Image: http://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/
Starting University for the first time is often a very exciting but nerve-wracking experience for new students. Luckily, most universities offer an orientation week (often called O-Week) to help new students settle in and meet new people. It can be really overwhelming at times because of all the information you are given and the social experiences you will have, so here are 5 tips to help you get the most out of each aspect of O-Week!
Finding your people:
- Don’t be afraid to go up to people and introduce yourself.
Many students will be feeling anxious about making new friends too. Some may have moved away from home, or may simply not know many people who chose to go to the same university as them. Because of this, people tend to be really friendly and happy to stop and have a chat in the line for some free food or at events like introductory lectures for your course. I know that in my experience, I made a few friends while waiting for food and we went on to go and explore the city together later that day!
If you think that you are getting along with some people you just met, don’t be afraid to ask if they want to meet up again later that week or to swap phone numbers so that you can keep in contact!
- Find a club or society that you would like to join.
Clubs and societies are a great way of meeting people with similar interests to yours. There are usually course-based, sports, partying, volunteering and even cultural clubs offered. Joining is usually free or doesn’t cost much, and will provide you with some opportunities to make some new friends throughout the year!
Image: http://international.curtin.edu.au/
Finding your way around university life:
- Take some time out of the socialising scene of O-Week to have a walk around campus or take a campus tour.
If you have access to your timetable, it can be a good idea to bring a copy with you so that you can try and find where your classes will be. You can also be able to do this with some friends that you have made during other O-Week events so that you’re able to catch up while helping each other to find your classes. Doing this during O-Week definitely takes a lot of stress off once classes start in Week 1!
- Do a little research into what services your university offers.
Sometimes, things can go wrong and you might need some support. Many universities offer counselling and medical services, academic help and legal advice for free or at low cost. Having a quick look over what the university offers will give you an idea of what help is available so that you know where to get help if you need it later on.
- Make sure you go to at least some of your introductory lectures!
Yes, I know that this is seen as the boring side of O-Week. However, you will find that you will learn a lot of useful information about your faculty or your course. For example, they may cover what to do if you need an extension, choosing subjects and important contacts. They are also an opportunity to have a chat to some people who are also in your course!
O-Week is a great opportunity to settle in and make some new friends before uni starts, so try and make the most of it! If you have any other tips for getting through O-Week let us know!
