Starting university without knowing anyone there

[Cayteelin]

What's it like making new friends and such? I'm thinking about orientation week, seeing as I'll be turning up by myself - are people willing to talk to you, are there others alone, or is it mostly groups of people who already know each other?

Sorry if there's already similar threads to this.. I just couldn't find anything, and I'm a tad nervous just looking for people to share their experiences!

[Russ]

Yes, of course. Majority of people will be in the same situation - I knew nobody in my course when I started and now I've got a pretty wide circle of friends

Just be outgoing. Say hi to the people in your group, talk to the guys ahead of you in the coffee line etc. Get involved, you'll make a lot of friends very quickly. Where are you going?

[Cayteelin]

I really feel like I'm walking into this place with a blindfold on though, haha. That's good to know though Monash Caulfield hopefully

[86]

Chances are you'll be around more intellectual people like yourself, no time wasters and indifferent personalities like in high school

[bsupertramp]

I started at Monash Caulfield last year. I actually knew one person in my course as we went to the same school (although I only went to that school for VCE and we were never close friends, or even friends really.) I'm very shy and introverted so I've found it hard to make friends. I would have people to talk to in most of my classes but I've never seen any of them outside of classtime. Caulfield seems to have a lot going on all the time, there's always bbq's and markets and things happening on the lawn, so I suggest trying to go to them. I myself have never been because I'm too shy but I think it would be a good opportunity to meet people. If you go on Monsu's facebook they make all the events of what's going on.

Also, I personally have found that there's still lots of "time wasters and indifferent personalities" at uni! I was expecting to find people like me in my course but didn't. I guess a major problem is that I can't discuss my raging alcohol-filled weekends with them since they just don't exist

[gibsonaxxxs]

yeah i was actually wondering the same thing... how hard is it to get to know people from different faculties? coz so many 'old people' seem to have met their spouses in uni from different courses, but i'm just wondering how that's possible??

[ninwa]

I just walked into my lectures, sat next to random people and said hi. Most people will be similarly in need of friends, so they tend to respond positively

[Furbob]

Also, I personally have found that there's still lots of "time wasters and indifferent personalities" at uni! I was expecting to find people like me in my course but didn't. I guess a major problem is that I can't discuss my raging alcohol-filled weekends with them since they just don't exist

sounds like me! ... until I discovered this site

[Cayteelin]

Thanks everyone, I'm not too worried about the lectures or anything now
but what to expect on orientation week? Are you at least able to bring a friend along or something (that doesn't go to monash)? (I have no idea..)

[aes_999]

There's always O - week parties, from what I've heard.
There are also host scheme events, which are like camps
where you can meet new people.

And yes, you can bring a friend, it's not like somebody cares.
More info about O - week can be found here.

Monash Enrolment/O-week Guide

[Liuy]

You won't be needing friends at those camps from what ive heard

[kkkkasd]

Is orientation week compulsory ? do they have like a roll they tick off with ur name ?

because firstly i think im going to china for several weeks and it might drag into La Trobe orientation week.

secondly even if i wasn't going china i cbf lol. i never attend anything extra curricular because it means needing to GO. maybe i have bad health or something but i wake up every day feeling groggy like my mind is lagging so i dont wanna do anything.

[aes_999]

Not compulsory for Monash, I know that much.
But orientation week is probably not compulsory,
it's not like school, which punishes you if you
don't show up.

As I said, idk about LaTrobe, but probably O week
not compulsory.

[Gloamglozer]

Almost nothing at uni is compulsory...  Even exams aren't compulsory.  Don't rock up if you don't feel like sitting an exam.

Only thing that is compulsory is to pass more than 50% of your course load per semester so you don't get into serious trouble.

[aes_999]

^So Gloam, you're basically telling me
that there are people at uni who don't care
about their exams and go 'meh'? Wut?