Campus life may seem forbidding at first. There is such a confluence of
different subcultures and people from different walks of life that it may seem
hard to find your place. But, never fear: campus life has something to offer
almost anyone. You just might have to seek it out.
Hang Out Spots
If you are the kind of
person who likes to lounge around and talk, there ought to be plenty of
opportunities to do just that on your campus. The dining hall is usually a prime
place to sit and talk with people. If you are looking to meet new people, it's
also a place where you can invite someone to sit with you whom you don't know or
have only met briefly. The school might also have a coffee shop with comfortable
chairs, a section in the student center for people to sit and eat, and, of
course, places outside for when the weather is nice.
Parties
These you hear about all the time. College parties are
stigmatized and stereotyped, and not always with bad reason. However, it
probably won't be like it is in the movies. One thing to keep in mind is that if
the party is in a dorm, the policies of that building need to be followed. You
could get in trouble with the campus police just for being in attendance, so
make sure you know what is or is not legitimate about the gatherings you go to.
Events
Athletic events usually have a pretty high turnout at
colleges, even if your team isn't very good. The sense of community is really
strong at these events, since everyone is together, rooting for the same thing.
They also have the added bonus of being pretty frequent occurrences throughout
the year. You are likely to meet a lot of people and have a lot of fun at the
games, even if you aren't into sports very much.
There are also going to
be a slew of other events put on by different clubs and groups on campus. Expect
movie nights, theatrical performances, art shows, poetry readings, open gym
events, concerts, and more. There really are events for just about every taste.
Where to Study
Any of the aforementioned "hang out" spots might
be conducive for you to study. Depending on the level of background noise you
like, you can get everything from lots of chatter to total silence. You'll see
people studying in the student center, the cafe, the dining hall, and, of
course, the library. That building may even have private study rooms that you
can try and grab for you and a group of friends/classmates.
During
midterms and finals, you'll see the culture and tone of campus life change a
little bit. Things will get a lot quieter as students bear down and get their
noses into the books. The library will probably be open later and a lot busier
than it is during the rest of the semester. You'll be less able to walk into
strangers' open dorm rooms.
Campus life is full of possibilities to meet
new people and try new things. You may even find that your tastes run
differently than you thought they did after attending a riveting poetry reading
or exciting basketball game. The important thing is to enjoy yourself and get
the most you can out of your time at school.
