Did you really expect to love the person you share a 12×19 room with?
As the spring semester commences, I’ve had some time to reflect on my first semester at UW-Madison. The highs were exhilarating and some of the best moments of my life, and the lows were places I never want to go again; all in all, it was an amazing experience. It’s crazy to think that a year ago I was just beginning to fathom my life here, daydreaming about college classes and living away from home.
It’s safe to say that being a Badger was always a dream of mine. Now that the dream has become a reality, it’s funny to look back on all my expectations and preconceived notions about UW and college life in general. I was pretty far off in some of my ideas of what semester one had in store for me, yet the experience I had was better than anything I could’ve imagined. For my fellow Badger-beginners, here are some of the things I learned from my first semester.
1. You and your random roommate don’t really know each other after talking online
The minute I was accepted into UW, I added myself to the “Class on 2026” pages across all social media. Those first couple of days were like speed dating to find friends; everyone was desperate to find a roomie that was just like them (myself included). My roommate and I found each other relatively quickly and decided to room together in March of last year. While we’ve grown to live well together, it was very difficult to adjust to living in a jail cell-like, close space environment. I honestly think anyone thrown into a dorm with a roommate they’ve never met in real life would find coexisting to be difficult. Online, my roommate appeared to be so similar to me, when in reality, there are many things about us that are different. These differences aren’t bad, they just come out unexpectedly when you live together and can be hard to cope with. My advice is this: know that while you may love your roommate and be friends with them, living together is a whole different battlefield that tests even the tightest of relationships.
2. If you want time to have a social life, treat breaks in between classes as study time
It’s probably obvious that one of the biggest changes when transitioning into college is your daily class schedule. Instead of having back-to-back classes for eight hours straight, you might only have two classes on a given day at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. What should you do in all of that free time? In my experience, it’s best to treat weekdays like you’re in school, even between classes. Head over to a library or a cafe and buckle down on your assignments and readings. While it’s tempting to have some down time between classes, you’ll thank yourself during the weekend when you’re not freaking out over a paper or cramming for an exam. It’s also helpful to keep your mind in a “school state” if you have spread-out classes. Trust me, your work-life balance will be much easier to navigate if you spend your breaks finishing up homework.
3. Sorry Sunday resetters, find a new laundry day
Newsflash: the “Sunday reset” is a universal idea that so many people hold. Just about everyone is tidying up their room after a weekend of fun. Finding an empty washer and dryer in a building that has a ton of residents (over a thousand in some of the bigger dorms) can be a nightmare when the entire building is performing their Sunday reset. I’ve found that even Mondays can be a warzone in the laundry room, especially if you like to go at night. This is one that I’ve struggled with a lot, and my goal for semester two is to have my laundry basket filled by Friday and take care of it in between classes. While I’m still navigating the chaos of the laundry room, I’d suggest taking care of it during the week at daytime.
4. You might not become best friends with the first people you meet
During the first couple of weeks, I felt a huge pressure to constantly be bubbly and social to make everyone want to be my friend. While I consider myself an outgoing girl, it was draining and felt superficial. Every immediate connection felt forced and as though everyone was playing a game. It was especially hard trying to break into a seemingly concrete friend group composed of the people on my floor. Many people had moved in a week prior to me due to having on-campus jobs, and they seemed thick as thieves from the moment I moved in. It was pretty isolating at first, but I discovered that some of my best friends were made over time. My connections became more genuine the less I worried about trying to make everyone love me, and my close friends now like me for me. I found it very true that it’s better to have a few genuine friends than a bunch of acquaintances. Friendships take time, so try not to worry about meeting a lifelong friend your first week at school.
5. Take advantage of the perks
There are tons of perks to being a UW student. With your tuition, you automatically get a membership at the Nick, a campus gym. Staying active will help with your mental health and can be super fun! They have tons of workout classes, too, that aren’t too pricey (my personal favorites are the spin classes). In addition to working out at the Nick, you can get student tickets to many sporting events! These tickets are typically much cheaper than the general admission tickets that non-UW students get, so if you have a little spending money, try out a Badger gameday! Football Saturdays are always eventful, but there are many other sporting events throughout the year. If you’re not a fan of sports, you can always get involved with a club or organization that suits your interests! UW has a plethora of student organizations in all different areas, so you’re bound to find one you love! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
6. Don’t be afraid to do things alone
Probably the most important takeaway I had from my first semester was discovering the power of doing things by yourself. Want to work out after class but everyone else has homework? Go to the workout class anyway. Hungry but nobody else is? Take yourself out for lunch. Found a new club that looks super fun but doesn’t interest any of your friends? Join the club and meet new friends there. I can’t stress enough the importance of being comfortable with being alone. College is a busy time for everyone; there are bound to be numerous occasions when everyone you know is busy. I beg of you, do not let that stop you from doing anything. While it’s important to have friends, it’s also important to have a healthy relationship with yourself.
My time at UW so far has taught me some important lessons that I’m really grateful for. It’s also shown me some of the best times of my life and brought me to some of my new closest friends. The transition into college may not be exactly like you expect, but you’ll adapt and find yourself thriving. I still have a lot to learn and many semesters to go, but I know now to keep an open mind as I embark on this new semester.