In the last two weeks, I have been inducted to libraries, cafes, computer systems, my department etc. I hoped that this time would disprove the thesis of my last blog entry: that graduate freshers are not given enough of a chance to get to know each other. And to some extent it did.

In particular, I was a little harsh on my own department. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and although there have been no official welcome events, I know many of my colleagues’ names, specialisms and caffeine habits already. This is something you definitely don’t have as an undergrad. In fact, it resembles an office work environment more than I really want to admit; there is even a water-cooler.

It’s intriguing what receiving your very own university card, pen and handbook can do to make you feel part of the place. In fact, even just learning to navigate the lunchtime rush in the café made me feel at home. And although this is nothing to do with being given an opportunity to get to know others, it does make me feel better.

There is another phenomenon that I did not predict: the “previous university network”. There are several people from Cambridge that are also doing postgrads. In most cases, we probably never exchanged more than a passing smile before we arrived here. But our mutual past life means that we now feel like we should meet up for coffee, or a drink in the “SCR” bar. Now, there are some people from my past life with whom I have absolutely no desire to share my sacred three thirty cappuccino break. But in the main it has been delightful to have a ready-made network of people studying interesting and varied areas.

Lucky me. But what would it be like if I hadn’t come from a collegiate University, or a subject area small enough for everyone to know everyone else?

Well, that would be a pretty dire situation. I already get social withdrawal after four hours in my favourite corner of level five of the library. I quite often go down to work on level four, where you can talk. Not that I have any friends there, but just for that comforting background hum. I cannot imagine what it would be like if that hum is the closest thing to human interaction you get. (Aside from, perhaps, a conversation with your supervisor.)

Of course, you might have an extended network of friends in London and beyond. But that’s not where you spend most of your day. And so it won’t stop you feeling isolated for most of the day.

There are ways to avoid it - joining clubs and societies being the most obvious. But, as a postgrad, you don’t feel quite as welcome to FilmSoc as you did as an undergrad. In fact, you feel pretty silly trying to join in with the social side of primarily undergrad clubs, even the sports ones.

Despite my current buoyant state, I feel like my experience over the last fortnight is not indicative of the experience of many other postgrads. I understand that anyone embarking on a Masters or PhD has to be ready to spend most of their day in private study, but they should also have the chance to meet others in the same boat. Whether it’s bonding over a love for cinnamon-covered coffee, or bouncing ideas around outside a structured academic setting, it’s good to chat.