If leaving home to start university wasn’t daunting enough already, you’ll be surrounded by complete strangers.
Whether you’ve opted for cheap student housing or you’re staying at our student accommodation in Bolton, it’s only natural to feel apprehensive about who you’ll be sharing a bathroom and kitchen with for the next year (or more!).
But getting to know your roomies before you head off to university in September will help calm your nerves.
And as the only provider to be approved and recommended by the University of Bolton, we thought we’d offer a few top tips to help you avoid those awkward introductions on moving in day.
Easy ways to get to know your flatmates
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Find your student accommodation on Facebook
Thanks to Facebook, finding people who are on your course or staying at your halls couldn’t be simpler.
A quick search for the name of your university or your student digs should reveal whether or not they have a Facebook page. And if you’re struggling, details of their social channels should be included within your welcome pack.
Here at Orlando Village, we have a private Facebook group where you can meet people who will be staying at your student accommodation, determine whether anyone at your halls is on the same course as you, and start your own group messages.
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Start a group chat
From WhatsApp groups with the lads to family chats on Messenger, and Snapchat groups, we’re all inundated with group chats these days. But creating one more with your flatmates is a great way to get to know each other.
Instead of everyone bringing pots, pans, kettles, and toasters, group chats allow you to discuss what items you’ll need to pack when moving into your student accommodation in Bolton.
And once you’ve settled in, you can use them to arrange social events, like games nights or movie marathons.
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Use conversation prompts
One of the biggest concerns for university students is making friends with course mates and those staying at their digs. More specifically, how are you supposed to start a conversation with someone you’ve never even met before?
The trick here is to skip the small talk.
Topics like the weather and sports teams are tired and overused. Try and ask an open-ended question instead – one that’s easy to answer but requires more than a simple yes or no answer.
Another great way to get the conversation started is to ask their opinion on something. It could be their honest judgement on your new t-shirt or what shoes they think will go best with that killer outfit you’ve just ordered.
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Play icebreaker games
Icebreakers break down social barriers and are great for learning everyone’s name. By asking a series of light-hearted questions, they can be oodles of fun whilst helping people to relax.
The beauty of staying at our student accommodation in Bolton is that we have a communal building called ‘The Hub’ which is great for socialising. It includes a TV, table tennis, football table, pool table, and comfy sofas.
So, why not send a message in the group chat and get everyone together? It will allow you to get to know a little more about each other face-to-face, as opposed to chatting online.
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Make the most of Fresher’s week
Fresher’s week is packed with an endless stream of events – from parties at local nightclubs and/or on campus, fairs, and administrative tasks.
Think of it as your golden opportunity to break the ice with your flatmates, to find out what’s on offer in the local area, and experience the nightlife before your course starts. Because it won’t be long until you’re snowed under with coursework, staying late at the library to submit assignments, and juggling your social life!
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Cook together
At Orlando Village, our rooms are offered on a self-catering basis with access to a shared kitchen. In most cases, you will be assigned your own cupboard and shelf in the fridge – but it’s worth labelling everything for argument’s sake.
If you’re a master in the kitchen, you may bond with fellow cooking enthusiasts, share your recipes, and cook together.
Alternatively, if your culinary skills are scarce, and the best you can rustle up is baked beans on toast, you could ask your housemates for some tips on how to cook nutritional food?
Or, better still, you could ask them to teach you how to whip up delicious dishes and arrange sit down meals so you can get to know one another better.
And it’s only fair, whoever doesn’t do the cooking, food prep, or weekly shop has to do the washing up!
Are you prepared for university?
Follow these six tips, and you can’t go far wrong. You‘ll be making new pals and feeling right at home in no time.
Although you should have secured student accommodation by now, if you’ve left it to the last minute, we still have a selection of Bronze rooms up for grabs at our gated halls of residence in Bolton – just a short walk from the campus.
Starting from £99 per week, we provide all the basic amenities – including a single bed, high-quality furnishings, on-site parking, high-speed Wi-Fi, and laundrette facilities. And the best bit? Utilities are included in the monthly rent, meaning you can manage your student loan better.
To find out more about our availability, call 01204 903 488 or email info@orlandovillage.co.uk, and we’ll be in touch.
