I am planning on attending IU next year, but I am worried about the social experience of it because I am out of state and will not know a single person there. I’ve noticed that a lot of people who are plan to go to IU are from Indiana, Chicago, and other areas of the midwest, so I assume that many of them know each other. I am also planning on rushing so I can easily make friends, but I have read online that rushing is extremely competitive so I may not make the cut.
I would love to hear about someone’s experience at IU that was in a similar situation as mine and if it was a positive or negative one!
Also I am from Texas, so what should I expect from the weather?
I had a few good friends and probably new at least 100 people going in, so I can’t comment much on the first part. I have made several new friends, but my best friends are still people that I new in high school. As for the weather, you get all 4 seasons, and it can chance quickly. In the winter, the temperature is often single digits and negative windchills are common, so you definitely need winter gear. It has actually been unseasonably warm so far this winter, but it is supposed to get worse soon. In the summer, it is anywhere from 70-95 degrees
I came to IU from Texas not knowing a single person and absolutely loved it! I lived in the Kelley LLC where most of my floor was from OOS so my initial fear of everyone knowing people didn’t really come to fruition. Honestly though, had I lived in a different area with more Indiana/Chicago kids, that may have turned out differently. Ultimately though, you will be able to meet people if you put yourself out there. It’s just about knowing where the opportunities are (Greek life, dorm, etc.)
Regarding weather, it’s really cold. Even if the kids from Chicago tell you it isn’t cold, you’ll think it’s cold. The only adjustment for that is actually learning how to dress for the cold/snow/ice from head to toe. My winter wear in Texas consisted of a North Face fleece i’d wear two weeks out of the year. After 4 years at IU I have a much more extensive winter clothing collection. It’s not anything to worry about, just something to prepare yourself for mentally.
I currently live in Indiana but I am from the west coast. I personally find the people of Indiana (aka hoosiers) to be really friendly and sincere. There will be a LOT of students at IU who are from the Midwest (especially Indiana), but IU still has people from all over the world.You should be fine. Remember IU has about 40,000 so rushing will be a challenge for everybody.
Both of my IU grads/children grew up in Bloomington so knew lots of other kids at IU. One rarely ever hung out with kids she knew from high school. There were a couple of exceptions, but most of her friends were not from Bloomington. Some were from other parts of the state and some from OOS. Our son hung out with his good friend of the opposite sex (not a romantic relationship) fairly often and she was one of several roommates one year, but he made many other friends from OOS and other parts of the state. His local friend just joined in his group at times.
Just because kids are from the same state or towns doesn’t mean they will hang out together. With 40,000 students you’re sure to find some friends.
@rachg34 Why would you assume all of the Midwest kids know each other? I’m from Cleveland, Ohio, and I know (lie actually talk to) one person from Chicago. Sure, if I go to IU there’s a good chance I will probably have mutual friends or connections with a lot of the kids I meet, but you have to realize the Midwest has millions of people. I don’t know anyone from Michigan, Wisconsin, etc., and I’ve done a lot of summer activities, things like that over the years with kids from across the country and world. So I don’t think you have anything to worry about. UT Austin is my top choice, and you’re from Texas, so think about it this way: Do you think all the kids from Plano are going to have a ton of friends from Sugar Land? Of course not, because the Dallas and Houston areas have millions of people.
Remember IU has about 40,000 so rushing will be a challenge for everybody.