<p>I am not the extroverted type…will I survive at UMich? What dorm would be best for me?</p>
<p>Hmm. yea me too. I am shy depending on who I’m with… Could anyone answer this question? :)</p>
<p>You’ll survive so long as you don’t need to avoid people at all cost. I’m the same way and have done very well so far. If you want to be alone at times, just close the door. If you want to socialize, people here make that easy. No one will make you do anything you don’t want to. </p>
<p>Hardest thing for me is speaking up in section cause that’s 20-30 ppl, but once or twice is all they expect. Far as dorm life and such, Markley is somewhat a party scene with really small rooms, so you might want to avoid that. North campus is quieter but means taking the bus. South Quad isn’t bad either.</p>
<p>Michigan will bring out (drag out if need be) the extrovert in you! 
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<p>You guys will be fine, but all the "shy: people I knew coming into Michigan were cured of their shyness by the time they left the school. Nothing like 27,000 rabid Wolverines to rid you of the problem. Seriously, everybody can find her/his niche at Michigan.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who’s worried about this.</p>
<p>^^The compulsive shyness may have gone, but the underlying introversion is a deeper personality trait that is not as easily “fixable.”</p>
<p>My son is an introvert and he has done very well at Michigan. His extroverted side definitely came out, but he still needs his down/alone time, which he says hasn’t been a problem.</p>
<p>The advice we gave him is that when you get to Michigan, the first few weeks are critical for forming friendships for the year. If you don’t get along with your roommate, try hanging out with other in your hallway or dorm. Be open to new experiences and don’t turn down invitations to go out initially, even if you’d rather not. You have to put yourself out there, outside of your comfort zone, to make some new friends. </p>
<p>If you’re tempted to hole up in your room and avoid people, really try not to do that. Everyone wants to make new friends when they get to college, so people are open to all types of people and friends. If you can do this, as our son did, you will be just fine.</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing about the dorms, emoryorbust. Would you people recommend joining a learning community?</p>
<p>The learning communities are a great way to feel part of a smaller community at Michigan from the start. Even for Welcome Week events, your community will attend in small groups, so you don’t have to worry about finding friends to go with. Being in a coummunity also ensures you will live in a dorm on Central Campus, for the most part. Son joined the Lloyds Hall Scholars community, which he has really enjoyed. Son was worried it might be too artsy (he is a writer and it’s a community of writers and artists) but it is not super artsy. Most of his friends are students who enjoy writing. Some applied just to make sure they got a nice dorm. Lloyds Scholars is housed in Alice Lloyd Hall, the most recently renovated dorm on campus - super nice, air conditioned, etc. So yes, I’d encourage anyone concerned about making friends at a large school to consider one of the learning communities at Michigan. There are several and they are discussed on other threads here on on Michigan’s website.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your advice.
@Sportsmom42- do you think themed housing would provide the same benefits of a learning community? From my understanding, themed housing does not have the academic requirements that a learning community does (?)</p>
<p>Emoryorbust, I’m not sure what you mean by themed housing, like the all girls dorms, for example? Maybe someone with experience with those can answer. </p>
<p>Dont’ be deterred by the application process for the learning communities. You can apply to more than one, and note your preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd) when you apply. Son applied to Lloyds Hall and the Health Scholars, with his first choice being Lloyds Hall, and he got his first choice. I don’t think there aren’t any academic requirements for Lloyds Hall - you just have to answer a few essay questions. </p>
<p>Once you are in a community, there are monthly meetings you are required to attend, various clubs you can join (one is required), and many opportunities for social outings with your community if you want to go (but it’s not required). Again, it’s a great way to feel part of a smaller community at Michigan and make friends quickly. My son is living in house next year with his group of friends he made in Lloyds Hall. They really bonded this year.</p>
<p>Emory - the themed housing is the same as learning communities as opposed to Residential College. RC can be another way to go to make the school feel more intiment.</p>
<p>First of all, there’s a difference between being shy, and being introverted. I am not shy, but I am introverted, e.g. I have no problem meeting people, standing up in front of class, being the center of attention, etc. but I do need my alone time (and quite a bit of it). I’ve been fine here, with no complaints.</p>
<p>If you’re actually legitimately a shy person… I would heavily advise that you do everything you can to abandon that characteristic and run away from it. I don’t see how a shy person could be anything more than average here at UMich. I’m not saying a shy person wouldn’t be “fine,” but I don’t know if one could thrive. The entire social life and most classes involve you really putting yourself out there and being open for everyone to see. Socially and academically, my experience has been that you will be in the constant involvement of other people, and in order to succeed mightily you need to be comfortable with their “judging eyes” always affixed on you. Maybe that’s just the vibe I’ve gotten, but that’s my input.</p>
<p>That being said, judging from the comments here, you’re probably just an introvert, and not really that, by definition, shy. In this case, you’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Even in the dorms, quiet and alone time is not difficult to come by and others typically respect your privacy. Except on Friday nights. No one will respect your privacy on Friday nights. :)</p>
<p>I am really shy. But when I am with my friends I am really “crazy”. Well I don’t really like my high school because I am too shy to make friends. I really hope it will get better later on in college. Maybe I can try different activities which is a great way to meet people according to my host sister lol.</p>