The huge number of people you’ll meet at university should mean you have plenty of opportunities to make friends. Nonetheless, you may not know anyone when you start university, which can be lonely. To feel at ease sooner, it can be helpful to start making friends before you even reach campus. There are a few ways you can do this.
- Join a Social Media Group or Create Your Own
Your university likely has numerous social media groups for various interests and majors. You may even be able to find one for your graduation year to connect with your future classmates. As well as chatting online, find out if any students near you will be meeting up in person before the semester starts. Either way, you’ll know people before you arrive on campus and can attend events together.
If there are no groups on your favourite platform or you don’t find anything related to your biggest passion, consider creating your own group. Even if just a few people join, it will mean you start the semester with some friends. - Find Unofficial Websites and Accounts for Your School
You may also be able to find students in other places online. For instance, websites for students may have a page for your school and you may like to check out websites for the local community. Although it may be more difficult to make connections this way, you’ll still gain a greater sense of what it will be like living in your university town and have some ideas of what you’d like to do when you arrive. - Take a Campus Tour
Take advantage of any tours and orientation events your school is holding before the semester starts. These can be great opportunities to talk to other students, ask questions, and feel at home on campus. Even if you’re shy, make the effort to speak to other people who attend the tour — they’re likely feeling much the same way as you. - Reach Out to Your Roommates
There’s no need for your roommates to be strangers on move-in day. Ask your student housing to provide you with the contact information for your roommates and reach out to them. In addition to sending each other emails, ask your roommates if you can follow them on social media to learn more about them. It’s also worth having a video chat or even meeting up in person, if possible. Make sure to discuss your expectations for living together and coordinate who will bring what to your apartment as well as getting to know each other.
Having roommates is a great way to immediately have acquaintances, if not friends, when you start university. However, it’s not worth sacrificing your privacy, which is the price you have to pay to live on campus. Your best option is to find nearby student housing. Peterborough has Severn Court, located just across the street from Fleming College. All our units have six bedrooms and two bathrooms — you can choose between all-gender or traditional same-gender housing. Apply now for an eight- or 12-month lease.
