Things all York freshers will experience the summer before starting uni

From buying too much stuff at Ikea, to stalking your new flatmates on social media

2 months ago | UPDATED 2 months ago

This summer, as I approach my last year at University of York, I have been blissfully reminiscing on the scary but exciting summer before starting uni. I am so jealous of all you freshers who are receiving your A-Level results and have it all to come (god I sound old, when did that happen?)

There are at least five things every student-to-be experiences in the summer leading up to going to uni and it is a genuine right of passage at this point. Don’t stress x

1. The big Ikea trip

Late august, Ikea comes alive with anxious 18 year olds and their stressed parents tirelessly jamming as much stuff as possible into a trolley for them to take to university. In reality, you will only actually use 10 percent of that stuff in the trolley because, let’s be honest, what first year has ever used a lemon squeezer?

However, one foot into the door of the flatpack furniture heaven and parents suddenly turn into Bear Grylls and treat this as a mission to get you equipped for survival. To be fair to them, first year is very much like “Bear Grylls The Island” as strangers are forced to live together, no one has any money, no one knows how to cook, and at least two people will sleep together (its inevitable, don’t fight it too much). Could be Love Island as well to be honest.

After the most exhausting shopping trip of your life, you will sit down for some victory meatballs. This is when personally I felt like an interior designer with big dreams of making my room really individual, but really I was like every basic girl with fake plants, fairy lights, and a dream.

2. The TikTok deep dive

The summer before uni I could not help myself but constantly search for York student TikTok’s to get a sense of uni life. I wanted to see how fun it was to live in halls and if the nightlife was any good. It also was extremely helpful in distinguishing the vibes of the different colleges, as the most fun ones tended to have the funniest ones.

I’d like to thank all the students that came before me (especially those in Langwith) for making a fool of yourself on the internet to reassure me that university will actually be quite fun. Our TikTok is great for a deep dive into student culture, uni life, and everything popular here in York. If you see us out with a microphone interviewing in Freshers’ Week, please don’t be scared of us! We’re really nice, I promise x

3. Go on a weird ‘last night out’ with your home friends

This time of year makes everyone sentimental for leaving their home and home friends, so the only way to toast that is goodbye drinks. The night tends to start with polite conversation about everyone’s nerves and excitement for the big move, but quickly dissolves into you being extremely drunk and professing your love to them all and planning trips for them to visit that realistically you won’t get around to until second year. Just think next time you’re out you may have made your first ever friends at uni!

4. Join big Facebook group chats or Unify

I was embarrassingly eager and was a part of every sort of group chat you could imagine before Freshers’. It was tragic how desperate I was for some friendly acquaintances before moving to uni. However, it can be really comforting to talk to people in the same boat as you and find people similar to you. Most of the people I spoke to I have never spoken to again but if you’re reading this I hope your having the best time ever.

However, it was also very helpful with finding your flatmates when the flat allocations were released. Of course, eager little me was the one who created the first group chat for our flat. I was collecting flatmates like football stickers at that point. My advice would be that it’s great to put yourself out there, but maybe try to be a bit cooler than me.

5. Stalk your flatmate’s social media accounts

Now once the flat group chat is formed you can finally have a little look at what kind of people you will be living with. I really enjoyed trying to get the vibe of my flatmates and starting conversations on similar interests. I started a very awkward conversation about Harry Styles with one girl but now she is one of my closest friends. She bullies me about it constantly but I’m very glad I broke the ice.

I will say though first impressions on social media never really represent fully the person you will be living with. So go in with an open mind and an approachable attitude and you will have a blast.

To all of those who are hoping to join York in September, good luck and you will have a blast and find your people. Savour every moment as it really does fly by.