Making Friends

TOP TIPS

By Angela Griffin, Arc

What is the best way to meet new people at University?

The best way to meet new people at university is to put yourself out of your comfort zone and get involved.

There are hundreds of student communities that you can join depending on your passions, interests and how much spare time you have for extracurricular activities.

Whether you’re a social butterfly, someone who wants to give back or is keen to contribute to different initiatives across the campus – there is no shortage of ways for you to connect with your peers – both on campus or online.

• Some of the most popular ways to meet people include:
• Joining your faculty club or a club related to a hobby of yours
• Volunteering with Volunteers United, where you’ll be able to give back to the community while meeting people and having fun
• Join a program like the Wellness Warriors or Culture Café
• Attend events and activities taking place online or on campus – just keep your eyes out for the student newsletters, which will include info on upcoming events, seminars and activities
• Get involved with sport for all levels of skill and ability – we have everything from tennis to under water rugby at UNSW

Check it out on the Arc website: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/

I’m an international student and I’m offshore. Are there ways I can get involved virtually?

There are so many ways for UNSW students to connect, engage and participate online!

Feeling lonely and want to hang out with friends online? Look no further than UNSW’s official international student Discord. This Discord is a virtual community for international students that are in Australia AND overseas. Ask a question, find study partners and connect with others from your Faculty or even the same country as you!

https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/international/discord

You can also get involved in the UNSW SRC International Collective, a group of students who socialise and advocate for the rights of international students. Join the group by liking the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/unswintlcollective/

If you’d like to meet other students from your particular culture or background, join one of the hundreds of international and cultural clubs which you can find here: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/get-involved. Many of these clubs are running events online as well as in person and many have online Discords channels you can join.

How can I connect with students on campus, if I am commencing my studies overseas?

Starting uni offshore can feel daunting and isolating; however, there are tonnes of ways you can get involved and connect with peers on campus and around the globe.

If you are keen to meet and mingle with students on campus, we recommend joining a club and society as they have a strong membership of on-campus students and offer a load of online events that you can take part in.

Students can also sign-up to the Virtual Houses Program, which is an online (and free!) program that aims to provide students from across the globe the opportunity to connect, make friends and have fun.  All students are welcome to join UNSW Virtual Houses.

The Virtual House program is chaired by ‘House Captains’, all of which are based on campus and each House has a healthy mix of onshore and offshore students!

What are your top tips for shy / introverted students making friends at UNSW?

I, myself, was a bit of a shy student when I first came to UNSW but at the beginning of my studies, I made a promise to myself that I would join some groups and meet as many new people as I could. It’s the best promise I ever made.

Ask your friends to come along to clubs or other events with you. But even if you’re on your own, just go along! If you feel uncomfortable when you get there you can always leave and you will be so glad that you tried. But usually, club events are incredibly welcoming places. Clubs need new members to be able to build the community stronger and they will love to bring you into the fold.

If you are looking for some activities that are a little more structured so you don’t feel awkward going on your own, try signing up for volunteering program like Volunteers United, the Wellness Warriors or the many other programs found here: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/get-involved.

 

 

How can I get involved with clubs and societies?

You need to be a member of Arc to be able to get involved with the many clubs and societies on offer to students, so the first step is signing up! Once this is done, it is just a matter of jumping on the Arc website and finding a club that suits you.

You can find that list here: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/get-involved.

On that website you can join through SpArc, Arc’s online club community hub. You will also be able to find club Facebook pages where you can get all the information about upcoming events.

What are some tips for attending my first ClubSoc event if I don’t know anyone?

If you don’t know anyone at your first club event, you will be in good company. So many people go to their first club event on their own. If you are going to your first club event at the start of the year, there will be lots of others in the same position as you and often the events at the start of the year are set up to welcome new members. If you are going to your first club event later in the year, the club executives will still be incredibly welcoming. You might even want to consider messaging the club on Facebook before you go and let them know that you’re new and you’re feeling nervous about attending. Then the club can make sure they welcome you! 

But also, the best way to make new friends is to bond over shared interests. That’s why joining a club is the easiest way to make new friends at UNSW.

What is Discord?

A Discord is an online chat room. Think of it as an online common room where you can drop in at any time and chat to whoever is there at the same time. It fosters a sense of community especially when so many of us are still working or studying from home a lot more. Not all clubs or groups use Discord but many do.

What places on and off campus would you recommend are best for socialising?

On campus there are so many places to go. If the weather is good, there are so many lawns around campus that are perfect to catch some sun and sit with friends. The Quad Lawn, Library Lawn and Alumni Lawn are my personal favourites. UNSW also provides many seating areas with powerpoints so you can charge your laptop or phone and can study outside as well.

For a bevvy and a meal, head on down to the Roundhouse on lower campus. The vibes are immaculate and the food & drink is cheap AF.

Off campus I would definitely recommend wandering down to Coogee Beach. We are so lucky as a campus community to be situated so close to the beautiful beach and on sunny days, it’s definitely worth the walk. You can also head to Centennial Parklands which are situated near the Racecourse. These parklands are beautiful and can give you a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of uni life.

To see a movie, eat some food or go to a bar, why not hit up The Spot in Randwick. This is a cute little neighborhood just 15 minutes walk from most of campus that has a bit of everything for everyone. Try seeing a movie at the Ritz Cinema or get some cheesecake at Kurtosh.

What sport can I get involved with at UNSW?

Here at UNSW we are so lucky to have such a huge range of sports for all levels of skill and commitment. If you are interested in playing sport casually but you’re not sure you want it to be too competitive, try signing up for social sport. You can do this as an individual or as a whole team. If you’re more of a competitive player there are also plenty of opportunities to represent Team UNSW in National Games and other representative games.

Find the sport that fits you here: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/sport

Outside Arc, what other opportunities are there to make friends at UNSW?

There are also plenty of places to go outside of Arc to make friends. The best place of course is your classroom. Some of the best friends I made in my time studying was with people I met in classes because just by virtue of studying similar things, we were able to find connections. Try asking those classmates for a coffee after class or get lunch between classes.

UNSW also runs peer support programs for any student to join. You can sign up to peer support groups based around your faculty or communities such as students with disability, queer students and international students. Join a peer support group here: https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/peersupport.

What’s your top tip to make new friends at UNSW?

I would say just put yourself out there. I know it’s the most simplistic advice ever but it’s truly the best thing you can do. From the minute you step onto campus just make yourself a promise that you will try to join at least one student community. The friends I made in my first year at UNSW in a student group (for me it was the SRC Women’s Collective) are friends I still cherish to this day. If you’re feeling nervous about joining up just know that everyone in that group were nervous first years once just like you are.

As a postgrad, how can I connect with my peers?

There are so many opportunities for postgrad students to find community at UNSW. Try joining the Postgraduate Council, a group of UNSW postgraduate students who advocate for the rights of postgraduate students and provide an amazing array of events specifically for postgrads on and off campus as well as online. Some of the incredible events this council has delivered in the past include career development programs, thesis bootcamps and fun events like the PGC cruise and movie nights. Find the PGC here: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/pgc

 

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