<p>So we hear from so many UT students that they feel socially disconnected/isolated, find it hard to make real friends, and feel lost in the crowd. Other than vague platitudes like "get involved" or "join clubs", does anyone have any specific recommendations or stories of what has and hasn't worked?</p>
<p>IMHO, getting involved or joining a club is actually the best advice. Austin is a big city and UT is a huge University. Everybody needs someplace to belong so they don’t feel like they are being lost in the shuffle. Finding a group to belong to is critical. There are endless choices, from fraternities and sororities to clubs, service organizations, study groups, FIGS, etc. My DS is in the Longhorn Band and it is a perfect fit for him. Whatever activities and interests a student had in high school can often carry over to college. If they played volleyball in hs, look into intramurals, for example. Taking the initiative to seek out a group to join may be difficult, but will be worth it. Students at UT are very welcoming and always happy to meet a new friend.</p>
<p>FIGS. [First-year</a> Interest Groups](<a href=“http://cns.utexas.edu/community/freshman-interest-groups]First-year”>http://cns.utexas.edu/community/freshman-interest-groups)</p>
<p>ffhrea-having had two kids go to HUGE universities, and having them be complete opposites-personality wise, I may be able to shed a light on that.</p>
<p>Kid 1- University of Florida, did not know a single solitary soul when he went there. Is NOT a fraternity type guy, he’s a “surfer dude”. Went for the scholarship, lived in the honors dorm. Quickly figured out that he didn’t mesh with the kids in his dorm and had little interest in the activities set out by the program. He knew he had to find his kind of people, so he went to the student center and found out about the Surf Club, went to a meeting, and those kids became the beginning of his core friends. After being there a bit, he met kids in classes, on campus, etc, and became totally comfortable at his 40,000+ school, but he had to make an effort and search out “his people”. </p>
<p>Kid 2- University of Texas, had a ton of friends going there both from school, hometown, sport, camp, etc. Is a fraternity type guy so joined one at UT. Also, a sports guy, so tried out for the UT Club team, and made it. Those two groups make up his core group of friends. He also has branched out, making friends in his major, classes, etc. and loves UT.</p>
<p>The thing is, you have to find a core group from which you can then branch out. As Queen of Everything said, getting involved is the best advice. It’s up to you to figure out how and with who. Whether it’s through a sport, spirit group, interest or activity, Greek affiliation, etc etc etc, there is a club or group that will be right for you.</p>
<p>The beauty of a huge school is that there are so many different types of people to choose from, and chances are they are looking for people to bond with too. The drawback is that you have to go out and make an effort to find them.</p>
<p>I think that incoming freshmen should have a facebook page set up and friend the people they meet at orientation and keep in touch with them a bit before school starts. (That way you have a few friends when school starts.)</p>
<p>Joining something is a good idea. Band. Ballroom. Sailing Club. Intramural sports. One of the spirit groups if you have the stomach to “try out” and see if they choose you. APO if you like to do service projects or you have an urge to run the Texas flag out onto the football field. One of the Student Events Center groups
[Get</a> Involved - The Texas Union at the University of Texas](<a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/txunion/sec/getinvolved/index.php?section=getinvolved]Get”>http://www.utexas.edu/txunion/sec/getinvolved/index.php?section=getinvolved)
If you live on campus, you could become active in dorm government, or of course, there is student government.
There are hundreds and hundreds of choices. Almost too many to choose from. :)</p>
<p>Definitely join a FIG. It’s the easiest way to meet people. Don’t bank on becoming best friends with them though.
Definitely put yourself out there. Smile and be friendly! For the first month of school, go to as many things as you can; you’ll have a lot of free time before classes get too tough, and there’s a lot of stuff going on at the beginning of the semester. Try to do things in small groups so you can get to know the other people. Even if you don’t like to drink, go to parties! I went at the beginning of the school year and I met a ton of people. Sometimes it’s the random people that become your closest friends.
Don’t be timid; make eye contact. And don’t worry if you don’t make a load of friends at the beginning. Meaningful relationships take time!</p>
<p>I just tried to talk to everybody. I’m pretty shy, but I made some really good friends my first week of college. I’m still in contact with a couple of them. Remember, everyone else is trying to make friends, too. Classes are a good place to meet people, too (that’s where I met my husband). Good luck, and have fun!</p>