Apr 28, 2008

Facebook as Freshman Orientation?

I wish I had Facebook when I was a college freshman-- and not just because I'm kind of a computer geek. It seems to me that Facebook is making the process of getting adjusted as a freshman so much easier by allowing new students to get to know each other before coming to campus.

My little sister is going to college in the fall. She's been accepted to St. Mary's College in Maryland. And for several months now, she's been corresponding with other incoming freshmen on Facebook. Her new class-- which doesn't even officially exist yet-- has a discussion group, and fellow students are adding each other as friends.

How cool is that? For me, one of the hardest parts of going away to college was not knowing anyone. You come to school to this sea of faces and know nothing about anyone. Thanks to Facebook, that's no longer true. Students who come to campus already know each other--well, at least a little bit. They've had the chance to find a few people that seem like potential "real life" friends. When they walk into the cafeteria alone for the first time, there's a pretty good chance they can look around and find someone they've met online.

So, as I've been thinking about Samantha's new college experience, I had a related experience of my own, coincidentally. I found Steve, the very first person who I met during college orientation before my freshman year-- on Facebook, of course. So I may not have had the opportunity to meet fellow freshmen online before college began, but at least I can "re-unite" with old friends.

Need some info on freshman year? Here's a list of college dorm room necessities and freshman year 101 survival tips.