The Handy Guide in Making Friends at the University
Universities cater to all kinds of personalities, so you don't need to be fearful about your first week.
You must inquire about courses on Life Tools. It should help you in coming up with strategies in handling academic pressure, as well as learning to respond to constructive feedback after checking your essay. If your preferred university doesn't have one, you don't need to fret about it (and look for another one). You can learn about it from your new friends. This one requires confidence and self-assurance, as not all people will like you. They don't have to. There are instances when it's not your problem, but you're unaware of it. Nonetheless, you need them during those challenging moments. You can't expect to call your parents at any time. (Your old man is busy with work while your mother is not done with the household chores.) There are many ways to meet new students, who can help you along the way.
Where to Find Friends
Look out for the buddying scheme. Some universities offer the buddying scheme, where a first-year student would be paired off with an older student. This arrangement should help the former in making the adjustment (to university life) quickly. If both students are enrolled in the English Department, the newbie would have few struggles in literary analysis and paper writing. It's a different case with Math and Science, but the outcome would be a lifelong friendship that the freshmen should be grateful for. The favor would be returned next year (or the year after next). It would happen to you.
The university provides all the support that you need. There's a student welfare team, which you should have anticipated before. Your mental health is taken care of, but you must not forget the other two. A financial support team does exist here, and it has nothing to do with getting together whenever most (or all) is short of cash and must survive on chips. It has also to do with student debt and how to deal with it. Someone would look at it as a government tax, but you can't worry about it for now. There are other issues, and not one is trivial. In this regard, your own department has its own counseling team. Don't run to them if you're suffering from writer's block.
Fresher's Week is there to help you. The crowd can overwhelm you. This is not the reason to skip Fresher's Week, which is made for the likes of you. You're not pressured to join a club (or society), as you only need to look around and decide afterward. You must look for like-minded people, who share your interests. You're way ahead if you're thinking of a club (or society) that will enhance your soft skills. It will be a good addition to your resume, but don't forget to enjoy the company of other students. You would need all the distraction whenever you're too tired from studying (or thinking about the coursework).
Your department organizes events for you. If you're an English major, you won't look forward to a reading session, which should help you in writing your next assignment. The activities will foster camaraderie, also build teamwork. You will need it, even if misery should force you to feign optimism. Your success would depend on others, who you should meet every day (or every other day). You might not be aware of the demanding nature of the coursework, which you would feel during the spring semester. You would know who to go to (after attending one).
Make your own. You can organize a study group whenever there's an upcoming examination, if not a discussion during Reading Week. This applies to literary students, but there are similar scenarios in other departments. This initiative should help you in expanding your network. Don't think too much about what you can get. It's about having a good time, even if studying is not fun at times. It would remind you of setting realistic expectations on what you're about to do. Encourage everyone to speak out, but don't force it. And don't give that impression that your opinion is better than everyone else. It could defeat the purpose of literary criticism (if you're a Literature student).
Being Fun is Not All Alcohol
As you can see from the above, you don’t need to attend parties in able to find new friends. If you can’t control your urges, especially on alcohol, it would be wise to pass it up. You can’t afford a hangover, as the unfamiliar surrounding would prompt you to make decisions by yourself. You must learn about the consequences (of your decisions) and live by it. This may sound hard, but no one is stopping you from attending a party or two. Think about your immediate tasks, and doing it would give you confidence. Consistency can be an issue, but you can count on your new friends.
