Maybe you were one of the “cool” kids in high school. Maybe you weren’t. None of that matters anymore. Everyone is in the same boat once they get here and has an opportunity to start fresh. To make the most of one’s experience at the University of Michigan, involvement is crucial. U-M offers many opportunities to make friends and get involved, and it’s difficult to find anyone who after a semester doesn’t fit in somewhere on campus. If you come to U-M and don’t take advantage of all of the opportunities outside of academics, you’re really not getting a full college experience.
Your involvement begins as soon as you move in. Living in a dorm as a freshman is an excellent way to make friends, but you have to be willing to make an effort. While many people complain about living in a single room with a roommate and eating gross cafeteria food, those few students who do not live in a dorm are missing out on a valuable experience. Even with a horrible roommate, the dorm experience is not all bad. With dozens of people in a single hall, there is bound to be someone with similar interests. It also guarantees that someone will know of something going on during the weekends. Make an effort to reach out to your neighbors and hall mates, you wont regret it.
Another way to get involved right away is Festifall, an event held during the first week of classes. U-M has hundreds of clubs that set up tables on the Diag. It’s fun to walk around and learn all about the different organizations and opportunities for involvement on campus. Sign up for the e-mails of all the clubs you are interested in. You’re not going to end up joining all of them, but its nice to know what all the clubs are doing and when. Going to mass meetings is also a must. These meetings allow you to find out even more about the clubs (and there is usually food). Joining groups and clubs is one of the best ways to get involved. It can be a great way to find out that you’re really passionate about something. Go out on a limb and try something new. You will meet people you might not have otherwise and most groups will be a fine addition your resume. Plus, it gets you out of the dorm room once in a while and gives you a break from studying.
Participation in class will go a long way toward making friends (it also does not hurt your grade). Answering questions in discussion sections makes you seem more approachable, and no one likes those kids who skulk in the back row, saying nothing.
Playing on an intramural sports team is another great way to get to know people. IM sports are usually not the greatest, as they include players of all skill levels, but they are generally still fun. If you are better than most at certain sport, try-out for the club team. This will allow for more competition, although it is also more time-consuming.
Basically, try to spend as little time as possible alone in your dorm room. It will make your freshman year much more enjoyable if you go out and make friends. Do not forget that there are thousands of other freshmen in the same
boat, looking for where they fit in on campus. Do not be afraid to try new and different things that you did not do in high school. U-M has endless outlets for you to grow as a person, whether that’s through service or a singing group; a sports team or the debate club. There is a time and place for everything... and that is college.
Get Involved, Or Get Out
Published: Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Updated: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 21:07
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