The GREAT Life: A synopsis of college from a three day freshman.

College Life
1

<p>First off, what's up, it's like 7 AM here, still feeling kinda good, and I remember i said I was definitely coming back onto CC to give me thoughts on school.</p>

<p>So whatever, here goes.</p>

<p>I go to USC and I notice how people are wondering if its hard to make friends in school, if going out is hard, etc etc. In short, it's only as hard as you want it to be.</p>

<p>The first day I got here, I knew a few people from orientation, that's it. Since then, I've went out with probably near 100 people, met people from Greece, Taiwan, Australia (my roomie and some others), Latin America, etc. Let me tell you: No one (or at least no one that matters) cares what your friends look like anymore. If they are cool and have something to contribute they are down.</p>

<p>Now, making friends? Open your damn door, walk down the hall, meet one person, after talking to them go, "yo man, lets go see who else is on our floor". Do this for two days, and you will guarantee know a lot of people.</p>

<p>Do things you wouldn't normally do, going to the indoor pool/gym allowed me to find out about things like intramural dodgeball (that's so win.).</p>

<p>I honestly don't even believe that I was even SLIGHTLY nervous before I came here.</p>

<p>My fellow 2012ers, good luck in school, and have a blast. And please guys, expand your horizons, this is the time to do it.</p>

2

<p>Thanks for the post! I’m leaving tomorrow, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m glad to hear that some people are adjusting well.</p>

3

<p>my campus is like that also, only i have no desire to make friends.</p>

4

<p>Great writeup!</p>

5

<p>Great advice. As a 4-day freshman typing this at 3:45am at Michigan State, that’s exactly what I did. I LOVE the college life, it really is everything I’ve dreamed of *sigh</p>

6

<p>Thanks for this post - please continue to post more!</p>

7

<p>glad to here that someone is happy about going to college.</p>

8

<p>Good to hear. because you weren’t nervous and were instead thinking positive, you got positive results. if only I was more like that 3 years ago..</p>

9

<p>I don’t even see how someone would still be nervous about going to school if they’ve been there for more than a day.</p>

<p>Making friends is literally the most simple task. I’ve seen some of the kids in high school who would definitely be laughed at hook up with some of the most smoking girls. </p>

<p>And for people who say going to parties aren’t for them, thats bs. All the parties I’ve been to, no one’s been forcing anyone to drink any liquor, and socializing is part of being a person, get used to it. I dont see how anyone could not have a good time meeting new people, dancing, etc etc.</p>

<p>To be honest, if you aren’t enjoying college, then its your own fault. Unless you go to a 500 person school, there are so many new and interesting people to meet and hang out with that you can’t claim your “niche” (whatever thats supposed to mean) doesn’t exist.</p>

10

<p>“And for people who say going to parties aren’t for them, thats bs. All the parties I’ve been to, no one’s been forcing anyone to drink any liquor, and socializing is part of being a person, get used to it. I dont see how anyone could not have a good time meeting new people, dancing, etc etc.”</p>

<p>Some people honestly just do not enjoy the entire party scenario, even when you take away the alcohol and drugs part, and it’s not your place to judge them. That kind of socializing is quite shallow and frustrating to some people.</p>

<p>College is much easier than a lot of people expect if you come to it with an open mind. I do just want to mention that for those of you who are just starting out as freshman, it’s probably not a good idea to start thinking you have it all figured out already - there’s so much more! :)</p>

11

<p>wow, sounds like youre having an awesome time. the first couple of weeks are always the best when meeting everyone at once. im gonna give you some advice to keep you from making the same mistake i did. </p>

<p>keep the meeting everyone attitude up and never limit yourself to one group. a month or two from now you may realize these first freidns arent the ones from you and you could be stuck. happened to me and i had to start from square one and it was rough for a while. but i did meet a whole bunch of new people and made great friends second semester and things worked out. just dont let it happen!</p>

12

<p>Hear hear!</p>

<p>I think you are absolutely right. Your college experience is what you make of it. The reason why the more socially active end up making more friends is because they approach people first. </p>

<p>A word of advice to everyone. Believe that you are a worthy and interesting individual and don’t be afraid to be who you are. It’s college. Everyone is new, a bit nerdy, and ready to learn.</p>

13

<p>I’m at USC too, trying to pretend I’m not completely homesick and scared. I love the people on my floor and it’s nice here, but I wake up in the mornings with a horrible empty feeling. My first class is at noon. It’s 10;30 now</p>

14

<p>Regarding homesickness…it gets better, I promise. I’m going to be a sophomore this year, and I missed home a lot for the first month or so. It tapers off. Push through it and make friends and have a good time (and keep up on your classes!). Occupy your time with fun things and you’ll have less time to worry about it.</p>

15

<p>I remember when I went away to college for the first time. I was so scared leading up do it, but within a day or two I had no worries. I didn’t feel homesick at all, and actually missed school when I was at home over the long winter break.</p>

<p>Sadly I did get homesick when I moved across the country for grad school, though. :(</p>

16

<p>Yeah, I am starting to feel a wee bit homesick (3000 miles away, etc). Everyone’s great here, but it would just be nice if I had my best friend to talk to and to experience everything with me. My roommate has her best friend here so she can talk about stuff, but not me. People normally don’t talk about the less glamorous fact in college (going out-of-state in particular) that it really sucks not to have any person to truly depend on (even if everyone is sooo completely nice, you have no idea if they will one day just stab you in the back). But on that note, keep up the optimism. College will likely be a place where you make the best (and possibly the worst) memories of your life. You never really know what is going to happen</p>

17

<p>I am absolutely shocked with how college has been for me.</p>

<p>I am really tight with my family, and I am such an awkward dork, really. Yet, somehow, I have just been so engrossed with getting to know people, in addition to all of the planned activities, that I haven’t really been missing home at all. I have not made any friends for myself throughout high school because I pretty much made them all through my friends, yet coming here, it’s so easy. You just go up, say hi, introduce yourself, start talking, leave your door open, go to school organized social functions, etc. </p>

<p>Seriously, between orientation and the last few days, I already feel confident enough to say that I have three people who are definitely my friends, and many many more acquaintances. It’s really great.</p>

18

<p>fa-la-la-lena, I’ve actually found I made much stronger friendships within a week of starting both undergrad and grad than I ever had back in high school. I think it’s because there’s a lot more of the cooperative attitude here than there was back in HS. Like, now in grad school I can just drop by anyone’s office and ask if they want to head out for lunch, go for a swim, or grab a coffee and there was never that sort of freedom back in HS.</p>

<p>I think the homesickness from the 3000 miles away does suck. In undergrad I could always have taken the bus/train home (being a 10 hour ride I never really did it other than on holidays), while way out here I’d be forced to fly, and that just feels like such a bigger step.</p>

<p>Also, people that grew up with pets. Prepare to miss them more than you miss your parents. You can always call mom when you get homesick and she can always mail you some cookies, but your pet will never be sitting there at the door when you get back to your dorm after bombing a test.</p>

19

<p>Thanks guys. I’m glad to hear it gets better</p>

20

<p>yeah i’m counting on missing my animals the most. my cats especially. they’re literally MY babies; my parents have nothing to do with them. all three just sit on my lap or right next to me all day, follow me around the house, etc…sad. no furry purr machine to cuddle up with. i just hope they don’t get depressed or anything. i know cats are supposedly so independent, but my cats already act weird at when we first get home from vacation (we have a house-sitter, so it’s not like we kennel them). they’re so dependent on me. they’re sitting with me right now.</p>