment on this page and I shall get back to you with the best answer I can or point you to the right post or people to contact! Note that comments are public, there will be people out there looking for the same questions answered as you!
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March 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Heya,
I’m going 2 uni in september 2 study nursing. whilst Im really excited I’m also really really nervous 2!!
For the past year Iv been living in staff accomodation, whilst working as a carer, so have experience of independence which I know will be good 4 when I move 2 uni. However alot of people I live with now are alot older than me (I am 19), and Im worried that I am going to struggle 2 make friends at uni! When I first moved here I was really friendly to every1 and bubbly as that is what I am naturally like, but in the end that went against me as people seemed to think I was being fake as I wanted 2 be friends with every1 instead of just 1 particular group!
Can you please tell me if uni is like this, or if one the whole people tend to be more friendly and open for making friends etc!!
Thanks,
Claire19
March 5th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Hi Claire19
Nearly everyone begins university without any friends so in the first few weeks of term everyone will be trying really hard to make friends and there is absoultely nothing wrong with being bubbly and trying to make friends with everyone, just make sure you make some good friends as well so you will have some people to live with in your second year.
Generally people do clique after a while as they settle down and making friends within student accomodation will become slightly harder.
The best way to meet new people is definately through clubs and socities where you share a common interest, they are also a great new way to meet new people, as it is likely people who join will also be wanting to make new friends as well.
Good luck, I’m sure you will have a great time!
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
All my flatmates seem to have friends who have joined with them. I go to parties but come home alone and when my flatmates go off with their friends they don’t include me and I am left alone. I have tried talking to others but they are not friendly and I feel alone and want to go home.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Hi Juno
Sorry to hear about your story. My only suggest is to stick with it, perhaps join a club or activity at your university.
Good Luck
David.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
iv been in the PGDE course for just over a month but i just cant stop crying….im from northern ireland and im ova in scotland and i just keep thinking that i cant do the course…that its not what i thought it would be like….plus im really homesick and i really miss my boyfriend…i keep thinking that i just want 2 go home!! please please help me cause i dont no if i can take nymre!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 pm
In working closely day after day with others, disagreements are bound to arise. ,
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Hey,
I’m not at university yet but I’m interested in budgeting my money properly so I can used to it ready for next year! I came across your spreadsheet and was extremely impressed, I was hoping to use it to manage my money before university but it’s protected?
Is there any chance I could have an unprotected version?
Thanks,
Liz
December 24th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Hey David!
I’m a prospective international student from Singapore (I’ve just received a couple of university offers) and I’ll hopefully be heading to the UK if my A level results (which get released in March) are ok. I’ve heard that British people tend to be somewhat reserved when it comes to making friends with foreigners, so I’m a little concerned about that. I don’t want to go all the way to the UK and spend all my time with people from my country because I can do that in Singapore anyway! What do you think I could do? I’m not a very sociable person by nature but I’m determined to make a lot of friends in university. I’m just not sure if that’ll be enough.
December 24th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Hi Adeline,
I think it very much depends on how much you try and who you talk to, certainly I know of some international students who seem to hang around with just each other, but then I also know of many international students who have fully integrated into british friendship groups. I think it will depend somewhat on the level of english you can speak, but also on the people you are put with when you go to university, what clubs you join etc.
Good Luck and Best Wishes
David.
January 27th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
What happens in self-catered halls when you’re sharing a fridge and a freezer? What’s the fairest way of claiming space or sharing food?
Thanks,
Liz
February 27th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Hi there,
I’m a first year student in University. I’m taking English as a major and History as a minor. I am struggling with University when it comes to handing in assignments… sometimes I hand it in late and sometimes I find myself hard to insert myself into the argument of the assignment. I made some friends in University, but we haven’t hung out outside of University, I see them around and we’ll talk for abit but other than that I just see them in University. I have my old friends from highschool but they haven’t been exactly the best of friends to me over the years and some we gone our seperate ways. I’m a very shy person and I sometimes I don’t know what to say to a person, I’m worried they might find me weird or I don’t know. I don’t know what to say to someone without having that awkward feeling. Tips? On how to motivate yourself to do homework, and how to make friends and dealing with awkwardness…?
Thanks alot guys.
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Hi,
I have a general question to anyone and everyone, as a first year student, or any year for that matter who has lived in student halls what is it that you run out of the most? e.g. toilet roll, beans etc…
Thanks
August 6th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Hi Paul,
Toilet roll will run out fairly fast, but the main thing that runs out is fruit and veg, milk, in fact things that go off fairly fast, and if you have a communal fridge your milk and butter will likely go faster than you could imagine! I’d keep the bulk if not all your food in your room if you can unless you fancy losing it to drunken mates or the person that continually borrows but never gives back!
Can’t think of much else, other than your alcohol supplies will likely run out fairly fast!
Good Luck
Dave.
August 10th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Hey,
I’m starting Sunderland Uni in September and I was really looking forward to it, untill I saw all the bad reviews it keeps getting.
I’ve applied to study psychology and I was just wondering, is the teaching, facilities and general atmosphere at Sunderland really that bad?
Pharmacy courses keep getting great reviews, but there are practically NO reviews for Psychology at all.
I’m starting to really panic about this :/
August 10th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Hi Emily,
I can’t give you any specific advice because I’ve spent all my time in Sheffield, but if you have been round the uni and the town yourself to get a feel of it and you think its OK then thats all that counts!
If you are worried then you need to talk to some current pyscology students at Sunderland if you can, failing that you can potentially always reject your first choice uni in preference for your 2nd if they will allow it.
Best of Luck
Dave.
August 21st, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I’d like to know if going to uni without any friends would ruin the whole experience :/ I want to go to London but i’m not sure if the lack of familiar faces would make me homesick, or would i make friends very quickly?
August 21st, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Hi Jess,
In some ways its probably even better to go somewhere where your home friends aren’t it gives you an oppurtunity to start a fresh and make lots of new friends. Making friends are university is quite quick within the first few weeks as everyone is trying hard to make new friends away from home! You may get home sick but if you are enjoying yourself and participating in some of the many activities there are on offer at your uni then you will likely not feel that way for very long.
Best of luck
David.