Don’t be a try-hard
Be omnipresent and be likeable, but ditch the made up anecdotes and desperation to be ‘the lad’ or ‘the legend’. These are people you’re going to live with, so if you can’t keep up these first impressions you’re going to look like a dick in a couple weeks. I can’t stress enough how little these new people care about your tinder matches or how big your house in Shropshire is; you’re in a new world now where these things mean nothing and you’re going to be eating a cheese slice for dinner like everybody else in a couple months.
You should make yourself comfortable with everyone as soon as possible, but remember that ‘banter’ doesn’t necessarily translate well between people from different regions, and saying the word ‘banter’ after acting like a knob doesn’t then qualify the previous action as lovable. Playing Celine Dion through the aux lead in the kitchen during pre-drinks isn’t wacky – its just annoying.
Another key symptom of the try-hard comes in the form of Facebook friend requests. If you are yet to move into your halls, don’t add everyone on Facebook! It looks creepy as hell.
In summary: it is essential to be an outgoing, likeable version of yourself. Once you get to university popularity in the conventional sense is all but a playground memory, and you’ll be liked as long as you aren’t a dick. Attend the events, however awful they may be, and make the most of every opportunity to go out and meet people in the first year. You can retire to a house in 12 months and be the biggest waster that you like.
Words by Matt Ganfield
@MattGanfield