Nora Malone, FCRH ’27: Don’t hide in your room! Spend time in McShane, on Eddies or in your lounge. It’s easy to want to hide yourself away but it makes it harder to meet new people. Try to make a friend in every class, it’s good for both academic and social reasons!
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 is a fickle way of staying in touch. 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).
Jack McDonald, GSB ’28: Take a few of your friends to explore Arthur Avenue and try out some of the restaurants and pastry shops. Arthur Avenue has a rich and storied history which is apparent through its architecture and old-world charm. It is a great place to spend an afternoon, whether enjoying some italian ices at Egidio’s in the early fall or a cappuccino at Morrone Pastry Shop & Cafe in the middle of the winter.
Andrew Massie, FCRH ’27: Live and die by the syllabus. Download them all and put them into a folder on your desktop. Get a physical ID, not electronic. Delete Snapchat and call people instead. Open a Roth IRA and track your finances because your money is important. Hit the gym and take care of your body. Learn and use all of the transit options. Be kind to others and the neighborhood. Love yourself. Call your parents often.
Jacob Wolfer, FCRH ’26: Talk to new people and interact with others in class. Collaborate on projects and assignments, and utilize office hours with your professors. At Fordham, you will get out of something what you put into it. So make sure to give your all to everything you’re involved in.
Abigail Adams, FCRH ’26: Take advantage of the communities here at Fordham and in New York City! Join Fordham clubs, NYC groups and more! The people make the place, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet and grow alongside friends. And take the leap of faith to join unexpected communities — you never know what kind of beauty you’ll find in the newness.
Grace McCarron, FCRH ’27: Everyone says this, but they say it because it’s true: get involved, and do it early! Take advantage of the club fair during the first week of school, and sign up for whatever interests you. You don’t have to end up in every club you put your name down for, but just test the waters and see what sticks. I’ve met some of my best friends through the clubs and organizations I’m involved in, and I have no idea what my life at Fordham would look like if I hadn’t gotten involved, so immerse yourself in the vast student organization scene early.
Mary Hawthorn, FCRH ’26: Attend office hours for every course! Office hours allow for you to to ask questions about content, receive guidance and organize study materials early. Professors are always willing to help you achieve academic success. Prioritizing your academic goals is the most important, and office hours are incredibly helpful in mastering material!
Emily Tonna, FCRH ’26: As the late Anthony Bourdain once said, “Show up on time. Do the work.” 80% of life is simply showing up. Join the clubs you think you wouldn’t like alongside the ones you think you would. Forge good connections with your professors. Make friends with the transfer students at orientation; you may have more in common with them than you might think! Contribute to Fordham’s relationship with the neighborhood, whether that be befriending your new neighbors, doing volunteer work (CCEL is an excellent resource for this!) or supporting local businesses. The Bronx is an excellent place to study and live in, so it’s worth getting to know it well.
Indigo Towers, FCRH ’28: Give yourself some grace! No matter what this transition may look or feel like, there are going to be things you have not yet figured out. Seek out new experiences, challenging opportunities and unique people, and then be patient with yourself along the way. Once you have found your footing, extend grace to someone else! If you see a first-year who is still struggling to get comfortable adjusting, lend them grace!
Violet Wallace, FCRH ’27: Stop worrying so much about what other people think of you! It’s super easy in college to start worrying about how you come off — like, am I saying the right thing? Do I look the part? Am I doing what everyone else thinks is “right?” But honestly, most people are way too busy overthinking their own stuff to be judging you. Everyone’s trying to be someone, and it can feel like you’ve got to keep up or get left behind. Slow down and breathe. You will be okay! ^__^
James Nelson, FCRH ’28: Be who you are! Freshman year is a brand new start. Now is the time to enjoy your newfound freedom and follow your passions. Step out of your comfort zone as often as you can and be true to yourself.
Meghan Cattani, GSB ’26: Don’t put pressure on yourself to find a group of friends on the first few days at college. As long as you stay true to yourself and pursue things that you are passionate about, your friends will find their way to you naturally.
Ian Nelson, FCRH ’28: Don’t stay cooped up in your room. There are so many different ways to explore the city. You should join or get on the mailing list for as many clubs as you want. If you end up not liking a club you can always quit it, but you might meet some people there that make the experience worthwhile. Finally, don’t stress too much about your schedule during your first year, odds are you won’t get most of what you want anyway.
Caroline Lehman, FCRH ’26: One of the hardest parts about college is finding balance in your newfound independence and freedom, and not just with the obvious lecture about having good grades and a social life. Another balancing act is maintaining connections, both old and new, at home and at Fordham. Coming to college not knowing a single person, or being from another state, can be really intimidating! My home friends and I send each other super short, informal voice memos each week with life updates, lovingly called the Wednesday Waffle. It keeps me grounded and ensures I am nurturing my long-distance relationships. Coming to college does not necessarily mean abandoning the village that got you there. On the other hand, it is a great place to meet new people, many of whom will become your forever friends.
Sienna Reinders, FCRH ’28: Don’t overload your schedule! It’s easy to sign up for every club and try every new activity when you start college. It is definitely important to try new things, don’t get me wrong, especially because it allows you to meet new people and find what you enjoy. But make sure you pick and choose where you put your time and energy. It’s not possible to do everything that you want to do, there is just not enough time in the day. Rather than putting a little bit of energy and focus into lots of different things, put a lot of effort into a few things. Prioritizing what you put energy into saves you from burnout and allows you to be more passionate about the things that you do.
Sarah Verrastro, FCRH ’28: Do things even though you’re afraid. If there’s something you want to try, do it. Even if you have to go it alone, the possibility that you could meet someone that will make it worthwhile makes up for the initial loneliness. If a classmate strikes up a conversation, engage. The worst that could happen is you never speak again, but at least, for that small space of time, you felt less alone. Let people get to know you. Clamming up because you’re afraid could lead you to missing out on a beautiful new friendship. Fear is fuel — instead of using it to hide, use it to propel you forward into a bright Fordham future!
Erynn Sweeney, FCRH ’27: Check your email! The online mailbox is not only a place where you can communicate with professors, but also a place where many events and opportunities outside of class are shared. If you go to the club fair, you can connect your Fordham email address with the groups you are interested in. After that, you don’t have to go far to search for on-campus opportunities; many of them will be neatly presented to you in your gmail inbox in the comfort of your own dorm room. So, set a time to sort through emails before you end up with 1,000+ unread messages.
Hannah Sullivan, FCRH ’28: Don’t be afraid to try new things. Sign up for a new sport, go to the gym, try a new food or take a class on a topic you don’t really know. Everyone always says college is the time to try new things and Fordham makes it easy as long as you put yourself out there. There are so many clubs that make it easy to learn a new hobby or skill and meet new people. The core requirements are meant to push you to try new things too, so take a few classes on topics you don’t know a lot about to take full advantage of your education, even if it doesn’t end up making you change your major. Being in New York also offers its own opportunities as it’s rich in cultures, history and activities so get out there and try at least three new activities or see three new places.
Loresa Zeqiraj, FCRH ’28: Apply yourself in all your courses and don’t limit yourself. Register for courses that sound interesting and unique, choose essay topics that you’re passionate about, and find literature and films within the scope of your studies that you can enjoy on your own time. Dedicate time to going to a library or café in the city to do your schoolwork. Don’t be shy! Organize study groups with classmates and prepare for midterms/finals together. Raise your hand in class! I cannot stress enough how good it feels to actually participate in class and engage with your peers and professors. You feel like a much greater part of the community at Fordham when you make yourself known throughout classes and become a familiar face to others. You’ll look forward to going to long lectures, be proud of your hard-work, make friends and find ways to romanticize a rigorous education.
Julia Cholerton, FCRH ’28: Don’t forget to have fun! The first semester of college can be really overwhelming as you are learning new things, juggling a more difficult workload, joining clubs, making new friends and living away from home. It’s extremely important to remember to focus on having a good time and enjoying yourself. Freshman year goes by quickly, so make sure you make memories that will last a lifetime.
Caitlin Thomas, FCRH ’27: Talk to anyone and everyone! Your classmates, upperclassmen, professors and people in the surrounding community. Try to make a new friend, have a new conversation or gain a new perspective everywhere you go. As you seek out new experiences, give yourself lots of grace. The adjustment to a brand new environment can be overwhelming, so reach out to friends, family or CPS on campus if you need to. Have fun! You’re living in NYC and have so many fun adventures ahead of you!
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. Go to the club fair and put your email down if something’s even remotely interesting. 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 that much 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.
