Freshers': how locals can help the newbies

Worried about starting uni and making new friends? Well, newcomers – find yourself a local. And locals? Grab yourself a newbie. That way everyone can find an easy way to settle in, writes sUK member Hayley H. So you’ve spent the last 12-odd years of your life studying at school.

Same place, same books, same teachers - and quite possibly the past two years of college there too. Now the chance to move away and go to uni has arrived and the majority of people would leap at the chance. But if you still can’t force yourself away from home-sweet-home then maybe you’re more valuable than you think. There’s going to be shedloads of new people moving into your area, completely lost and confused when ta-daaaa! Here’s where you can help! There's a likelihood that if you’re staying at home to go to uni, you’ve grown up in the area – and you’re at an instant advantage. The idea is to study but everyone knows that socializing is just as an important part of your student life.Navigating around the campus may be difficult but around your home town? Never!

Visitor and uni guides may be packed with things to do in the area but museums and art galleries aren’t for everyone. Students who stay at home know the real place to show everyone. (Just remember to exclude the pub where you first got served and the alley where you had your first kiss - otherwise you may just attract weirdos.)

Here’s the super-friend-making guide to helping out all the newbies and guaranteeing your invite to those first term parties: Showing everyone the best of the area's nightlife and the places will go a long way. Not only will everyone be able to chill out a bit but it’ll allow everyone to get to know each other a whole lot better too.

Be generous enough to give people a glance at your bus timetable when they are stepping out, let them know the short cuts and give them a shout when it’s their stop, even if they aren’t single, fit and completely gorgeous. If you over-hear someone discussing the local dive as a possibility for the next booze up, speak up. It won't be too rude and, after all, they’d probably thank you for not getting them mixed with a load of weirdos and beaten up. Come on, it’s better to be safe than sorry remember!

Play matchmaker. As people start to feel home sick and lonely they’ll welcome being shown a fresh, off-campus destination to meet locals, and the local talent too. Just don’t try and off load them onto the nerd from year 7 physics who you still haven’t seen with a friend because you feel sorry for him! Most of all, make the most of it and try and have fun. The nerves are going to be there whether you’ve moved away from home or not but remember, everyone is going to be in the same boat so enjoy!

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