<p>My S was assigned a single room in Briscoe. Can anyone who has lived in a single as a freshman give advice related to socialization. Thanks,</p>
<p>He will have no problem socializing in Briscoe. Tell him he’s a lucky freshman. As long as he’s not locked away in his room, he will have no problem.</p>
<p>I always advise kids (whether in double or single) to leave their dorm room door open if they are not sleeping or changing (get a heavy door stop – most dorm doors don’t say open without one). Then look up and say hi (or at least smile) at anyone who walks by. If the passerby pauses at all, say “what’s up,” introduce yourself, etc. </p>
<p>Also, try not to go to meals alone…go down your floor and knock on doors (or stop at open doors!) to see if someone wants to go with you to eat. Same thing if you have a plan to go out to do something besides going to class – particularly with Welcome Week events. If eating alone or with just one other person, join tables of others (ask…“mind if we/I join you?”). If you make one or two friends on your floor, don’t stop looking for others to join you in eating or going out – try to add new friends, especially those first few weeks. </p>
<p>Try not to study alone in your room – sit in the dorm lounge, or a wide-open table in the library (especially good to use libraries in dorms), etc. and do the look up/smile/talk thing.</p>
<p>In classes, sit near someone you’d like to get to know, then try to start up conversations in class or walking out of class – easy to whine about the professor, ask if they’ve started some assignment, etc.</p>
<p>Finally – the most obvious and easiest – IU has hundreds of clubs and organizations (not just Greek but specialized-hobby or career-interest based) clubs. Go to an initial meeting for a few, then pick a couple to stick with. (Most of these will have booths/tables at Welcome Week events, and flyers around campus.) In addition to being a venue for making friends, some of these clubs are resume builders, especially if you become an officer. </p>
<p>It is easiest to make friends in the first couple weeks when almost everyone is looking for new friends, so make concerted efforts in those weeks. </p>
<p>One great parting bit of advice my stepmother gave me whe she and my dad dropped me off freshmen year eons ago – she said I was “such a friendly girl” (even though I was a bit shy!), that “you should go down the dorm floor and look for those girls who look like they need a friend.” So I thought of myself as on a mission to rescue these friendless girls…while I was really making friends for the friendless me!</p>
<p>^^^great advice!</p>
<p>I was assigned a single in Briscoe in Fall of 2010 (pre-renovation). I originally had a roommate who I had “met” on Facebook but he ultimately decided not to go to IU leaving me without a roommate. I had originally had a regular double in Briscoe when they put me in the Large Single instead.</p>
<p>If your son is social he will have no problem. I am outgoing and actually loved having a single solely because it gave me my own space. I would still hang out with friends on my floor everyday but it was nice when I wanted to go to bed or relax to have my own space. After moving into my fraternity house last year, I finally got a roommate and while it was a great experience, I opted to get a single in the house for next year!</p>
<p>Your son is lucky to have a single in arguably the nicest dorm on campus. So long as he isn’t shy he will be fine; if he is, have him read MidwestMom’s post!</p>
<p>If anything I think that getting a single is almost a blessing. So many people don’t get along with their roommates freshman year and wish that they could live alone. Plus since Briscoe is an extremely social dorm chances are that people are going to be very open and outgoing, so making friends/socializing shouldn’t be too hard.</p>
<p>I had a single in Briscoe last year (and am continuing to live in the same single sophomore year instead of getting an apartment) and it’s incredibly easy to socialize with people here. :)</p>
<p>As everyone has said just leave your door open and don’t feel weird walking into other peoples room if their door is open too! It’s especially nice if you find people who have similar classes to you because you can go over and help study together.</p>
<p>Meeting people in classes who live in Briscoe really helps as well because then you can get to know the people on their floor and not just your own. Also, don’t dismiss the lovely elevator ride as a way to make friends! I’ve met tons of people on them.</p>
<p>And go to welcome week events! :P</p>
<p>I’m going to have a single room in Ashton and I’m super excited!</p>
<p>I’m kind of outgoing so I’m sure I will meet people. I met so many people on orientation! I will just go out and when I want a quite respite to study I can go to my dorm if I wish to do so.</p>
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