The thought of meeting new people can be very intimidating

There will be plenty of opportunity for you to meet new people during your time at university. However, the thought of meeting these new people might be very intimidating. This is where the first few weeks following Freshers' Week come in. It provides the ideal chance for you to network and meet as many people as you can. Of course, you will make friends all year long, but during those first few weeks, everyone is in the same boat a little anxious, a little disoriented. Moreover, I would suggest that to talk to as many people as possible because they are also in the same boat. 

As a University student you can do the following to meet new students/other students: 

• Join some clubs and societies

Coventry University Students Union do offer a wide variety of societies for almost every single weird and wonderful interests. Anime and Manga society? Sure. Sustainability society? Absolutely. Along with your more mainstream sports teams, drama societies, music clubs etc. If you have an interest, play a sport, or want to start a completely new hobby… visit your university's website and sign up! 

Clubs and organisations are the ideal way to make plenty of new acquaintances from throughout your campus who share your interests. They are also a great place to start any friendship. Additionally, it's a good idea to make an effort to form some friendships that are unrelated to your living arrangements. Living and interacting just with your housemates can be extremely demanding. By all means, if that's what you want to accomplish go for it. However, you will be able to meet more people and have some breathing room if you make more friends through organisations and societies: Societies (yoursu.org)

• Get to know friends of a friend

Extend your social network. My housemates and I would frequently get together or run into each other on a night out because some of them knew people from their hometowns while attending university. Many of these individuals, with whom I am still very close, I would have most likely not have met if it weren't for our "friend of a friend." 

• Participate in Reslife Events

Another simple way to meet new students is to attend all the Reslife events. For instance, if it is sports or cooking or trying something new. Futurelets residents can find out about events via emails from Reslife, the Reslife boards in Futurelets accommodations or social media posts.   

Living in university-owned halls of residence | Coventry University

• Studying on campus and living in University Halls 

Staying on campus to attend University exposes you to more students than staying at home. Familiar faces in the library or in your academic department can turn into flourishing friendships by studying together or grabbing a much-needed coffee break in between lectures. 

Find out more about meeting new people at university via Coventry University's website: Coventry University psychologist shares tips on making friends and transitioning to university | Coventry University