Your first 24 hours when you get to university and find your student accommodation is incredibly important to the rest of your university life. That might be a little over the top, but it’s still pretty important. Here are some top tips on how to spend the first 24 hours in your new student accommodation…
Unpack your bags
Do this as soon as you can. Don’t leave it too late or you’ll end up doing what many students do and live out of your cases for weeks on end. You’ll also no doubt want to go and explore/start drinking as soon as possible, so best get the boring stuff out of the way first. Having all of your things unpacked will also help you to settle in and feel at home. You should even do things like hanging up any pictures or posters you’ve brought with you and putting on your bedding. You don’t want to stumble home later to find your bedding hasn’t been sorted.
Leave your door open
Unless you’re a particularly shy or private person then you’ll want to meet your fellow students as soon as possible, so whilst you’re unpacking or chilling in your room, leave your door open. This will let others know you’re around and encourage them to come and introduce themselves. Obviously don’t leave it open if you go out at all.
Go knocking on doors
This may fill some with unspeakable dread, but going and knocking on other people’s doors is the best way to get to know your fellow students. There’s a good chance they’re in the same boat as you and will welcome the visit. You could even help them move boxes and unpack if you want to be extra helpful.
Invite everyone into your room
You could try getting everyone on your corridor or in your house together in your room so everyone can meet each other and chill out after their hectic unpacking. This would be especially good if you have a place like this studio accommodation in London from Urbanest; people won’t want to leave! If your room is simply too small then try a living room or even the kitchen.
Leave!
Of course, you don’t want to spend the whole of your first day stuck inside, no matter how nice your new student digs are. Get outside and see your new city of London; find some shops, restaurants and, naturally, the pubs and bars. Find a supermarket too, as this will be somewhere you spend a depressingly large amount of time during your time at university. Go out as a group; heading out on your own may be a little daunting, especially if it’s somewhere you’ve never been before or you’re a foreign student.
Don’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with
The first 24 hours at university is a weird time and many people use their first real taste of freedom as way of going crazy, but don’t feel like that has to be you. Don’t feel as if you have to drink excessively or stay up all night just to impress your new housemates; if you’re uncomfortable with something then just say so.
Don’t panic!
It’s completely natural to feel totally overwhelmed about being at university and you may well feel very alone during that first 24 hours, but try not to panic. Just try and keep as busy as possible and meet as many people as you can and you’ll soon settle in. Your university will have advisors and plenty of people to help if you do need anything, whilst there are tonnes of information on the UCAS website.
