Weinberg freshman Moshe Ginsburg flew into Los Angeles last week, ready to enjoy a long-awaited Thanksgiving Break. To his surprise, he reunited with a close friend from Northwestern the following day for dinner.
“It was weird coming back and feeling right at home with my friend, as opposed to right at home immediately when I stepped into my own house,” Ginsburg said. “It’s because of everything that’s happened and how much our lives (have) changed, and now we’re around our friends more than our family.”
The freshman fall college experience is different for everyone. For some, it’s newfound independence and trying new things; for others, it’s their first real time away from home. Here’s how NU freshmen have been faring this Fall Quarter.
A typical point of adjustment for many NU students is the academic intensity this institution can demand at times. Weinberg freshman Elizabeth Weitz said she definitely notices the University’s competitive environment, but she doesn’t feel like it’s hindered her.
“Inherently, since people are so talented and intelligent, there is still some competition, but it doesn’t feel like a negative thing necessarily,” Weitz said. “It is to every freshman’s benefit that their classmates are so intelligent, because that just makes your experience better.”
Outside of the classroom setting, Weitz said clubs are a main point of competition between students on campus. Indeed, for many freshmen, Fall Quarter is defined by acceptance to elite clubs and pledging periods for business fraternities.
The social life of a college freshman can also have its ups and downs, though NU works through programs like Wildcat Welcome to ensure that freshmen feel welcomed and have a space to connect.
Both Weitz and Ginsburg have found social life at NU to be the highlight of their fall, forming fast friendships with fellow students. Ginsburg said he’s built a friend group here already, and he’s determined to defy the belief that freshman friendships don’t last.
“It does take time and effort, but if you are willing and put that in, Northwestern’s set up for you to have a great network of a lot of people that care about you,” Ginsburg said. “And I have a lot to be grateful for.”
From first lake swims to snow days, many freshmen have already checked firsts off their NU bucket lists. There are still many traditions left in the year for students to enjoy, though — like Dillo Day in May, which Ginsburg said he’s most excited for.
While some freshmen anticipate next quarter for social reasons, Weinberg freshman Isabel Margolis is most excited about her new classes. After enduring a grueling chemistry course this fall, Margolis said she’s eager for a reset.
“I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the quarter system,” Margolis said. “Getting to try out a wider range of classes allows me to learn from the plethora of new information and perspectives.”
No one’s freshman fall experience is perfect, of course. College is a huge life change: It’s a new living environment with unfamiliar people and very difficult classes on top of the social experiences.
Balancing all of these new life components can be a lot. Despite hailing from the Chicago suburbs, Weltz said she still felt elements of homesickness during Fall Quarter. Eventually, though, she said she was able to shake it off.
“My first few weeks at Northwestern were definitely an adjustment,” Weitz said. “Because I miss my family, I miss my house, but people were really open and wanted to make friends. At this point, it does feel like home.”
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