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So you’re moving to a new city to study? (part two)
This is the second in our series looking at some important tips for new students.
If you’re moving to Manchester or Salford to study – congratulations. You have made a splendid choice. At risk of sounding biased, you couldn’t have chosen to move to a better place. In fact, if I wrote a travel guide, I’d probably just advise you stay here. Manchester has everything (except a beach)*.
So if you have made that wise decision, our next tip will be particularly important:
3. Get to know your city
Buy an A-Z. Have a wander round the city. Get lost around the city centre for a bit. You’ll discover all sorts of things to cater to every taste. Don’t just assume Manchester Arndale is all there is to see in Manchester or that Starbucks is the only place to get a coffee. Take the time early on to find the best places to visit and avoid the tendency to only go where the uni buses will take you.
4. Immerse yourself, but only in stuff you actually enjoy
Find out what you’re interested in. Join a decent uni society, or find some people in your church or halls who share that interest, and get involved with that. Do you like going out clubbing? Then you’ll find plenty of places to do that. If you don’t, you’re probably best off not bothering. You won’t enjoy it, and people will be able to spot that a mile off.
You are more likely to make meaningful friendships with people who are into the same stuff as you rather than trying to force yourself to be something you are not in order to fit in. Otherwise you could spend too much of your time at uni stood doing stuff you don’t like with people you don’t really connect with.
* This may not necessarily be true
Andrew Kenyon 12/09/2011
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