Coming from as small of a town as Groveton, NH with a population of just over 1,100, saying I was nervous to attend a large state university like UNH was a total understatement. Those of you who have committed to a large school may be anticipating the best, which is great. You are obviously looking for a change from the same people and same vibe you have been used to your whole life. But, I'm sure most of you are scared out of your minds. That is completely normal. But here are a few reasons you should replace that fear with excitement.
1. There are so many opportunities to make friends.
Though you may make your best friends living in your dorm or in your classes, there are also so many different types of people with different interests and personalities around campus. There is no doubt you will be able to find someone who likes the same obscure band or who has the same sense of humor. That is why it is important to strike up as many conversations with strangers as possible when you first get there. Everyone is looking for the group they want to call their friends and this is your chance.
2. You can either party as much as you want or avoid them completely.
Though UNH has gained its reputation as a party school throughout the years, that's not all it is. Because it is such a big school, there are more people, parties and more incidents than a smaller school. If you are all about going out every night Thursday through Sunday, you will most definitely be able to do that. But you aren't intending to test the waters in the party scene, you will very easily be able to avoid it. There are inevitably going to be countless people who feel the same way you do and would rather spend their nights having substance-free fun.
3. You CAN walk alone at night without worrying.
One of the things I heard the most before my freshman year was, "Don't walk alone at night. Bad things happen on college campuses." Yes, bad things do happen occasionally, but you shouldn't live in fear every time you walk home from the library after a late study session. On most college campuses, people look out for each other. And if you do feel unsafe, there are resources for you to call on. Every large school has the emergency blue lights and most have a safe ride system to keep you safe on the rare occasion that there is an actual reason for worry.
4. You can either go completely unnoticed or stand out in your large classes.
It is inevitable that you will have to sit through lectures of 200 or more people. It sounds terrifying. No, professors will not learn all of their student's names. It is even possible they could never know how you are as a student. With teaching assistants and graders, the professor will most likely never connect a person's face to their work. It is possible to get by in those classes without ever saying a word in class or going to see your professor after class ends.
But if you refuse to be just a face in the crowd, that is a superior option. Because you chose to work harder than 90% of your classmates just to ask that question in lecture or visit your professor at office hours, you will be respected that much more. This shows them you are not willing to be average and those connections you make with your professors can be beneficial when job-searching later on.
5. You will never run out of things to do.
Still, the transition to college probably seems very scary. It makes sense. You are leaving all you have ever known. It may seem like this school could chew you up and swallow you. But most likely, if you are open-minded enough, it will be very easy to settle in and make a home for yourself. Because you stepped so far out of your comfort zone in picking a large school, you will quickly begin to feel yourself growing and maturing and all the worries will soon be gone after you experience all your campus has to offer.
