To be honest, I'm kinda worried about the lack of opportunities I see to make friends among first year students. I'm not really interested in attending welcome week cause I don't see any of the events that to me would justify spending that much. I don't live in res, so I already feel a bit behind when it comes to opportunities for socializing.

What I'm worried about is, after school starts, other than joining clubs, is there any other way to make friends? How do you find people to be your lab partner and such? how many people are usually in a group for tutorials?

I feel ya.

I didn't bother showing up for welcome week. I lived off campus in first year and it was great! I get to have my own privacy, my own space and the best part, I don't have to pay the ridiculously high priced meal plan.

I met tons of people through lectures, group work, lab assignments and so on. I made friends right on the spot. Once people get to know you, they will eventually sit next to you throughout the whole term. That's how I found my roommate!

Anyways, the answers to your questions:

On your first day of labs, scan the room and find an empty seat. Take your pre-labs out and act as if you are 100% prepared. You're guaranteed to have someone approaching you and ask if you already have a partner. By fate, he/her will be your awesome lab partner.

For tutorials, usually a group of 3 or 4 students. You're usually assigned based on where you're sitting. By default, they will be part of the group throughout the term. If you don't like the group members, find another group immediately! At your next tutorial, instead of arriving early, arrive just before tutorial time and find another table!

A piece of advice, during lecture, sit close to the professor, say two or three rows away. Generally the people are friendlier and mature in that area and you will make real friends that way. In the back are a bunch of airheads who will never make it to upper years, enough said.

So don't worry young padawan! Just be yourself, study hard and get to know people around you. You will make decent friends by the end of first year.

thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to make use of them

Originally Posted by Bhaltair

I feel ya.

A piece of advice, during lecture, sit close to the professor, say two or three rows away. Generally the people are friendlier and mature in that area and you will make real friends that way. In the back are a bunch of airheads who will never make it to upper years, enough said.

Wow really? This statement seems real mature. I'm not sure if you noticed but the people at the back of the lecture hall don't always fail. I'm pretty sure that I always sat at the back of the lecture halls and right now I'm sitting in an apartment in France on exchange and going into my fourth year of engineering in university. Please don't make these assumptions because of a few people that you didn't like who sat at the back of lecture halls in your first year.

Protip: People in the back are usually asleep or don't care.

Protip 2: People in the absolute front tend to be douches who like to suck up to the professor.

Ya, so sit somewhere in between :p.

ingénieur.xo: I apologize you found this offensive but really, I am speaking from first year experience, many times people would make paper airplanes and throw them from the back and land near the professor or other students. Also, people would make hand shadows on the projection from the back, which interrupts the professor on numerous occasions.

Also you have no idea how many times I have heard professors asking students if they have any questions when they are chatting in the back.

I am not saying everyone but some people!

Ownaginatios: That's why I said two or three rows away.

I know that there are a lot of people who sit at the back that don't pay attention but I've just heard the same comments so many times that it's just really annoying. I'm interested in all my classes but don't always feel like sitting at the front, especially in first year. It was just easier to get in and out of my classes by sitting at the back.

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

Protip: People in the back are usually asleep or don't care.

Protip 2: People in the absolute front tend to be douches who like to suck up to the professor.

Ya, so sit somewhere in between :p.

Ok all these assumptions about people who sit in the front it kind of ridiculous. I sit in the front A. because my eyesight sucks, B. I find people talk less/ are less disruptive in the front, C its less easier to get distracted in the front.
Maybe you're making a general statement and no one should assume anything about where people sit and what kind of people they are.

In regards to the actual question of the post, I found in second year when I started getting into the actual program I wanted I found myself meeting new people. Depending on your class sizes of course. Again, joining clubs would help meet more people and there are tonnes of clubs to choose from... good luck =)

Maybe in eng the kids in the back threw paper airplanes and stupid stuff like that... but I didnt encounter that in any of my first year classes.
And dont worry about where you sit. Just try a bunch of different places, its not like theres a seating plan. And the person that sits next to you will be diff just about every lecture (unless you bring a friend). But eventually you'll meet somebody who's in the same lecture as you, and then you guys can be lecture buddies!
And I dated a girl I met in my chem lab. . .

You may also find that you don't like socialising too much with people in your classes because you'll meet some people who will ONLY call you up for help with the material, etc.

Living off campus myself, I'd say that the best thing to do is to be open to possibilities, clearly introduce yourself and start conversations. Talk to people in the Student Center (a lot of lost first years tend to migrate there, it seems, during the first few weeks), talk to people on the bus, etc. Almost all the better friends I made lived on res while I commuted from Mississauga.

It might seem weird getting out there so often (you will shake so many hands) but it also gives you a chance to meet some incredible people, just by saying hi

Oh
some other things
You'll find that these are usually the easiest ways to start a conversation:
"Hi my name is _________. What program are you in?"
(As you move into 2nd term, or meet more people outside lecture)
"Hi my name is ___________. What program/year are you in?"
Also
"What major are you leaning toward?" (When everybody starts picking their majors)
"What other classes do you have this term?"
Or making a comment about the work you're learning.
"I hate Chemistry" seems to be exceptionally popular after a midterm.
"I love Biology" (again after a midterm with the right prof)

"I keep falling asleep during the Psych lectures" > also handy.

I'd also heavily recommend getting involved with SOCS (Society of Off Campus Students). A membership is only $5 during Welcome Week (the price goes up afterword), and even if you later decide that its not your cup of tea, you still get awesome discounts at places all around Hamilton

SOCS is pretty much the residence experience for people who aren't living in res- you'll meet plenty of people in your year and program, and people from other programs and years as well. When it comes time to pick your major, that's a huge benefit. Chances are there's someone else whose already picked that path and can tell you all about it. There's also tonnes of awesome events, but for me the thing I always found most enjoyable was just hanging out in the SOCS lounge (its located in the student centre, right above Union Market). At first its a bit intimidating- it seems like everyone already knows everyone. But people are really friendly there, and its super easy to become one of the regulars.


Also, MacInsiders has get togethers from time to time, and I swear we're all really cool people. Come and meet people that way!

Originally Posted by vkozina

Ok all these assumptions about people who sit in the front it kind of ridiculous. I sit in the front A. because my eyesight sucks, B. I find people talk less/ are less disruptive in the front, C its less easier to get distracted in the front.
Maybe you're making a general statement and no one should assume anything about where people sit and what kind of people they are.

In regards to the actual question of the post, I found in second year when I started getting into the actual program I wanted I found myself meeting new people. Depending on your class sizes of course. Again, joining clubs would help meet more people and there are tonnes of clubs to choose from... good luck =)

dont get all offended if i call em like i see em; but ppl at the front seem to be wasting more lecture time than the ones in the back by sucking up to the profs just prior to tthe lecture in the form of some complicated question, if you have questions do it in your own time, dont be a douche and waste lecture time in an attempt to score brownie points(it really obvious what ur doing imo) .

source: morning chem 1aa3

Originally Posted by manap3000

source: morning chem 1aa3

My source is all my tron/software classes.

Originally Posted by Ownaginatios

My source is all my tron/software classes.

lol i thought you guys were cool, ....kind of

I think while there are exceptions to the rule regarding both people who sit in the front and people who sit in the back they're not entirely untruthful.

People aren't just saying those things to say it. From experience there are a lot of self-important, know it all, suck up types who sit in the front of lectures. They ask numerous questions to the prof before, during and after lecture most of which waste lecture and serve only to make themselves look smart. With certain Profs you can feel them internally rolling their eyes at such people, and actually outright trying to shut them up so the entire class can move on. These people are annoying and will continue to annoy you throughout University because unfortunately they aren't stupid, will do all the work and will pass and move on into upper years.

Same goes for the back, there are lots of people back there who just sleep, talk, and just generally don't care. They distract themselves and can distract you if you so choose to sit back there.

Of course some other people are completely normal and just like to sit near the front or back of the lecture hall.

Just saying.