<p>People, UMinn is a big university with over 36000 undergrads and as is written on the univ. website, it's a city in itself. Well, in a crowd of so many people, does one not get lost? Do people ever get to find persons who can become really good friends and not for just for getting their work done?</p>
<p>I met friends in my major classes. Big isn't the reason some colleges are worse for making friends--unstable sets of classmates because of low graduation rates and high rates of transferring out are a more serious problem. Big actually means more opportunities to make friends, doing what you like.</p>
<p>I am glad that you started this thread. D's biggest concern is exactly this. She is kind of down to UMN & another VERY different school (in size & location) and both options concern her in this area.</p>
<p>We are making one more visit this coming weekend, hopefully comparing FA packages(UMN says theirs is on the way) and then she will decide.</p>
<p>Other UMN students, please register your thoughts on this matter. Maybe you should make this more general and start a thread on the general college selection sub-forum?</p>
<p>I really like that it's a big place and I come from a middle sized town. I've never felt lost or had trouble building meaningful relationships. Everyone else is also in the same boat you are. You'll be surprised by the amount of people you see around campus that you know, even when theres 50k+ people walking around campus everyday.</p>
<p>My son is coming from a graduating class of over 600 (maybe that's just big for a Nebraska high school) ... hopefully that is big enough to prepare him somewhat!</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. To add, let me state that I live in India and am a US Citizen. But as it is with other internat. students, I'm not really sure as to how people will perceive me over there. I'm a good student and really humorous. But I bet many people are like that which is why I'm confused. On one hand, you will find people who are compatible with you and yet on the other hand, you'll just be one of the many in the crowd. The friends might just be to pass your time and most of them might not even really be your friends.</p>
<p>I imagine that in any place, big or small, you can find some good friends. Your friends can be your roommates, the people who live in your residence hall, that nice person you see in your math class, anybody really. I'm sure if you go out there and meet people and make plans to do something with them, you can make a serious connection with someone, as opposed to just the acquaintances one sometimes makes to get by in their classes.</p>
<p>I haven't been to such a big school as Minnesota, but my experience of moving from smaller to bigger schools tells me that's probably the case at the U.</p>
<p>At a school as large as UMN, do the RAs do anything to help the freshmen assimilate into school? How about that freshman program before school starts? I think UMN has one. At this point all of D's schools are starting to meld together in my mind...</p>
<p>There is a welcome week program that is mandatory for the first time ever for the class of 2012, that is designed to help people meet other freshmen and make friends.</p>
<p>Years ago, I thought the orientation program was effective. My son is applying to live in the dorms (as a dual-enrollment high school student), so after a while I should know about how the RAs do.</p>
<p>Do let us know what he thinks about the dorms</p>
<p>He won't know any sooner than any other fall 2008 admittee, but I will try to report. A local buddy of his lives in the dorms as a matriculated freshman (IT honors program) and likes that.</p>
<p>Very cool. Thanks so much :) Wish I knew people for that insider info on dorms ... oh well, I guess it more of an adventure this way :)</p>
<p>Admitman,
I'm an international too, though I went to a different school, smaller w/ about 20k students. I can tell you that most of the time they dont judge you right away just because youre from somewhere else they might never even heard of. And people at my school arent used to foregners btw, so things could have been worse.
The only thing you need to do is come w/ the initiative to start a conversation. Check this thread:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/471442-freshman-year-college-almost-over-what-i-wish-i-had-known-before-7.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/471442-freshman-year-college-almost-over-what-i-wish-i-had-known-before-7.html</a>
It contains some advice on making friends.</p>
<p>And here's some I recommend and do:
1. Orientations, attend both local and international student orientations. Spending a few days hanging out with newbies can actually build up friendship faster than you think.
2. Being an international student myself I can tell you that many of us are either scared to talk to Americans (having terrible English etc...) or just here to study and socialize with their own..umm.. fellow foreigners. If the former is the case, be the one with the initiative.
3. Leave your room open (also mentioned previously on this thread), people will notice that you actually exist and most of the time conversation just flows in.
4. Join groups, clubs on whatever you like. Spending time with other members adds more friends.
5. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but come to parties. It doesnt matter if you drink or not, there are loads of sensible parties where they dont even drink much.
6. Group studies, you start with hanging out with your classmates, talk about things you both understand, and sometimes before you know it you've got yourself new friends.</p>
<p>Take a freshman seminar -- they are limited to freshamn and only have 20 students in the class. There are many different topics to choose from. It will be easier to meet people in a small class and you will have an interest in common.</p>