Cristina Stefanizzi, FCRH ’27: Spend as much time outside of your room as possible. Sit in your dorm lounge every night during your first week there. Knock on people’s doors. DM people from your class on Instagram and start up a conversation. This is the best way to meet new people! Remember, everyone is in the same boat, and everyone is looking for new friends. The late nights in the dorm lounge playing Uno were some of my best memories from my first year.
Sophie Maselli, FCRH ’26: Phone numbers first! Meeting a potential friend is the first step, but staying in contact with them is the hurdle. Make sure to get the phone number of someone you want to befriend, because social media, like Snapchat and Instagram, are fickle ways of staying in touch. Reaching out on social media isn’t always effective, as some people don’t check their messages often. Contacting them via text will ensure that they have a higher chance of seeing your message. And on top of that, aim to get at least one person’s phone number from each of your classes. That way, you have someone to reach out to with any questions (or annoyances).
Hannah Boring, FCRH ’25: Don’t get stuck in your own little bubble. Fordham can be very isolating at times — trust me, I’ve been there. But staying in your dorm room or only hanging out with the same few people won’t help you grow. Explore a new part of the city, talk to someone you don’t know, read a book in a genre you don’t usually go for. I regret the times I wasted staying in my dorm room when I could have been hanging with the amazing people I know and love at Fordham.
Lusa Holmstrom, FCRH ’25: Give yourself some breathing room! Maybe you will immediately feel comfortable at Fordham, but if you don’t, there’s no rush to force it. It’s a big switch, and allowing yourself time to figure it out will make everything feel less overwhelming.
Allison Schneider, FCRH ’26: Go to the Club Fair at the beginning of the year and sign up for the mailing lists of at least three or four clubs. Joining a club is one of the best ways to meet new people who you know have similar interests as you. Club meetings are often super social and a good way to let off steam, get to know people outside the classroom and learn about something that interests you!
Cailee Zeraat, FCRH ’25: Get to know your professors early in the semester. Go to office hours when you can, or even just stay after class to chat for a bit. Building relationships with professors is a great way to start your academic and professional network. Professors love talking to their students; they hold office hours for that reason! Plus, most professors are super cool people that you can learn a lot from. I’ve acquired some of my most valuable knowledge from coffee chats with my favorite professors.
Sofia Donohue, FCRH ’25: Don’t forget to take time for yourself! Your first year can be overwhelming in the sense that you’re constantly surrounded by new people — roommates, classmates and friends. While you should take every opportunity to meet new people, also prioritize spending time alone. Go to the library for a quick study session, take a walk in the Botans or grab a coffee and sit outside. As someone who’s more introverted, it was important for me to spend time with myself to recharge. Balance is key!
Jonah Ring, FCRH ’26: Please try not to go overboard with mapping out your entire semester via intricate and color-coded spreadsheets and/or planners. Life, especially college life in New York City, always finds a way to throw the unexpected at you, so providing yourself the leeway and ability to “go with the flow” is key. Not only will a little flexibility allow you to enjoy the spontaneity of New York to its fullest, but it will also help to mitigate the stress and anxiety that arises when things don’t play out as planned.
Nora Malone, FCRH ’27: It’s okay if you don’t find the perfect friend group immediately. It takes time to find your people. Most of the big friend groups in the first couple weeks won’t exist come second semester. There’s nothing wrong with taking time to make friends. Additionally, join clubs to make those friends! Even if you only go to one meeting, you could find one person that you share an interest with, and that’s a step in the right direction. College is a marathon, not a sprint.
Joe Henry, FCRH ’26: Be patient! Take things day by day and trust that everything will fall into place. Whether it’s a group of friends, your academics or extracurriculars, give yourself time to adjust to college and to find who and what brings you happiness and fulfillment.
Caleb Stine FCRH ’25: The best way to find your people is to be yourself. Being as transparent with other first-years as possible will speed up the process of finding a close group of friends. Fordham is a great community with a lot of different social pockets. Being honest and open about who you are and what you’re interested in will pay immense social dividends for you in your first year.
Diana Juarez GSB ’27: Don’t forget to enjoy it! The next couple of months can get chaotic and overwhelming. You can get lost in the excitement and nervousness, and it can become more stressful than fun. Meeting new friends and getting acquainted with new clubs and classes can be challenging but incredibly rewarding. Remember, this is your time to get to know yourself, so enjoy it!
Sarah Urbano FCRH ’25: Everyone is in the same boat trying to make friends. Don’t be scared to ask people to do something, such as getting Urban Kitchen. That’s how I met my best friend, who is now my roommate! I also wish I had taken advantage of more on-campus resources. There are so many amazing things, like the Career Center and the Writing Center, to help you succeed. Also, if you live on campus, go to the RA events in your dorm! They’re fun events for free and a great way to meet people in your dorm and sometimes even win free prizes. My last piece of advice is definitely to go to the club fair and find something that interests you, but you should join the best club of all, The Fordham Ram, obviously.
Erynn Sweeney, FCRH ’27: Have a “Why not?” attitude. Say yes to new opportunities, even if it’s something a little bit outside of your comfort zone. You never know when a simple moment will become an adventure and a long-lasting memory. I learned so much from having an open mind and being along for the ride. During the beginning of my first year, it felt like everything was moving and changing so fast, and I found it hard to keep up. I think it is helpful to let go of the pressure and soak in every experience, taking it one day at a time. I always heard people talk about college as the best four years of their lives, but it still comes with all the ups and downs of day-to-day existence. Be patient with yourself, and remember that good things take time.
Julianna Morales, FCRH ’25: Your education is important and an amazing opportunity, but it is not all there is to college. Work hard but also let yourself have fun and try new things. Don’t define yourself by academics, especially when going through the transitional period of first starting college. Join clubs, meet new people and explore the area. You will find your groove and your people but just like any other changes in life, there is a learning curve. That’s okay! You’ll be fine; believe in yourself.
Saisha Islam, FCRH ’25: Take care of your health, be safe and don’t overwork yourself. It’s important to find a good pace for yourself and understand how you work best. Don’t compare yourself to others; you’re on your own path and you are your own best friend, so be kind to yourself. Also, have fun! Make friends and have new experiences. College is an amazing period where you have more responsibility and can learn more about yourself.
Evan McManus, FCRH ’25: The first few weeks of college are very exciting, but they can also be overwhelming. You just moved to a new environment, so it’s okay to feel this way. The best way to not feel overcome by stress is to take it day by day. Each day is a new opportunity to explore the campus, meet new people and find things that excite you. It will be tough to do this at first, especially if you are homesick like I was the first few weeks. However, it will become easier overtime, and pretty soon, you’ll be okay.
Haniyyah Usmani FCRH ’27: Don’t overwhelm yourself, but don’t isolate yourself either. Know what opportunities are available for you by getting involved and stepping out of your comfort zone. Learn about clubs at the Club Fair, open those emails about events in the Career Center, talk to your professors outside of class. Building relationships with professors will never hurt, and don’t shy away from going to office hours. Professors genuinely like talking to students, and if you need help with anything, it’s easier to reach out to them. At the beginning of the year, everyone’s looking for someone to talk to, so strike up a conversation with whoever you come across and get their contact information. You’re not alone, and you’ll be okay! It’s your college journey, and it might seem like a lot at first, but remember that it’s just one day at a time.
