Wizz App Reviews: 12,000 College Students Got Real With Wizz App About Meeting People In Year One
Starting college means a new city, a new schedule, and a whole campus of people you haven't met yet. For a lot of us, it's also the first real chance to figure out who we are on our own terms. So how does Gen Z actually meet people in college and find their people?
What do real users say about Wizz App? We (Wizz App) surveyed 12,402 U.S. college students aged 18 to 24 about how they met people in their first year, making it one of the largest surveys of its kind on college connection. We also asked them to share anything else on their minds. Here's what they told us, in numbers and in their own words, including real reviews from Wizz App users.
Here's what they shared:
60% said shyness or nerves stopped them from introducing themselves to someone they wanted to meet during their first week.
When asked what stopped them, 63% said they didn't know how to start the conversation, and 30% weren't sure what to say after "hi."
43% worried the other person would ignore them or be unfriendly.
64% had only vague ideas about how to make connections on campus.
52% used a social app to meet people on campus.
74% said an app helped them meet their people.
When asked whether an app gave them more confidence, 85% said yes.
Meeting people in college: the first week is harder than it looks
Orientation, the dorm hallway, the dining hall line. Everyone is new, and everyone is quietly wondering the same thing.
60% said shyness or nerves stopped them from introducing themselves to someone they wanted to meet during their first week.
One student put it simply:
"When I first started college, I didn't really know anybody. I'm naturally pretty quiet, so meeting new people in person wasn't exactly easy for me."
Another reminded us that everyone is in the same boat:
"College is just as hard for me as it is for others, that's one way to bond ig."
How to start a conversation with someone new
When we asked what stopped them, the answers were refreshingly honest:
63% said they didn't know how to start the conversation.
30% weren't sure what to say after "hi."
43% worried the other person would ignore them or be unfriendly.
If any of that sounds familiar, you're in very good company. The nerves are real, and most of the people around you feel them too.
Most students are figuring it out as they go
64% had only vague ideas about how to make connections on campus.
There's no playbook handed out with your student ID. Club fairs, group chats, the person next to you in Intro to Psych: everyone is piecing it together in real time.
Using apps to meet people on campus
For Gen Z, meeting people online and meeting people in real life blend together:
52% used a social app to meet people on campus.
74% said an app helped them meet their people.
When asked whether an app gave them more confidence, 85% said yes.
A first message takes a lot of the pressure off. Students told us exactly how that played out for them:
"Wizz taught me how to really make new connections and meet new people"
"Wizz helped me make connections with real genuine people im thankful for wizz"
"This app is actually how i met like 6 of my college friends"
"You guys definitely helped me with my first year of college and thank you so much for your help"
Wizz App reviews: confidence grows with every conversation
That 85% showed up again and again in what students wrote:
"This app helps me get outside of my comfort zone"
"This app is really fun and helped me branch out a lot, thank you ❤️"
"wizz really does help build confidence"
"This app has helped me get better at communicating"
Meeting people teaches you about yourself
Some of our favorite answers had less to do with who students met and more to do with what they learned along the way:
"This app has helped me understand that everyone is different and helped me understand how to handle different types of people"
"I love wizz and love how much I've learned from it"
Advice from students, for students
We'll let them take this one. Here's what they'd tell anyone heading into year one:
"Don't be shy to introduce yourself to people"
"Don't be afraid to converse"
And a few ideas based on everything they shared:
Send the first message. Most people are waiting for someone else to go first. Be that person.
Keep the opener simple. A comment about a class, a playlist, or a shared interest is plenty.
Say yes to the random plan. Some of the best connections start with a conversation you almost skipped.
Keep it low-stakes. Some connections stick for years. Some are great conversations. Both count, and both teach you something about yourself.
As one student said:
"Sometimes meeting new people doesn't have to start with some big introduction or walking up to a stranger. It can literally start with a simple "hey.""
What is Wizz App and how does it work?
Wizz App is a social discovery app built for meeting new people your age. Every conversation starts with a message, and the other person chooses whether to reply. There are no likes, no followers, and no popularity metrics, so the focus stays on the conversation itself. Every profile is verified, which means the person you're talking to is who they say they are.
Year one is about putting yourself out there and seeing who you find. We're here to make that first hello a little easier.
The takeaway: for Gen Z, apps have become a support system for finding your people.
That's why we created Wizz App. Ready to say your first hello?
Download Wizz App on the App Store and Google Play.
