<p>So, it's summer, and there's nothing much to do but lay in the sun and think until summer classes start up again.
And I've been thinking of my (just finished) freshman year at college.
I met lots of people, joined clubs, intramural teams, went to football games, did those random events people were invited to via facebook, went to frat parties, played beer pong (and sucked), lived in a dorm and yadda yadda. According to everyone, that's the "freshman experience." But, it didn't feel that great as everyone said, because, I didn't attain that close knit group of friends that I'm expected to get? Like, the ones you meet in your dorm or class or wherever and you bond and hang out with them for the rest of your college life.
I'm slightly worried that since I didn't get that "close knit" group freshman year, I'm sort of doomed to not have actually made that experience true. Or really just doomed to loneliness.
Sounds sad, I know. But I guess I'm wondering if everyone here made that close knit group of friends freshman year? Or is it possible to make those close friends even as I go into sophomore year and so on..? Or did I just miss the window of opportunity this freshman year..
Thanks!</p>
<p>I pretty much holed myself in my (single) room studying the whole freshman year, and now having just finished my junior year, I’d say I have a pretty close-knit group of friends. I haven’t talked to most of the people I hung out with freshman year (with the exception of my boyfriend of a year and a half), and I think a lot of times people tend to go their separate ways after freshman year. Most of my really close friends now I’ve met through classes, because they’re in my major, so we’ve bonded through going through the same struggles.</p>
<p>Your freshman year sounds a lot better than what mine was. Haha
I think the big part of the “experience” is not so much meeting lots of people, but making friendships that you think will last forever and junk. That doesn’t happen all that often though. The kids in Community just got lucky I guess.</p>
<p>I graduated a year ago, and I don’t really keep in touch with anyone that I met freshman year. I made most of my good friends sophomore year and then my best friends Junior/Senior. Some people do fall right into a group of friends freshman year that they stick with, but that isn’t really the norm and you don’t need to worry if that didn’t happen for you.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for the replies!
Hahaha, Skyline, those darn Community kids. If I had Ken Jeong in my freshman class I think I’d be happier than ever.
But, it is reassuring to know that I didn’t luck out or that I’m doomed to loneliness because I haven’t made close friends this year. Hopefully, the coming years will be a success. I’ll just be patient and open minded. Thanks you guys!
If anyone else has anything to add, feel free to.</p>
<p>I made a lot of friends with people on my floor frosh year and all around the freshmen dorms plus I found a great chill group of guys with the same interest as me at a fraternity and they invited me back to bro out with them and attend their parties until eventually I received a bid and started pledging that Fall a week later. I’ve had a lot of good memories with them since and still keep in touch with the guys I meet my first year plus I meet new people every semester.</p>
<p>Don’t worry man-it seems you did everything right as you were supposed to.
For the record, I felt similar to you, but I will concede I had unrealistic expectations for college. In retrospect, I’m sure you’ll find that your first year was actually pretty good.</p>
<p>You can always rush this year! Lots of people rush their Sophomore year, you have more idea which fraternities you will like and which ones you would not.</p>
<p>Nothing makes a close group of friends quicker than spending time with your brothers.</p>
<p>I definitely didn’t make a close group of friends either, even though I went in expecting it and was disappointed when I didn’t. I must admit, it’s partially my fault. I got to the state flagship where a ton of people from my high school attend and I ended up hanging out with my old friends a lot. I figure it will happen eventually, especially when I get into classes for my major who have similar goals and interests. I’d rather wait a while to make those amazing friends than have those fake relationships that people seem to make at the beginning of freshman year just so they have people to hang out with.</p>
<p>‘’(and sucked)‘’</p>
<p>THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!</p>
<p>I’m close friends with my roommate and we are rooming again next year. There are some other friends I made (ex, my one buddy will be in the same math class as me for the 3rd semester in a row) and my Men’s IM Soccer team became close friends. We’ll all play on multiple IM teams together and will play again next year</p>
<p>But this “freshman experience” is overrated.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies everyone! Thanks HonorsCentaur, hopefully I can look back and say this was a good fresh year. And… I"m a girl, so no rushing frats for me. And rushing sororities here, it’s just not really my thing 
I do have some sorority friends, I’ll talk to them tho.
@Cmonson, well, considering I am a she, that is indeed what I said.
@LivingOxy, sorry to hear that! I’m hoping I’ll make some close major friends too. That’s where a lot of older people (juniors, seniors) I talked to said they made their closest friends. The rest were actually from HS too and they remained friends.
And good to know that someone else thinks the freshman experience is overrated too.</p>
<p>Definitely keep an open mind about Greek Rush. What I tell about new guys who rush my house is that whether or not they choose us, definitely go Greek because you’re constantly meeting new people, you have a network of people you can trust that makes you feel like you have a little home away from home, leadership opportunities, alumni gatherings and mentors to help you with anything, and etc…</p>
<p>I always say that even if you’re not really a sorority girl, just go through rush. It’s only a few days, and you have nothing to lose and a lot to possibly gain. If you don’t like any of the houses, then just drop out, nothing lost. It’s a great way to get that “college experience” in my opinion if that’s what you want.</p>
<p>In all honesty, I’m not your average sorority girl. The house I joined is okay, but very different from me. However, I met one girl in my sorority who became my best friend and I met so many people through her, who are all my good friends now. Something similar could happen to you, too. It’s just a way to get involved and meet people, which is never bad. If you don’t like all the fanfare, you can drop out, you will still be able to hang out with the people you met.</p>
<p>The ‘freshman experience’ is subjective. I feel like I had a great freshman year even though I didn’t party too much and only lived in a dorm for one semester. If you enjoyed what you experienced, then that’s what really matters.</p>
<p>I nvr won an IM sport and therefore nvr got an IM Champion t shirt.</p>
<p>My first year was a bust</p>
<p>^ Mine too! :D</p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about not having that close knit group of friends after freshman year. Although I was lucky with a great group of friends from the start, many of my friends didn’t find their niches until sophomore or junior year. If you got over a lot of the angst that is freshman year, it’ll only get better from here! At least that’s what I think. :D</p>
<p>
Don’t over analyze your situation, I see this a lot on forums not just CC but other forums where people explain they have moved and have not made friends. Rather your a college student, a young professional or what not the chance to make friends will always be there. I myself personally enjoyed my freshmen year and was a little surprised that within my first month I had no ideal of who exactly was I beginning to make a friendship with. Even now excluding family I would be unsure of who I would first call in any situation, such as winning a car ( random), or just those things you would like to share. In reply to other posters about going greek, I know many people who went greek their freshmen year and several who considered it for sophmore year. I personally would not suggest for you to go greek, as this is only best for freshmen unless your school is like 40% greek.</p>
<p>I’ve always wondered if sororities get plumbing issues during “that” time of the month haha. But on a more serious note, it’s like high school, where your group of friends slowly but surely solidifies as the years progress. You’re bound to make friends, and it seems like tons of other people are in the same boat (hi). So don’t worry about it! Maybe the “sophomore experience” is better (:</p>