To go to university I moved from a small town near Durham to York. I currently live in YSJ student accommodation called The Grange. It is a housing estate style area which allows for a close community atmosphere (which is exactly what you need when moving away from the comforts of home).
The idea of University accommodation can trigger a mix of emotions, however it is important to remember that everyone is new and that everyone is probably feeling the same.
Top Tips for moving out!
- Find your flatmates!
Moving out can be incredibly difficult, especially when you’re moving in with complete strangers. Nowadays, we are able to use social media platforms such as Facebook to find people that we are living with. Obviously it is not essential to do this but I found that it made me feel more confident about moving out as I was already aware of some of the people I was going to be living with. Speaking to them before move in day also opens opportunities for meeting up and making plans for freshers week!
2. Kitchen stuff!
The amount of things I bought before moving in was a bit obsessive (I’ve still not used any of my pans) however I think a useful tip when buying your cutlery and plates is to buy ones that are easily recognizable. This just means that there will be little confusion when sharing your things, for example, my cutlery have hearts on the handles and my plates are bright red. Also, when it comes to moving out at the end of the year, you’ll be able to pack up your things and move them to your new home.
3. Communication!
Although you may think that you’ll see your flatmates all the time, this isn’t necessarily the case. Communication is key when it comes to living in student accommodation as it keeps everyone up to date on whats happening in the flat, cleaning rotas and everyone’s safety. Whether this is through a group chat or even a white board in communal areas allows for plans to be made between everyone’s busy uni schedule.
4. Make you room feel like home!
Moving into your uni room is quite overwhelming. Everything is different and quite scary. I found that having photos printed using the app Free Prints allowed me to feel more comfortable and to make my room actually feel like its mine. Another thing I would suggest getting is an air freshener. Obviously university accommodation is cleaned before you move in, however it does help to purchase an air freshener in order to make the room feel more comfortable and cosy.
