Journey Leaders share advice for New Buffs
Many New Buffs are excited to start their journey at CU Boulder and may be wondering what college life may be like. Fortunately, upperclassmen are more than willing to share their experiences!
Katie, Sofia, Connor and Prarthana are journey leaders in New Student & Family Programs. Review their tips and advice for students who are arriving on campus this fall.
Q. What is a favorite memory you have from your orientation or first Fall Welcome?
Sofia: I loved walking around and finding lawn games or people sitting outside. My roommate and I joined a group of people out on Baker field and played ultimate frisbee with them for a couple hours. They ended up being our best friends all of first year which was awesome!
Connor: The block parties and CU Kickoff were fantastic, couldn’t recommend them more!! High energy, easily able to make friends, cool things to do and captures the spirit of CU.
Prarthana: My favorite memory from Fall Welcome is the WelcomeFest. I met so many people that night, including some of my (now) closest friends. After the event, we all went back to one of our dorms and didn't leave until 3 a.m.
Q. Are there any social events or activities that you found particularly helpful for making friends?
Katie: I met a lot of people through the Greek rush process. Regardless of the outcome, it is a great way to meet people. I also found attending random events and just putting myself out there helped.
Sofia: Somewhat random, but I think that activities at The Rec are always a great way to meet people. Events like Flick 'n Float or paddleboard yoga are always really fun, and you get to hang out with new people doing a silly activity! I also met really cool people at the climbing gym in The Rec.
Prarthana: I really loved the Neighborhood Block Parties! A lot of people that I ran into that night lived in the same area as me, so I was able to create connections with people I knew I would see again afterward.
Q. What advice do you have for approaching new people and starting conversations?
Katie: Start by learning the basics—hometown, major, interests—and then once you find something you have in common or find interesting talk about that, ask questions and then initiate getting contact info or hanging out with them. Everyone is trying to find friends, so everybody is open to conversations like that.
Sofia: Remember that they are also just trying to get to know people. If anything, they will probably be grateful if you start the conversation.
Connor: Find a commonality (whether you like the same food, musician, interest, major or more).
Prarthana: My advice for approaching new people is to show interest in talking to them! Be curious and want to get to know who they are. I think it is also very important to be authentic!
Q. What advice do you have for someone who is shy or introverted when it comes to making friends?
Katie: Challenge yourself to do one thing that puts you outside of your comfort zone each day. That could be going to the dining center alone, talking to someone new or giving a compliment. By taking tiny steps, you will be putting yourself out there for connections to be made.
Sofia: My life hack is finding something to compliment something on. Whether it be their hair or outfit or shoes, I go up and say "Hey, I love your ____" and that helps me start talking when I'm nervous. I also usually just start by asking for their name. The conversation usually flows after that on its own. I will say just go for it—the more you do it the more comfortable you'll be with talking to new people!
Connor: Have patience—it takes time to develop new relationships.
Q. What are some ways to balance extracurricular activities with academic responsibilities?
Katie: Academics always come first, so in your first year try not to take too many hours (12-15) so you have time to develop connections and adjust to college life.
Sofia: I think it is important to separate school and fun. It can be hard, especially in your first year, when everything is in the same area. I would stay away from my residence hall until I finished everything on my to-do list. That way I was able to have my environments for studying and then for activities. I also would use my extracurriculars as an incentive to finish my work.
Connor: Set a timed schedule on what hours to study, what extracurricular activities you have, classes, labs, recitations, so you can have a balance between school and a social life.
Prarthana: Some ways to balance extracurricular activities with academic responsibilities is staying organized. I use an app called Notion to manage my assignments and weekly schedule. This helps me make sure that I stay on track in terms of all my assignments! I also have a timetable made for the week, which helps me visualize when I have classes and extracurricular activities to attend.
Q. What do you wish you had known in your first year of college?
Katie: I wish I had known that everything would turn out okay. Transitions are a stressful time, and new things can be scary, but putting yourself out there and doing something new is good for you.
Connor: There are more resources and fun things to do than you think you know. Keep on a look out for fun events!
Prarthana: In my first year of college, I wish I had known how important it is to be authentic from the start. Not being entirely authentic has resulted in me getting involved with people I don't mesh well with. If I had been authentic from the start, I would have found my people sooner.
Q. What other advice do you have for New Buffs?
Katie: Be open to new experiences, new people and being uncomfortable. Be aware of the resources on campus you are paying for, explore The Rec and just have fun. It flies by and it is so, so fun.
Sofia: Remember that you will be here for a while. You don't have to get everything done in your first year! It's okay to take the first few months slowly to get your feet on the ground. All those activities and opportunities that seem interesting to you will still be here by the end of the semester. Take care of yourself!
Connor: Look for a study space that best suits your needs. It doesn’t always have to be at a library. It can be at a coffee shop, at lunch or a small desk tucked away. Make a list of these to help with homework and test taking.
Prarthana: Get excited! The first year comes with both ups and downs but know that there are so many others who are in the same boat as you.