One of the biggest parts of going to college is getting involved with the school’s social scene. If it wasn’t, then we’d all be sitting at home taking all of our classes online and most of the universities in America would have to shut down. Obviously, this isn’t the case and every year thousands of incoming college students compare school against school to narrow down their choices, often considering social opportunities as carefully as academic ones. Some schools have better social scenes than others, plain and simple. The schools that have more going on tend to be more residential schools think Rutgers or Penn State or any one of a number of private colleges where almost everybody lives on campus.
Montclair’s not like that. Or at least it wasn’t when I was there from 2010 to 2012. When I was at Montclair State University, a huge portion of the resident population left on the weekends. And that resident population is the minority about three quarters of Montclair State’s students commute. But it’s not like you can’t make friends at Montclair State. You can. Consider the following if you want to meet new friends and get involved at Montclair State:
1.) Get a job on campus
Montclair State has about 20,000 students. Those students need a lot of services, which in turn, creates a lot of jobs on campus. Students can get jobs in all sectors of the campus economy, from desk help in the library to conducting campus tours and information sessions with the admissions department.
Employees on campus see thousands of faces every single shift. Working on campus exposes you to students and staff from all departments, giving you the opportunity to mingle with others that you might not meet otherwise. Also, you get paid. That’s always a plus.
2.) Hang out where the food Is
As I mentioned in the previous entry, Montclair State University is a busy place. You’ll see that the moment you pull into the parking garage and spend 30 minutes trying to find a spot. Some of the busiest places on campus are the dining outlets.
Montclair’s got more than just the traditional dining hall it’s got two of those, plus two convenience stores, a food truck, a Dunkin’ Donuts, a Chili’s, a diner, and a bunch of little spots to get coffee and pastries around campus. Needless to say, you’ll never be hungry at Montclair State. If you’re looking to meet people, hang out at any one of these places during lunchtime and you’ll meet a crowd.
And I don’t have to tell you that college students love free food. College students love free anything, but especially free food. Find yourself a lecture or networking event where they’re giving out free pizza or, as so many put it in their fliers, “light refreshments.”
3.) Network yourself
Networking events are great for more than just free food. They’re an opportunity to meet with other students and professionals in your field. Whenever there’s a networking event on campus that’s relevant to your interests, make time to attend. You won’t only make friends there you can make meaningful connections that could help you in the long run. Just remember to reciprocate you could find yourself helping your new connections sooner rather than later!
4.) Go Greek!
At some schools, Greek organizations are the entire social scene. This isn’t the case at Montclair State only a fraction of students here participate in Greek Life. For those who do, however, Greek life is a world of opportunities. There are more than 30 Greek organizations at Montclair State. They organize food and clothing drives, volunteer in the community, and throw parties on and off campus.
Greek life at Montclair State, though smaller than most other schools, involves the same things here as it does everywhere else there’s the bid and the rush and you’ve got to pay your dues. But being part of a Greek organization can bring decades of benefits, both socially and professionally.
5.) Community events
Community events are like networking events in that you’re not just going to find students there you’ll meet faculty and individuals from the surrounding community. It’s great to get involved with your campus community and be part of its culture, but it’s as important that you don’t completely lose touch with the outside world.
Fortunately, Montclair State is fairly well integrated with the surrounding community. Consider going to one of the many lectures and seminars on campus to meet students, faculty members, and citizens of the local community with interests like yours.
Montclair State University is a great school with lots of opportunities for its students. Social life at a college is important, but it’s not everything. Remember that. Consider academics and the kinds of resources available in your chosen program at a university before you decide on a school, not whether you’ll be able to party every night.
Lindsay Kramer is a 2012 graduate of Montclair State University