Being a freshman on such a large campus can be daunting. We have all been there! When I first came to Wisconsin I was intimidated by the largeness of everything there – however, school now feels so small – because I did everything I could to get to know it. Here are three tips to get to know Madison!
Tip 1: Hangout with your floor
Living in the dorms is such a fun experience, and I totally recommend getting to know everyone on your floor. These people will become like family, and feeling comfortable and safe in your space is essential. You can do this by going to school sponsored dorm events, or just knocking on doors or hanging in shared spaces. My floor mates are still some of my closest friends!
Tip 2: Join Greek life
My second tip is to absolutely join Greek life! My freshman year I rushed and was so lucky to have met some of my very best friends through my sorority. There are also professional fraternities! I totally recommend joining whichever aligns better with what you’re interested in – it’s a great way to meet people similar to you and get involved.
More info here: https://fsl.wisc.edu
Tip 3: Explore the campus
Becoming acquainted with campus was a huge part of getting to know Madison for me. Not only would I attend my classes (in many buildings around campus), but if I had a short break or free time, I would go into the nearest building and just explore it. Also, I really recommend going up State Street and just observing the different shops and offerings. Lots of specialty shops and coffee shops. Lastly, go to the farmers market! Every Saturday (Summer-November) there is a farmers market around the Capital. So fun and everything is so fresh.
