Phoenix Lambird

When I visited Loughborough for my offer holder day, I fell in love with the campus and the atmosphere, despite the rainy weather! Everyone I met was so welcoming, and I could genuinely see myself living here for the next few years.

Speaking to current Psychology students and lecturers really sold the course to me. It offered pretty much everything I wanted, including optional modules in first year and a wide variety of psychology topics to explore. Coming to Loughborough was definitely the best choice I could have made. I’ve met so many incredible people, and the lecturers are always happy to help.

I knew I wanted to live in halls in my first year so I could fully immerse myself in university life. Loughborough stood out because of the range of accommodation options and the different personalities and hall spirit each one offered. It was reassuring to see how much each hall worked to create its own community.

Choosing a specific hall was the difficult part! I ended up looking at the social media accounts of the halls I was considering, which is how I decided on Hazlerigg-Rutland (Rigg-Rut). It was the absolute best decision I could have made.

Living on campus made settling into university so much easier. You’re thrown into everything from day one, and although there’s a lot going on, it makes you excited for the experience. Being so close to your own hall and the others makes meeting people much easier, especially during those first few months when you’re getting to know everyone.

In November of my first year, I decided to throw myself into university life and joined my hall committee as Welfare and Diversity Representative. It was an incredible experience, and working alongside the committee to organise events throughout the year was so much fun. I met so many amazing people through the role, and it was a great opportunity to give something back to the community that had made me feel so welcome.

Helping move students into the hall in my second year was quite surreal. It was hard to believe that just a year earlier, I had been in exactly the same position as them. I feel like living in halls helped me become a much more independent and confident person, and I’m so grateful for that.

Some of my favourite memories are from spending time with my flatmates in first year. We had so much fun in our flat, inviting other flats over and hosting game nights. Going to the punch parties and balls together was always a great experience, and it was lovely seeing everyone come together.

As one of the smaller halls on campus, Rigg-Rut had an incredible community feel. The hall spirit at Loughborough is one of the best things about living in halls. Each hall puts so much effort into organising events and building a sense of community, and every hall has something unique to offer.

Living on campus also makes university life simpler, particularly when you’re finding your way around in first year. Your accommodation is close to lecture theatres, the library and shops, which makes those first few weeks feel less daunting. You also have your flatmates around you, going through the same experiences, and plenty of events throughout the year to help you meet people and socialise.

I felt at home almost straight away. Being fully immersed in the Freshers’ experience was one of the best things about moving into halls. Everyone you meet, from the hall committees to the staff, is so lovely and always happy to help.

My warden team was absolutely incredible. They were some of the loveliest people and were always happy to help, no matter what. Being surrounded by so many other students on campus is also a great feeling. Sometimes it feels surreal when you realise just how many people study here, but it makes you feel part of something bigger.

My biggest worry before moving in was that I wouldn’t make friends or click with anyone. I’m happy to say the opposite happened! My flatmates were the best, and I made so many incredible friends through all the things I got involved in.

The nerves before moving in can feel daunting, but everyone around you is going through the same thing, especially on move-in day. There are people around you who understand how you feel, and you can all help each other settle in.

My advice would be to throw yourself into the experience and make the most of the time you have. First year goes by so quickly, so try as many things as you can and enjoy it.

When it comes to choosing where to live after first year, I’d say not to rush the decision too much. Staying on campus in second year is a great option if that’s what you prefer. If you already have a solid group of people you want to live with, there are plenty of student properties available in Loughborough, so you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere super early.

Ultimately, go with what you want your second-year experience to look like. Don’t feel like you have to do what everyone else is doing.