The first thing Ryan suggests is to make sure you have all the essentials. This includes things like any bedding, kitchen equipment, chargers, study materials and toiletries you may need. What you may actually need will vary according to whether you’re staying in catered or self-catering accommodation on campus, or off-campus student accommodation in the Garden Quarter or Hoole, for example. Consult the residents’ guide from the university’s website or your letting agent to find out what’s available in your accommodation.
Ryan then suggests some non-essential items to make you more comfortable in daily life. These include cushions to use on some harder chairs, suitable seasonal clothing to keep you cosy during the British autumn and winter, some decorations to make your new room seem more like home, and inflatable or beanbag chairs, so you can offer guests a seat.
It’s also worth getting to know your housemates as well as possible. Everybody is in the same boat, so get out there and introduce yourself. Make a good impression by being tidy in communal areas, and avoid duplicating necessities like toilet paper and washing-up liquid by coordinating your shopping.
If you’re starting in university accommodation, some of these people may well be joining you in off-campus shared student housing in Chester in later years, so long-term friendships can be formed in this initial period.
Written by Henry
