Anxious freshmen meeting first on Facebook

Facebook may help break the ice
When incoming freshmen get their roommate assignments, the first thing most do is look them up on Facebook.

That’s exactly what Yale-bound Cho did. After exchanging private messages on Facebook with his roommate, he learned they’re “polar opposites.” Cho, an aspiring pre-medical student, loves the natural sciences, which his roommate, a politico, hates. “I’ll learn a lot from him,” Cho said.

Luckily, they share the same taste in mainstream artists like Britney Spears, Chris Brown and Rihanna. While the roommates’ messaging died down after a few days, Cho said he’s glad they already know each other through Facebook. “It’ll be easier to break the ice, rather than start from the beginning,” he said.

Hansen said he has witnessed students bringing up Facebook at Rockhurst University. “Oh, you’re the one on Facebook that ...” may kick off dialogue between new students, he said.

Freshmen have already met some students through orientation, and many added one another later on Facebook.

The fact that Brou, 18, was clueless about what she would be doing at UCLA’s three-day orientation only added to her anxiety about leaving home.

She scoured Facebook for clues, and found a forum where UCLA students asked and answered questions about the orientation. There, Brou learned that she would be putting together her schedule on the third day, so she knew to choose her classes ahead of time. Also, she learned she would need an Ethernet cable to have Internet access since there’s no Wi-Fi in the dorms where she will stay. “I felt more comfortable after reading all the answers.”

After getting to know some fellow freshmen better through Facebook, Brou is more excited and less nervous about going to UCLA.

She planned to hang out with some of her new college buddies before the semester started. Brou and her two roommates, whom will share a three-bedroom apartment with her in the fall, talked about doing lunch or dinner since they all live in Southern California. She also met a girl from San Diego at her orientation whom she got tighter with on Facebook.

“We planned on getting sushi,” said Brou.