So most of this year has been pretty miserable. The academics are fine and I am doing well but the social part is nothing like I expected. I like to go out and have fun but I did not pledge a frat and now I am not sure if I made a big mistake. I have made some friends but not a lot and find mysel alone come Friday and Sat nights. I am thinking about transferring but I hate to lose out on the academics and reputation of Michigan. Any help is welcome.
Did you try to join any of these:
I have not as I hesitate to go alone but I think I need to push myself.
Go for it! You’re bound to make new friends!
I’m now a junior, and I only have one friend that I did not either meet through an organization I’m apart of or through those friends from the organizations.
You can’t expect yourself to make any lasting friendships without being apart of something and getting involved. It’s honestly just about hopeless. If you live in a dorm, then you should be able to befriend people around you there, but the friendships may not last once you’ve moved out and it might be too late at this point anyway. I recommend a professional fraternity or a political/social organization like SAPAC or SFC (of course these depend on your personal beliefs).
Transferring won’t solve anything. The problem isn’t with the school, it’s with your lack of involvement (which sounds harsh, but it’s really a good thing… it’s fixable).
“I have not as I hesitate to go alone but I think I need to push myself.”
As the great one said: “You don’t make 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Take a shot, then another, then another…repeat as needed until you have 3-5 friends in your circle. It will make your time there much more rewarding. When you look back in 20 years or 30, you’ll want to have someone to compare notes with…that won’t happen if you stay in your room.
“I have not as I hesitate to go alone but I think I need to push myself.”
You might have a slight case of agoraphobia or social anxiety? Go out 10 minutes
per day and keep upping the “dose”. If things haven’t changed in a few weeks and
you are stilling feeling “off” or isolated, go to student services and have a chat with
a counselor. The 99.999% probability is that you simply need to get out and about…
don’t ruminate about it, just act; ac