It can be extremely daunting if you have moved to a city that you are not familiar with, as you likely will not know anyone unless they are from your hometown. Yet, Newcastle is your city now, and you will eventually call it home! It is not uncommon to hear of people you know dropping out of university and moving back home in the first few weeks, as they may have felt they didn't integrate well, or because they struggle with homesickness. If you're battling with this decision yourself, to give yourself the best chance, give the first week of uni and the weeks that follow your absolute everything - fake it until you make it. Put yourself out there!
An integral part of navigating first-week friendships in university is knowing that it is common for people to latch on to one another before they have found their 'core' group. Since everyone is scrambling to make friends, the connections you make might not last, but that is okay! Your flatmates are your first port of call for making friends, as you will likely end up spending your first night out with them. But in all honesty, there is only a 50/50 chance of being friends with your flatmates, considering it is pure luck who you are paired with.
The first week of university will undoubtedly be a week of developing a strong tolerance for rejection. But as the Geordies say, “shy bairns get nowt”!
The first week of university will undoubtedly be a week of developing a strong tolerance for rejection. But as the Geordies say, “shy bairns get nowt” (if you don’t ask you don’t get). One thing that you should try and build up the courage to do is message on your accommodation group chat and either offer to host pres, or ask if anyone else is. Nights out are, inevitably, a vital part of first-week friendship development, so when it comes to preparing for the first week of university, an try to get tickets in advance for freshers club nights, as they will be considerably cheaper. No matter where you go, it will likely be crowded, because most students will want to be out and explore the famous nightlife that the Toon has to offer.
Make sure that you go to your induction sessions; albeit they seem like a boring waste of your time, you never know if you future best friend could be sitting at the same table as you. When first meeting people, give them a chance to tell you a little something about themselves and return the favour - you could both realise that you both have a common interest. A hotspot for making friends during the first week of university is going to society and clubs fairs to uncover the plethora of groups that you can get involved with while at Newcastle. Taster sessions present themselves as the perfect opportunities for you to try something that you have always wanted to or find likeminded individuals to share your hobby with.
Every single day at the beginning of uni you will uncover more opportunities and events to put yourself out there. It feels as though, too quickly, cliques start to form in university, and that the longer you progress into the year, the more difficult it becomes to break into social circles. Yet you have to remember that there are thousands of people in the same position as you. Do not be your own barrier to making friends. Trust me, as scary as it is trying make new friends all over again can be, there is always someone out there who is going to be your friend - you just do not know them yet.