Moving Interstate for University: What It's Really Like Living at Deakin Res

Moving away from home for university can feel like a huge step, especially if you're crossing state borders. But for second-year resident and current Residential Leader Halle, moving interstate to Deakin's Geelong Waterfront campus turned out to be one of the best decisions she's ever made. 

Here's what it's really like to move interstate and find your place at Deakin Res. 

Choosing a New Home Away From Home 

Halle moved from Albury, NSW, at the beginning of her first year at university, making the four-and-a-half-hour journey to Geelong to study Exercise Science. 

"Deakin is ranked number one in the world for Exercise and Sport Science, so that definitely was a factor," she says. 

But academics weren't the only reason behind her decision. 

"Coming from a rural town, I wasn't keen to jump straight into living in a city. After touring the campus and Waterfront Res on Open Day, I fell in love with the place. It felt like the right in-between, a proper uni experience without being thrown into the deep end of a huge city." 

Excited to 'Adult' and Nervous to Leave Home 

Like many students preparing to leave home, Halle experienced a mix of excitement and uncertainty. 

"I was most excited to be given an opportunity to 'adult', to learn how to be independent and, of course, make some new friends," she says. 

At the same time, the reality of moving interstate felt daunting. 

"I was most nervous about being quite far from home and about how easy or hard it would be to make new friends."

Those feelings became especially real in the lead-up to moving day. 

"I was initially super excited to be offered a place at Deakin and at Deakin Res. It wasn't until probably the week before I moved that it really hit me how nervous I was." 

Realising Everyone Is in the Same Boat 

When Halle arrived at Deakin Res, she reminded herself that most students were experiencing the same mix of excitement and nerves. 

"I just had to think that most people were in the same boat as me, keen to make friends but nervous." 

Even though she didn't feel completely confident, she made a conscious decision to put herself out there. 

"When I arrived, I made a conscious choice to put out a friendly, confident version of myself, even though I didn't quite feel it yet." 

That decision paid off. 

"That resulted in me making some of the best friends that I never would have met if it weren't for uni." 

For students worried about meeting people, Halle says the important thing to remember is that everyone is looking for connection. 

"Every single person was looking to make friends, which makes it a lot less scary to put yourself out there." 

Why Living on Res Made All the Difference 

Moving interstate is a big adjustment, but Halle believes living at Deakin Res made settling in much easier. 

"If I hadn't lived at Deakin Res, I don't think I would have settled into my new home nearly as quickly. There are over 400 people living in my apartment building, and every one of them is looking to build new friendships." 

For Halle, one of the biggest differences is how naturally friendships form at Res compared to elsewhere. 

"Outside of Res, my friend group is a lot smaller, a few people from classes, a couple from work. But making friends in class is genuinely harder. You see people for an hour, then everyone goes home." 

Res, she says, is completely different. 

"You're constantly crossing paths with people, whether that's a quick chat in the elevator, Res events run by Campus Life, or everyday moments in the kitchen or lounge room with your housemates. 

Honestly, that's the biggest reason moving interstate for uni felt like the right call." 

Making Friends From Day One 

Halle's first friendships started sooner than she expected. 

"I was still setting up my room on move-in day when one of my new housemates knocked on my door and invited me along to a Res event happening in our common room. 
That one interaction gave me my first friends at Res." 

From there, orientation events made meeting people feel natural. 

"The chatter and mingling during that first event felt effortless compared to trying to strike up conversation out of nowhere." 

For Halle, that's exactly what Res events are designed for. 

"Whether it's a low-key dinner or a round of mini golf, every event is designed to get people talking and give you an easy way in." 

When Res Started Feeling Like Home 

For Halle, there wasn't a single moment when Res suddenly felt like home. 

"It crept up on me through a lot of small moments." 

A few weeks after orientation, everyday life started to feel familiar. 

"It was things like coming back from a lecture and already knowing I'd bump into someone in the kitchen, or having a group of people to sit with at dinner without even planning it." 

That's when Res stopped feeling temporary. 

"It started feeling like an actual home, not just a place I was staying while I figured out uni, but somewhere with its own routines, its own people and its own sense of familiarity." 

Finding a Second Support System 

One of the biggest challenges of moving interstate has been missing family and friends back home. 

"The hardest part of being away has been missing the small everyday moments with family and friends, not being able to just drop in for dinner or catch up in person when something happens." 

Fortunately, the Res community helped fill that gap. 

"When you've got housemates around you every day, people who check in on you and who you naturally end up spending time with, it stops the homesickness from creeping in too much." 

While it's not a replacement for family, Halle says it became something she didn't expect. 

"It's given me a second support system I didn't expect to find so quickly." 

Looking Back: What Halle Wishes She Knew 

If she could give her first-year self one piece of advice, it would be this: things fall into place faster than you think. 

"I spent time worrying about whether I'd make friends. I didn't really appreciate how normal that nervousness is and how fast it fades once you're actually there." 

She also wishes she'd known how important Res events can be during those first few weeks. 

"I would've gone in with a plan to say yes to as many of them as possible from day one, rather than easing in slowly." 

It's advice she's put into practice in her second year. 

"I genuinely went to almost every event, making more new friends and spending time with my friends from last year." 

Advice for Students Thinking About Moving Interstate 

For students considering a move to Deakin but feeling nervous about leaving home, Halle's advice is simple. 

"Don't be afraid to make the first move in meeting new people." 

Sometimes all it takes is introducing yourself. 

"'I'm Halle, I'm from Albury and I'm studying Exercise Science and Business.' From there, the conversation flows easily." 

Her other piece of advice? 

"Say yes to everything. Go to the events, accept the invite from a new friend to go to the beach or do a grocery run together." 
 
And for anyone wondering whether moving interstate for university is worth it? 

Looking back, Halle says living on Res has been one of the best experiences of her life. 

"To me, uni is the classes and the campus, but the real uni experience is living on Res with people who are in the same boat as you. You have more in common with the people on Res than you'd think."