<p>My son is an introvert and is coming from a school of about 100 students. He is overwhelmed at the sheer number of students at UT and is wondering how he will find a place to study and how he will make a couple of friends. </p>
<p>He is so afraid he will withdraw into his shell.</p>
<p>Any advice on what this mom can say?</p>
<p>Join a FIG.</p>
<p>[First-year</a> Interest Groups | School of Undergraduate Studies](<a href=“First-Year Interest Groups | TEXAS Undergraduate Studies”>First-Year Interest Groups | TEXAS Undergraduate Studies)</p>
<p>Go to Camp Texas
[Camp</a> Texas 2012](<a href=“http://www.texasexes.org/camptexas/]Camp”>Camp Texas Alumni | Texas Exes)</p>
<p>@spdf, do they have “FIG” type groups for transfer students? I’m transferring from a CC and won’t know anyone there.</p>
<p>I second the Camp Texas suggestion.</p>
<p>And encourage him to join the campus Amnesty International group. They’re very welcoming.</p>
<p>Meredith, transfer students have their own FIG’s:[Transfer</a> Interest Groups | School of Undergraduate Studies](<a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/fig/trigs]Transfer”>http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/fig/trigs)</p>
<p>During the first few weeks of school, many departments and organizations will host freshman-welcoming events. Encourage your son to attend and join organizations that do the activities he likes to get involved. Does he like sports? He may want to participate intramural sports thru the organizations of which he is a member or finding his own team. </p>
<p>I dont believe a massive school will intimidate an introvert. It is normal to feel overwhelmed whether you are an introvert or not, whether from a small vs. a big HS. It is the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Tell your son to have an open mind when meeting people and to enjoy what UT has to offer and that you have every faith in the world in him. He doesnt need to hold back out of fear or shyness. He wont be the only one.</p>
<p>I won’t lie, it’s not easy. I am very introverted and I have suffered socially at UT. My advice - at the beginning of the first semester, you’ll experience “organization fatigue,” a special kind of sensory overload that results from flyers/t-shirts/free food being thrown at you every time you step out your door. Instead of saying “meh, I’ll think about it next semester” like I did, go check out as many organizations as possible. You’ll meet friends through these organizations (I assume, anyway 
) and could have some good networking opportunities. Also, like some other people mentioned, intermural sports seem to be a great way to blow off some steam and meet people. Just FORCE yourself to get a bit outside of your comfort zone and meet people. By second semester you’ll see people already beginning to settle into their own little networks and you’ll feel so negative about that that you’ll sit around depressed for your whole time at UT (not that I’ve done anything like that, <em>ahem</em>) </p>
<p>Edit: oops, just reread that OP and it’s a mom posting for her son. Still, same advice, just switch out the pronouns.</p>
<p>is he an introvert or shy?
If you mean that he is shy, just encourage him to join organizations or sports clubs.
I prefer to study in library cubicles, which can be found in the PCL.</p>
<p>I was introverted my first semester. Part of breaking out of the shell is putting on a genuine smile and randomly meeting people in a class, especially the freshman class where everyone is too shy to say hello first. Never thought it would be that easy but always make the first move. I am junior and still have deep relationships with most of the people I met in that freshman intro class.</p>
<p>Joining an organization is fun and a good way to socialize, but when you join too many, keeping up with all of them can have an adverse effect on grades/sleep. Especially a frat that regularly hosts parties with alcohol.</p>