Wizz Blog: 7 Things Every College Student Secretly Feels In Their First Year, According To The Biggest College Student Survey

Picture it: day one on campus. You're taking your first “adulting” steps and feel like you’re surrounded by people who all seem to know exactly what they're doing.

Plot twist: they're just as nervous as you.

This August, we at Wizz App surveyed 12,402 U.S. college students aged 18 to 24 about their first year and how they make new connections. 

Here are the secrets that Gen Z told us about their first year of college:

1. Shyness is basically everyone's first roommate.
60% of students said shyness or nerves stopped them from introducing themselves to someone they wanted to meet during their first week. For 42%, it happened more than once. So if you've ever rehearsed a "hey, I like your shirt" and then walked away in silence, welcome to the majority.

2. The first word is the hardest part.
The number one thing holding students back? 63% simply didn't know how to start the conversation. 30% weren't sure what to say after 'hi.' Relatable.

3. We're all worried about the same thing.
43% were afraid the other person would ignore them or be unfriendly. Another 35% didn't want to seem "desperate ." Spoiler: the person you're scared to talk to is probably worried about the exact same thing.

4. "Everyone already has their people" is a very common feeling.
34% said they held back because it felt like everyone else had already found their group. When a third of campus feels this way at once, that means there are a whole lot of people out there still looking for their crew.

5. Most of us are winging it.
64% of students had only vague ideas about how to make connections on campus, or no plan at all. Finding your community is a skill nobody really teaches you, and young people are figuring it out in real time.

6. Apps are where a lot of connections start.
52% of students used a social app to meet people on campus. And 74% said an app helped them make a close connection. For a generation that grew up online, sending the first message is often the easiest way to break the ice.

7. The confidence boost is real.
When asked whether an app gave them more confidence, 48% said yes, significantly, and another 37% said yes, somewhat. 85% of students who used an app said they were walking into their next conversation feeling a little braver.

So, what does this all mean?
Making connections in a new place can feel hard, and that's completely normal. The good news is that the people around you want to connect too. Whether it starts with a message, a shared interest in a niche band, or a bad joke in the dining hall line, every connection begins with someone going first.

Your first-semester cheat sheet:

• Lead with something you have in common: a class, a show, a song stuck in your head.

• Have a follow-up question ready for after "hi."

• Remember that the other person is probably just as nervous.

• Say yes to the random plan. It's often the one you remember.

Wizz App was built for exactly these moments: a place to meet people around your age, explore what you're into, and figure out who you are along the way.