RESNdential: Advice for Moving Out of Home (ANU)
2 years ago
Annabel is a Bachelor of Medical Science and Arts student at the Australian National University (ANU) and moved to Canberra after studying high school in Melbourne. Her family lives in New South Wales.
What type of accommodation(s) are you living/ have lived in (college, share-house, etc.), and what's your experience been like? What are the pros and cons?
I live at Wright Hall on-campus at ANU, and I love it! Moving into a college made the process of moving out so much easier for me socially (as I live with so many other people), and I felt really supported from my senior resident in the lead up to move in. It's also super convenient because I wake up literally 10 minutes before my first class every day - and it’s catered so I don't have to cook for myself! Can't really think of too many cons except finding a car spot can be hard to begin with but that is the only one I've found so far.
How were you able to stay in touch with friends and family after moving out? Was it tough to stay connected, or did you make it work?
I have found it really easy to stay connected with my family through FaceTime calls and weekends home every month or so. I have found it a bit harder to keep in touch with some of my friends from high school as everyone is so busy, but if there's a will there's a way!
What was your experience like with making friends and socialising once you'd moved out?
It was super easy, the halls at ANU has a week where people in the colleges bond and get to know one another two weeks before O-Week. This is definitely one of the bonuses of living on campus! I love being around other people so I find that I spend a lot of time either studying or just relaxing in common rooms or the dining hall, which is another really great way to get to know people!
How did you adapt to any curveballs that COVID-19 might have thrown at you? Were you able to go home, or did you stay closer to uni?
After going home for a weekend to Shellharbour, I had to quarantine for two weeks in my room, which was definitely tough! During the lockdown we were confined to our wings (which are groups of 20 - 30 people, and we are allowed a buddy who can come into our room), but it is actually quite fun being stuck with your mates!
Have you got any other advice for anyone thinking about moving out for university?
If you think you might want to do it, I would definitely recommend it! After spending so much time away from friends and social activities due to COVID-19 last year, it is a dream come true to have my friends as my neighbours and to live with 400 of them!
There are also many financial aid and scholarships available for students moving out of rural and regional areas for university, so if you’re thinking of making the big move, check them out as they’ll really help!
And if you’ve already moved out or want some tips and tricks for managing your finances, we’ve created a handy guide for you!
We know that moving out of home and living independently can be daunting, but there is a lot of support available and after some time settling in, we’re sure it will become your second home in no time.