Thought Couture for the PreppyMag
Transitioning from high school to university can be a hard adjustment, especially in terms of how to relate to your classmates. We’re used to classes of 20-30 students, and when we arrive in college, we’re thrust into a world of 500 student lecture halls and participation marks based on a digital polling system.
In this new environment, it can be hard to figure out exactly how to interact with classmates, and how you can work with and encourage one another. I’ve been fortunate in my university career so far to mostly be in small classes, and live in residence with some of my classmates. This certainly has helped me form bonds with my classmates, and ensure that we can both help each other do the best we can do academically.
But what if you’re not so lucky? How can you actually interact with classmates? Keep on scrolling to see my top three tips for making friends in class, and working together with classmates towards better marks for the both of you!
Just say hi!
Step one really is, just introduce yourself to your classmates. Try sitting next to someone else who seems to be by themself in class, and strike up a conversation. You never know, you might end up having a lot in common!
2) Start study groups.
If you’re not already put in groups for group projects or any other sort of assignment, try starting your own! A lot of classes have email lists or Facebook groups, so start advertising to your classmates and time and place for study sessions! Chances are, there will be other students around who are looking for some study buddies too.
3) Share your notes when someone asks.
Some university classes can be really competitive. Students might even see helping each other out as hurting their own chances of being best in the class. If you really want a good university experience, I suggest you try to resist that feeling. If someone needs tutoring or notes from a missed lecture, help them out! Then, some day when you’re in a bind, someone else is more likely to help you as well.
Overall, if you go into class with the attitude of wanting to learn, and wanting to help others learn with you, you are way more likely to take in information and keep it. Helping out your classmates is not only a great way to review info and study, but also to make friends.
Let me know on Twitter or in the comments how you encourage your classmates to succeed, and how you battle the challenge of making friends in a huge lecture hall.
Until next time,
Katie
