You’ve settled into your dorm, classes are underway and starting college doesn’t feel quite as overwhelming anymore. Maybe you’ve met a few people in your residence hall, exchanged socials and started to find your way around campus. But now that the first day’s excitement is wearing off, you might be asking yourself how to step outside of your comfort zone and find community at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to stick with the first freshmen you meet during Welcome Week to find your people in Madison. There are a number of activities in Madison that give freshmen the chance to experience something new and make friends. So, here’s a few ideas to make Madison feel a bit more like home.
The Student Organization Fair
Trying new things can feel intimidating, especially if it’s your first time away from home or out of state. Audrey Hardman, a UW-Madison senior and Wisconsin Welcome intern, encourages freshmen not to let this hold them back.
“Most of the events are ones that students can go to by themselves,” Hardman told The Daily Cardinal.
Hardman explained that late-night events are often especially welcoming because they take place near the residence halls and are designed for students who want to make new friends.
“From get-to-know-you activities to events with fun giveaways like free succulents, these events give students something to do and a chance to meet others,’’ she said.
The Student Organization Fair is a great event to check out if you want to get involved on campus early in the semester. The fair takes place at the Kohl Center on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 9 and 10, from 5-8 p.m.
The event is a chance to explore all of the clubs and organizations at the university. Whether you already know what you want to join or are still exploring, you can talk to students from different orgs and see what catches your attention.
Leah Newman, a UW-Madison junior working for the Office of Student Transitions and Family Engagement, also encourages first-year students to attend the Student Organization Fair.
“Students can go alone and talk to different groups and orgs on campus. I recommend they take a notepad and make notes of what they see and what orgs they’d see themselves in,’’ Newman told the Cardinal.
For freshmen looking to branch out at the beginning of the semester, the student unions are popular and easy options for getting out of your dorm.
WUD Film Presents: Project Hail Mary:
On Saturday, September 5, students can attend a free showing of Project Hail Mary at The Marquee in Union South from 7-9:45 p.m. This is a great chance for freshmen to get out of their dorms and relax in a casual setting. Going to watch a movie means you don’t have to worry about making conversation the whole time. You can bring your roommate, invite someone you met in class or just come on your own. It’s an easy way to try something different, get comfortable on campus and experience one of the many unique things campus has to offer. Maybe you can even update your Letterboxd while you’re at it.
Another way to branch out is by attending game nights at Union South every Sunday starting on Sept. 6. Game nights include board, video and VR games; just make sure to bring your Wiscard.
Playing games makes it easier to start conversations, so you don’t have to worry about awkward introductions. Joining a game is an easy way to break the ice and start feeling more at home on campus, even if you don’t have a group to come with.
Snake on the Lake: Music Festival:
Sharing music is a great way to make new friends. WSUM and WUD Music are putting on their annual Snake on the Lake music festival on Friday, Sept. 11.
The event is free and takes place on the Memorial Union terrace. You can enjoy live music from Why Bonnie, Baileys and Half Gringa. Come for the music, stay for the dancing and maybe grab some ice cream from Daily Scoop.
Tips from upperclassmen
Conversations about majors and hometowns can only get you so far, so it’s important to focus on making friendships that’ll last beyond welcome week. For Makeda Renfro-Sargent, a UW-Madison junior, many of her first year friendships stayed surface-level. It wasn’t until she decided to take initiative that she started building deeper connections with her peers.
“When you really take the chance to invite someone along, include someone with your friends or in your activities and your hobbies, meaningful friendships can form. And you might end up learning about all sorts of new cool things you can do on campus and expand your circle,’’ Renfro-Sargent told the Cardinal.
Julia Ilarraza, a UW-Madison senior, recommends making new friends in places you already like to spend time. Meeting people who share your interests can make it easier to start a conversation and connect.
“For example, if you like going to the gym, try talking to someone at the gym because they are most likely also interested in making friends with similar hobbies,” Ilarraza told the Cardinal.
You never know who you might meet when you spend time with different friend groups during your first year, so it’s worth talking to everyone.
Kimberly Luna, a UW-Madison junior, recommends connecting with upperclassmen and being open to new experiences, even if it feels a little uncomfortable at first. During her freshman year, she lived with upperclassmen.
“The girls were all different majors, a diverse friend group that encouraged me to join different clubs and explore majors. I joined a club one of them founded, met their friends and got taken under their wing,” Luna told the Cardinal.
More ideas for the niche explorers
If you’re looking for places in Madison that feel like your favorite spots from home or ideas for cozy fall events, here is a quick list to check out:
If you’re craving a cozy bookstore and cafe, check out Leopold’s Books Bar Cafe — a great place to do homework, meet up with friends, grab pumpkin spice chai in the fall and maybe even attend one of their free jazz jams.
If you're looking for a fun autumn activity to do either with friends or on your own, Middleton — a town just outside of Madison — will be holding Stars Hollow Days on Oct. 10 and 11. Coffee, s’mores, live music, trivia and a warm bonfire will all be available at the event. The businesses in the downtown area of Middleton will also be turned into Stars Hollow locations from the well-known TV show Gilmore Girls.
If you’re looking for a new study spot to do work in and kill time between classes, check out Nancy Nicholas Hall on Linden Drive; there is an outdoor area where you can settle in and grab a coffee at their cafe, Robin's Nest.
Finding your community at UW-Madison takes time. It might start with going to a Union event, joining a club that sounds interesting, asking an upperclassman for advice or finding a cozy coffee shop to study for finals. What’s important is remaining open to trying new things and meeting new people. If you’re patient and open to new experiences, you’ll find the people, places and events that make Madison feel like home.
