Shipping out from Indiana to Jersey...
 

Big change for me, but this fall I'm going to be living in South Jersey as a student at Rutgers University. I'm leaving corn and John Mellancamp for turnpikes and Springsteen. I'm going to be a freshman with no social contact out there. High school was hell for me. I was respected, but not given much attention back from my 'friends'. I'm afraid of being out there and being lonlier than ever. I know this is an awful lot to cover in just one measely post, but I'm looking for a bit of advice/insight from all of those willing to spare it.

College is a fresh start. Be the person you always imagined yourself being. Nobody at school knew who you were last year. And the people whose approval you were seeking in high school are going to be miserable in 10 years, so fuck 'em.

two words that will keep you from every feeling lonely: GET INVOLVED. are you living on campus? join the dorm coincil. there's gotta be a student activities board. start going to meetings. get to know RA's and help them out on their projects... it may seem a little RA's pet, but beleive me, they've been through everything you're about to go through. enjoy their knoledge.

sports is another great way to get out and meet people. intramural sports are great stuff. your campus has a recreation center, get to know what's going on and do stuff.

the best way you'll ever get by in a new place is to immerse yourself in the goings on and become a part of it. you'll thank yourself for it later.

don't forget... Rutgers is just a short train ride away from New York City :) .... I don' t know the exact costs nor the train schedule, but NJTransit does have a trainstation near Rutgers and it goes right into Penn Station in Midtown.

As far as making friends, the posters before me have been right on point.

Whats that? Another Jersey TFPer? I forsee a massive TFP party in the making...

Anyone have a kegerator?

lucky you getting out of Indiana. I just went four hours north when I went to college (Purdue). I'll probably be here forever.

High school doesn't mean dick once you get into college. Have fun while you can and make sure you graduate in something or another.

I went to Rutgers in New Brunswick...
 

Which campus will you be on? If by South Jersey you mean the Camden Campus, then Philly is real close. If you mean New Brunswick, that's actually kind of central Jersey.

I'd say forget dealing with the RA's as was some earlier advice. In my experience, many are pretty socially inept themselves.

Instead, take part in the dorm floor activities (even if they're stupid) at the very least you will meet some people from your floor. Most of them will be in the same boat as you. Some may have been the big fish in high school, but freshman year of college everyone is lost. Hang out with people from your floor and use them as a kind of base to branch out and meet other people. Try to get groups together to go to meals, you won't feel quite so out of place.

Get involved in clubs. There are countless opportunities there. Dance, martial arts, automotive design, scuba, swimming, etc. If you want to start (or continue) to work out, there is a great gym on the Bush campus (again New Brunswick campus) called the Sonny Werblin Rec center.

If going to New Brunswick, there are some pretty good places to go. A restaurant called Stuff Yer Face, Cluck U Chicken. Of course there are the bars like the Scarlet Pub, Olde Queens, Corner Tavern, The Knight Club, etc but you will need a pretty good fake id to get in as a freshman.

Go to the football and basketball games. Even though the football team sucks, it's one big party. The lacrosse and soccer teams are pretty good. If you want to get into a not too difficult sport and get to know some people (and you're on the tall side) Crew is always looking for people.

As someone else posted, New York is a quick train ride away (as are shore points). Train tickets were always pretty reasonable, something like $10 or $20 round trip to NYC.

It may seem intimidating in the beginning but it will get better. Try as many things as you can since you will never have so many opportunities in one place. Anything that you can have an interest in there will be a group for you.

Good luck.

--Paul

Crap how many people are in Indiana? I'm in Fort Wayne. Everyone I meet online NEVER lives around here.

Everyone lives in Indiana. It's like the bermuda triangle.

well damnit come to good old Fort Wayne then :):)

Living in two parts of the state is enough for me :)

I drive through Indiana (90/94) at least once a month in route to Michigan to see my family.....

I think you'll have no problem making friends with people in NJ. Being from Pennsylvania, I have found Jersey people are a lot friendlier than PA people. I would stay away from philly. It's a totally beat city.

Whattya mean Pa people aren't friendly you asswipe!!!





ha ha ha, only kidding:D

dude. dude. dude.

College is fun.

It's full of people just like you. You're gonna have a blast. Just talk to people and relax.

I am form Pennsylvania, and I went to Purdue, West Lafayette. Fuck all your flat lander corn huskers. Apart from West Lafayette I hated the rest of the state, including Lafayette. The cactus, jakes, and the boilermakers made it bearable. ex-Judge Zimmerman can suck my hairy nut sack, and like it.

Since I don't drink, I hate West Lafayette. Now, Indianapolis...that's my kind of town :D