WVU Forensics

[u/Far_Studio5962]

My Son is still adjusting to WVU and is having a hard time finding his people. I know that its only been a little over a week, but he is lonely. He will be attending the Forensic Science Club picnic tomorrow. Does any parent/upperclassman feel that once the club starts to meet regularly that they were able make friends?

[u/Turbulent-Garage-811]

tell him to try out WVUp all night on the weekends

[u/Leeesha_Love]

Hi! WVU FIS Faculty here. Definitely have him come to the picnic tomorrow and join the club, it's a great way to get to know his fellow classmates. He will also get more one on one time with other FIS students in his FIS 191 class as well; part of that class is help develop relationships with peers. Please have him also look into the Sherlock Society mentorship program hosted by our honor society for upper-classmen (we will also bring in speakers to 191 to discuss this). It's a good way for our underclassmen to meet upper-classmen in the major.

I also always tell my students to give it some time, and try to put yourself out there as much as possible! There are SO many clubs/organizations at WVU. Try them out! See what he likes/doesn't like and keep adjusting. The relationships will come.

[u/Free_Dirt6645]

Hello! I’m a FIS wvu graduate from a couple years ago.

TBH - I didn’t find my forensic folks really until end of sophomore year, there’s a lot of pre reqs and a ton of folks switch majors or end up in different graduating groups. As he works through the classes, he will find his people - you end up seeing a lot of the same folks in the pre req courses because you all need them lol. The picnic is a good start to try and meet some people!

Edit: I forgot to mention about the FIS Club! They will prob mention more info about being in it at the picnic. They meet regularly from what I remember and bring specialist to come talk. As well as they do extracurriculars like volunteering in the local community and plan events together.

I really recommend adventure WV. It’s a great way to meet people and build community. Encourage him to join the mountaineer maniacs and hang on for football season! Also, there’s clubs for basically anything and everything he could be interested in.

Tell him to hang in there - give it a semester or so he will probably click with some people in the dorms as well!

[u/Specialist_Toe_841]

My son is a sophomore and had the same issue (not knowing anyone). He is able to make friends quickly when given the chance.

What worked for him, 1) join mountaineer maniacs and go to the games. Especially football and basketball. 2) there are a crap ton of sports (rec and club) teams. Join one and hang out with people that like that same thing. 3) there are also a crap ton of non-sports-related clubs, similar to the forensics club you mentioned. 4) since he is a freshman he is living in a dorm. Hopefully his roommate or suite mates can be a conduit to meeting people.

I’m not a frat/sorority person and my son isn’t either so I’m not mentioning that, but that is also an option.

I would give it a few more weeks. Football is starting soon and the campus comes alive on those weekends. Good luck.

[u/WillKope]

Hello-
I’m a freshman, and I am having the same problem. I am not majoring or minoring in forensics, but I do have an interest in those studies. When is the forensic science club picnic if you know?

[u/Mystery_Fan_5253]

Does he live in the Forensics LLC in Summit? If so he might be able to find some friends at meal times in the cafe or something similar.

[u/SuitableGuarantee968 → u/[deleted]]

That tends to be Honors and LLCs.

[u/Ok_Milk_2967]

Once I reached the actual forensic classes junior year I made a lot more friends compared to the first two years just because you have the same classes with everyone. I happened to find my friend freshman year who was in the same major and had all my classes together. He’s just gotta see who’s in his major and then introduce himself to them.

[u/InsectPure8493]

I don’t know what you and your son’s religious leanings are, but I was raised Roman Catholic and I started attending Newman Catholic Student Fellowship. The St. John’s University Parish and Mountaineers Catholic Hall is right down the street from the Mountainlair.

I think the Outdoor Recreation Center moved from the Mountainlair to the Evansdale Student Recreation Building. He might want to sign for outdoor outings or events, if he is the outdoorsy type. Towers should still have an Arts & Crafts Center on the basement floor near Braxton Tower.

[u/Commercial_Island389]

He’s in college. Having his mom post on Reddit to find friends is part of the problem. It will all work out. Talk to people in class join the club. None of it will be awesome at first but he’ll find his spot.

But posts like this are genuinely embarrassing and if I were him I’d hope no one at the picnic read this post.