<p>I'm just curious about what things are like on the first couple of days of college. I know that once you get there most people will just unpack and get their rooms in order, but what happens after that? Do a lot of people just hang around the dorms and try to meet people or do people go off to a lot of parties, meetings, etc? I just want to know what to expect.</p>
<p>It truly depends on the school. Some schools have very organized mandatory activities set up for freshmen in the first few day, others leave evenings free. My daughter's school has only freshmen on campus for TEN days before upperclassmen arrive, with a mix of some mandatory activities some nights and other nights pretty open. Often, at many schools, there is a floor meeting held by the RA on the first night freshman arrive that gives you a chance to meet people on your floor and then folks might go out from there.</p>
<p>My daughter has a single room in a substance free dorm that is mostly singles and the best advice she received came from her RA: Even if you are shy, don't hide in your room! Get out every night at first and just walk around campus, or even just around in your dorm, saying hi to people who look interesting. If you don't know where people hang out, ask your RA for some tips.</p>
<p>My daughter has taken that advice to heart. She introduced herself to some people on her school's face book before she even left for campus, and connected with a few people here and in the school's freshman discussion forum, including some that actually ended up in her dorm. So, on the first night, she was able to meet up with them and have dinner with someone she kind of already "knew." At the RA meeting, which was at 9, she met others on her floor.</p>
<p>Between the people she has met on her floor, the people she met online before leaving, and others she's come across along the way this week, she's found a fun group of kids to hang out with. They've gone as a group to some of the planned social events, gone bowling off campus, had dinner at a local pizza place, and just hung out watching movies. She's having a great time, and her only complaint so far is she is getting tired of meeting so many new people. She's not into drinking or drugs, but she's said that people looking for rowdier parties have had no trouble finding them. </p>
<p>But the key, really, is to force yourself OUT of your room, even if it feels weird at first. Then, look for the people doing the types of things you'd like to do --- and if you can't find anything going on, invite some folks to join you for whatever you want to do.</p>
<p>(P.S., this may sound silly, but my daughter bought three bags of candy to school with her. On the first day, she put a note on her room door saying "I have candy! Come in and say hi!" and even before we finished helping her unpack people started coming in.)</p>
<p>most schools have some type of events planned for you. i know at my college our first day we had some meetings and then at night we had a casino night and an ice cream social. the next day we had some more meetings, then bingo and a comedian, and the next day we had some meetings/ exploring and then this foam dance party.</p>
<p>You can go and find the rooms where your classes will be (especially if you are attending a big campus). You can also go find out about any activity that might interest you: intramural sports, newspaper, volunteer groups, and so on. You will probably also be buying your books during those first few days. You could also go to the library and check that out.:)</p>
<p>Carolyn, I had to smile at the candy line....my Mom brought over some bags of Starburst and other candy she got on sale and told my son he could take some to college. When he said, "I don't eat that much candy" she dryly said, "Others will..." Some things do bind people together. : )
I know my niece who is friendly but shy, told me that she took walks and got to know the campus and ended up making friends more outside of her dorm but having aquaintances on her floor to watch TV with or borrow something. Dont' think if you don't meet anyone right away, "that's it" or that you have to meet people only in your dorm.</p>
<p>Carolyn's advice should be mandatory reading for any kid starting college. Bottom line is to immediately get out and meet people.</p>
<p>In one week my S has managed to find out the name and hometown of 1 of his 3 suitemates. . .I should've sent him with candy.</p>
<p>I agree with Carolyn's post-- don't stay secluded in your room. I remember if I wasn't sleeping or changing (or having a legitimately personal conversation with an old friend who coincidentally ended up on my first year hall!) -- if I was eating or watching TV or just on the computer, I kept my door open. In the first weeks, people are always roaming the halls and popping into say hello. At most schools, there'll be a lot of recommended freshmen activities-- if not mandatory. Go to them. At my school, one of the most 'fun' bonding experiences of the first week of college is to take the bus over to the upperclassmen campus to go to parties. You don't really know where you're going, so you travel in packs and meet a whole bunch of really friendly people.</p>
<p>atomom -- don't despair. I am 40 years old and I can tell you that I know, converse with and do activites with people, and I couldn't tell you their names or where they are from. I am just terrible with names and details. you son may know more people than you think.</p>
<p>leave your dorm room door open when you're there and force yourself to say hi to everyone who passes by.The girls across the hall from S put a sign up saying "free candy,stop in".They also put a note up saying they were going to Target,did anyone need anything?
Attend your floor meetings and volunteer for some activity that forces you to get involved and meet the others on your floor.S has decided hes going to run for dorm council,whatever that is.
S, who is very gregarious,put a whiteboard up outside his room and announced a contest:first one to answer 5 questions he made up wins a prize..silly questions and no set prize but he figured it would make people stick their heads in the door.
Be the one who asks other people to eat dinner with you,etc.Dont bury your head in your computer.
Ask others questions even if you know the answers..like..where a certain building is, how the laundry machines work, etc.Force yourself to interact.
College is your new life. Its the time to reinvent yourself.</p>
<p>I thought the constant barrage of events, to do's, programs, organized meals , shopping adventures was over the top ....and then we let her leave for college and they did it all again there, too!!! ;) </p>
<p>D's college did a great job keeping them so busy I'm sure it helped some kids avoid homesickness.</p>
<p>Leave the door open. That's one of the best things you can do in that first week or so.</p>
<p>There will be lots of semi-awkward conversations that begin with something to the effect of "Sorry, I forgot your name...". You will also get extremely tired of the phrase "nice to meet you".</p>