One of the most daunting things going into college for me and many of my friends was the prospect of having to “start over” when it comes to social relationships. In high school, we had grown very close, spent years with the same people in the same classes every day and now we were about to be scattered all around the world, entering college – with no real concept of how that would really look, on a day-to-day basis – and expecting to feel lost.

Fast-forward to after the summer and I had just arrived in Chicago following a day-long journey from Europe, where I grew up. In the exciting and fast-paced weeks that followed (and really even on the very first day) it became clear that many of my concerns and things I was unsure about were absolutely not going to be an issue at all. Many aspects of the transition and getting started socially have been discussed by other students in previous blog posts, but I want to focus on a very, very important aspect to finding community: Your residence hall. 

Before getting too deep into this topic, it’s important to note that Northwestern has two main types of housing: Residential halls, which are your “typical” college dorm experience, and residential colleges, which are more tight-knit communities with lots of events and typically a theme associated with them. I have been lucky enough to spend my first two years at Northwestern in Willard Residential College, at the southwestern edge of campus and right next to downtown Evanston. 

All first- and second-years live on campus and this is an immense catalyst to getting to know people and finding your place when coming to Northwestern. Get used to reciting your name, major (or school) and where you’re from many, many times a day, especially at the beginning of fall quarter! After moving in, every time I took the elevator or met someone waiting in line at the dining hall, this was the conversation that ensued. Some of these people I would later recognize in my classes and bond with more. Many, I would never see again. And some are now among my closest friends at Northwestern. 

Everyone at Northwestern has incredible stories to tell – perhaps I am biased as someone studying journalism, but I found it incredibly exciting to hear about people’s backgrounds, their studies, interests, projects and lives whenever I could. I am confident you will, too. 

A good place to start is with your roommate or roommates. Aside from it being a good idea to learn how to understand them better because you are literally going to spend a year living together, it’s also a great additional way to make sure you have someone you can turn to right from the moment you arrive on campus. They might also introduce you to their friends and vice-versa – and of course, all the things that apply to random encounters in the elevator or hallway also apply to your roommate: They will have fascinating stories to tell and exciting knowledge to share. 

One of my favorite parts of the on-campus living experience has been the residential college programming. There is something for everyone (and you get points for attending things, so you can choose the best rooms next year!), ranging from board games to (lots of) food events and guest speakers. I have found going to these events is a great way to end up in conversations with some of the people living in the same building or on the same floor with you. Plus, you’ll encounter lots of people with similar interests to you by attending certain presentations and guest lectures. I remember having a heated debate with a guy I had met just an hour earlier about the geopolitical rivalry between America and Iran. We had just picked up some donuts from a residential college-hosted event and were sitting in the lobby of our dorm, Willard, eating said donuts and talking strategy. We are still friends as we’re both transitioning to being upperclassmen. 

All in all, my main point here is – don’t worry. You will have plenty of opportunities to discover your place and your people at Northwestern. And you will likely find that some of your future best friends live right across the hall from you. 

Linus Hoeller ’23

Major: Journalism

Hometown: Graz, Austria