‘Lean into the fact that Clark is a small school’
Starting college is exciting — and overwhelming. Most students are adjusting to a new city while being away from home for the first time and juggling classwork and social life. Students are thrown myriad opportunities and challenges: Make new friends, join a couple of clubs, explore Worcester, try local restaurants, network with peers and professors, attend events, choose a major … on and on the list goes.
How does one navigate it all? Read through advice from a handful of Clarkies who have completed at least one year of college and have a few tips and tricks to offer on making the most of your experience here.
When in doubt, the common message from upperclassmen is to believe in yourself and give things time. Building a community doesn’t happen magically overnight. You’ve got this!
“Try everything because Clark will really push you to define yourself, find your hobbies and passions, and find your identity. And when you try everything, you eventually figure out what you’re interested in, and it will feel right.”
Reevu Majumdar ’27, Mathematics major
“If you’re like me, and you like cooking, explore the local grocery stores like Asian Supermarket down the street.”
Thea Smith ’27, Double major in psychology and interactive media
“Always have confidence in yourself and believe in yourself, because that’ll take you down a lot more paths than not believing in yourself.”
Sydney McMonagle ’29, Physics major
“Lean into the fact that Clark is a small school. Go to office hours — even if you don’t have questions. It’s a great opportunity to get to know some of your professors and to network.”
Rue Savoie ’27, Biochemistry and molecular biology major
“Ask if you can sit in a professor’s lab meeting. That’s how I got my start!”
Riley Forrestal ’27, Double major in biology and creative writing
“Things take time. Work, study, friends — that takes time. If you try and take shortcuts, you’re just going to end up with a lot of bad grades and a lot of poor self-esteem. It took me a couple of years to find a real, honest friend group that I interact with regularly.”
Finn Baker ’27, Physics major
“I work in admissions, and I tell prospective STEM students, ‘If you want to do research, this is a perfect place, and you should just take that initiative and go for it.’ ”
Abigail Jensen ’28, Biochemistry and molecular biology
“In the first couple of weeks, one of the really helpful things that you can do is go to one new place or learn one new thing every day. It can be especially helpful if you’re coming from far away — I was coming from North Carolina. One day I would walk to the park and check that out, and then the next day I would go to a new floor in the library, or try the bus system.”
Sadie Schaecher ’29, double majoring in Spanish and sociology
“Don’t be shy to be yourself. Everyone at Clark is so unique, but so accepting and welcoming, and it’s pretty easy to find someone who you’ll get along with and feel welcome at this community in general.”
Eva Royter ’29, double majoring in psychology and political science
“It is okay to not find your people right away. The friend group changes throughout the four years. College is about experiencing … You don’t have to make the ‘correct’ choices immediately.”
avi ZUNIGA ’29, chemistry major
“I was so homesick my first year. It doesn’t just take a toll on you emotionally, it takes a toll on you mentally, too, and you just have to branch out — find your people, find your community that makes you feel at home. This can be your home away from home.”
Aysia holmes ’28, sociology major
