On your first day of school, you are excited and enter a classroom with newbies like you. You’re trying to stay optimistic, but there are so many questions on your mind. How to start a conversation? Are other students as worried as I am? Relax – there is no point in being nervous. Your groupmates have the same feelings – everyone wants to make acquaintances and become friends with someone.
That is why we’ve prepared a list of topics to talk about on your first day. These questions will help you build contact, and the small talk might be the beginning of a sincere friendship.
Table of Contents
What Is Your Hometown/State?
In college, you can meet people from different parts of the country or even from overseas. Many students miss home, their family, and school friends when they arrive at the university. Therefore, it is often pleasant for people to tell where they came from, as a home is associated with warm memories. Thus, you will evoke positive feelings in the person and learn something unusual about a place that you have never been to.
If you have visited the city or state where the student is from, be sure to share your impressions about it. Ask for more information about what life in the city looks like, what people do there, and what the student likes about their homeland.
Do You Live in a Dorm?
Moving to a dorm is an important event for many students as they can live independently without parental control. So, you can discuss whether they are happy to live on their own and whether they are enjoying the experience. Here is a list of things you can also talk about:
- Do you live alone or with roommates? Do you get along?
- What do you think are the best things about living in a dorm?
- Have you faced any difficulties while moving?
If you live in the same dorm, then this is a great opportunity to spend time together and get to know each other better. Invite a new friend for dinner or have a movie night.
Of course, it’s not always possible to find enough time to see friends since there are loads of essays to hand in. That is why many students decide to trust their papers to an essay service online and devote the time saved for things that matter most.
Have You Already Explored the Campus?
At first, it is easy to get lost in the college hallways. Therefore, the search for a library, cafeteria, dean’s office, or assembly hall can go on for a while. No doubt, you will get settled much faster if you walk around the campus with other students. So, suggest having a coffee in the university park or picking up a library card after a lecture.
Besides, you can offer to study together one day – lots of students work more productively in a group. They share their notes and materials, as well as give tips for great college essay writing, which can be truly beneficial for your academic performance.
What Are Your Plans for the Future?
At first glance, this question sounds pretty serious, but you don’t have to talk about what will happen in 10-15 years. Discuss plans for the near future: clubs which the student would like to join or events that they want to attend. Perhaps, your peer is dreaming of taking part in a student exchange program, just like you. Or they are thinking about a part-time job and an internship – so, you can start looking for them together.
If you study at the same faculty, it can be fun to discuss your job opportunities, expectations, career prospects, and so on.
Some students worry about combining their studies and job duties since all the tasks require time and effort. Luckily, it’s easy to find a professional paper writing service like EssayPro these days and ask experienced professionals for help.
Why Did You Choose This College?
The things that bring you together are by far the best topics to talk about. You’ve become part of the same educational institution, so discuss what influenced your choice. Ask why the student applied to this college, what their motivation was , and what criteria they took into account when deciding where to study.
These can be ratings and prestige of the college, job prospects after graduation, talented teachers, or recommendations of family and friends.
What Social Networks Are You On?
Needless to say, having new groupmates on your Facebook friends list is pretty important.
First, this way, you can be in touch with them any time in case you have questions about upcoming tests, homework, or planned events. Secondly, social media accounts can tell a lot about one’s personality, their background, and interests. Thus, you’ll be able to understand the interlocutor’s lifestyle and talk about it next time you meet.
What Are Your Hobbies?
Favorite activities fill our life with joy, and a chance to discuss them with someone always sets us in a positive mood. Perhaps, your conversation partner will turn out to be a tennis player who took part in international competitions or an art lover who knows everything about 19th-century romantic painters.
Such an acquaintance will definitely broaden your horizons and may even inspire you to try your hand at a new hobby.
Final Thoughts
College students usually have a lot in common – they’ve got similar views towards life. You’ve chosen the same university, after all, and that means that you probably have the same plans for the future.
University life can be exciting and scary at the same time. On the one hand, you are free to make your own decisions. On the other hand, you find yourself in a completely new environment full of strangers. So, take a deep breath and leave your comfort zone – it will surely be worth it.