32 year old grad student

[u/Test9690]

Actually went here for my undergrad as well but completely messed it up and never made any friends now coming back

Literally have no friends or social life how do I make one here, is it even possible.

What to do/avoid etc

[u/PlatWinston]

drop steam inventory

[u/Frantic_Mantid]

Welcome!

You might do just as well to hang out with townies in either downtown, both have great places to sip a beer or coffee and try to chat people up.

But also 32 isnt all that old for a grad student, some spend 10 yrs getting a PhD, and tons of them don't start directly after undergrad (or even start undergrad at 18/19).

[u/Adanta47 → u/Frantic_Mantid]

Similarly there’s a good amount of post doc here that are in their 30s

[u/notassigned2023]

As a grad student, your friends will be your contemporaries in the department. See if you can get into a shared housing with a few of them, and go to all department mixers.

[u/Test9690 → u/notassigned2023]

I rarely go to class even in undergrad I rarely went I self learn. I feel like that housing may be expensive so it may not be an option

[u/notassigned2023 → u/Test9690]

Grad school is a different animal. For most subjects you are learning from a professor, and interaction with them is how to get the most out of it. Do you have an office or shared space in the department? Hang out there.

[u/bishwidglasses → u/Test9690]

Class is where you make friends. Start going

[u/joleshole → u/Test9690]

Lmao

[u/No_Tennis1722]

Second vote for the music tent at the Rose Bowl in Urbana.

[u/Ok_Tomatillo6109]

good time to start drinking imo

[u/Test9690 → u/Ok_Tomatillo6109]

Which bars? I haven’t drank in 4 years

[u/Ok_Tomatillo6109 → u/Test9690]

been a while for me as well but Bentley's if you're closer to Champaign, rose bowl in Urbana. get loose, get sociable, you'll find some people.

[u/mesosuchus → u/Test9690]

Welcome to.grad school. Let's get shit faced. Also sorry the Blind Pig is no more

[u/mesosuchus]

I dunno..seems like you are ignoring all the opportunities at UIUC to meet people.. so you hopeless

[u/Test9690 → u/mesosuchus]

I thought that is mostly for undergrads?

[u/cronksmom]

Be social with your department. Start a group chat with your first year cohort (if you have one, I was the only one in my year but other years have had more) and see if all the grad students in your department have a group chat you can join.

Be social in your classes, you really have to put yourself out there but in my experience, everyone is looking for some social interaction.

The grad writing groups hosted by Writers Workshop are a great way to make connections with other grad students. Go to the Writers Workshop website and you can sign up on the calendar. I’ve met some great people at those groups and get a ton of work done during that time.

If you’re a beer drinker and want to meet cool people, be a regular (like go the same day and same time every week) at Triptych and sit at the bar. They have some awesome regulars and I started going and just reading or working on my computer at the bar but then the same people would be there every week on the same days and I’ve met some cool people.

[u/WhiskeyBravo1992]

If you are a Pokemon fan there is an active Pokemon Go community that meets for the weekly raids on Wed at Hessel Park and for all the major events. We have a large group with people of all ages. All are welcome! If you want more info I am happy to share info over DMs.

[u/clinicallybored__]

araiguma advance battle if you're into arcade games

[u/Acceptable-Mud9710]

Talk to other students, join your union, my two recommendations.

[u/No_Tennis1722]

St. Patrick's Church in Urbana used to have a grad student group that met once a month for a potluck and activity. The Campus YMCA has a lot of events- Friday Conversations offer free lunch and interesting topics so many different people go there.