Top Tips for Settling Into University

Starting university will be one of the major changes in your life. You’ll suddenly be surrounded by new people in a new environment. To feel at home, you need to find ways to settle in.

Get to Know the Area

Familiarize yourself with what’s around by taking a walk or drive. Use the chance to explore as well as to note where key places are — like the supermarket, cafés, bars, and bus stops. This will prevent frustration when you actually need to find those places.

Visit Campus

Take a visit to campus before the semester begins to learn the layout of the buildings. This will avoid you feeling lost when you arrive. Find out where your classes will take place as well as where key places like the library are.

Find Off Campus Student Housing

Whereas living on campus does help you meet new people, it can make adjusting to your new life even more difficult. For instance, you need to learn to live in close quarters with a roommate and share facilities with a large number of other students. Living off campus will make the transition to university easier, as you can create your own space to call home.

Bring Some Personal Items

You should bring mainly just the essentials when you move; however, you will still need a few personal items to be comfortable. Think of ways to make your space comfortable after a long day of classes. For instance, a favourite cushion, framed photos, and posters for the wall can remind you of friends and family and help you feel like yourself.

Join Events

Find out about events organized by your university, the students, and the wider community. This will introduce you to people early on and show you opportunities to purse your hobbies and passions.

Create a Routine

Decide on a routine and make sure you stick to it. Plan things like what time you’ll wake up and go to bed on weekdays, how many hours you want to spend studying, and when you want to socialize. Make sure that you also schedule time just to relax.

Probably the most important item on this list is finding ideal housing. One of the best types of off campus housing is a bachelor apartment in Ottawa. Students can benefit from housing like 1Eleven, a community of bachelor apartments just for students. This is perfect for having your own space, never feeling lonely, and being near to campus.