1. You grew up together
We know you technically grew up with all your home friends, but when you think about it, all the actual growing up you needed to do took place in those three (mildly tumultuous) glory years. That's a LOT of awkward situations to live down together.
2. You've LIVED together, goddammit
They say you never really know a person until you've lived with them. Or, you know, gone on an intense two-week holiday together and basically lived on top of them. But by god did those years of being housemates bring you closer together. The all-nighters, dodgy one night stands and even dodgier boyfriends, you saw them come and go together.The damp problems, the mould in the fridge and the sub-zero temperatures when you couldn't afford to heat a house? All made for some serious bonding.
3. Dissertations. Enough said.
The pain you endured while churning out that 12,000 word disaster-zone is not something you ever want to speak of again. So the people who helped you through that time probably deserve a tattoo in their name.
4. You spoil each other
As much as students can. Like the time you invited them round for dinner and cooked them supernoodles WITH beans. You don't give that kind of protein to just any old friend, you know.
5. You were able to reinvent yourself at uni
Fed up being known as the pushover of your home group of friends? No problem. At uni you could finally unleash the inner funny girl in you, and those new pals who think you're an absolute HOOT don't know any different.
6. You trust each other because you literally HAVE to
Seriously. If any of them blurted out any of the grossly embarrassing stories you emerged from university attempting to suppress from all memory, you'd probably find yourself having to enter some kind of witness protection for the mortified.
7. You've learnt a lot from each other
Like the time they taught you how to put your duvet cover back on after finding you in a heap on the floor, unable to disentangle yourself from an abundance of laundered bed sheets while crying for your mother.
8. And have grown unthinkably close
Friends who nap together are friends who stay together. And we all know how much a student likes to nap.