By Madhurya Manohar, Daily Free Press Staff Writer
Inside College recently ranked Boston University as the fifth best college for the socially awkward. While the rank is high, other decidedly awkward colleges include University of Arizona, Sarah Lawrence College and Clark University.
Maggie Beverly a freshman in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Science said while the entire concept of a list of socially awkward colleges is amusing, she doesn’t think the ranking makes sense with what she has seen at BU.
“Why would most of the students party if most of the students were socially awkward?” Beverly said. “I definitely think there are socially awkward kids here but definitely not the majority!”
Andros Garcia, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, credits the diverse student body at the University for giving socially awkward people a better chance to find a place for themselves.
“If it wasn’t for the diversity, it would be harder for students to fit in somewhere,” he said.
Other socially-awkward saving institutions include BU’s array of clubs. Groups affiliated with the Student Activities Office range from performance groups and cultural clubs to sororities and fraternities
Sophomore in CAS Ileanexis Rocher, a Howard Thurman Centre spokesman, said the center is a place for students to find common ground between eachother, perhaps helping aid the socially uncomfortable.
Anna McKeon, a College of Communication senior, said the variety of student organizations, which allow students to find others to share their interests with may be why BU made the list.
“The wide range of clubs here help students no matter how awkward they are to find friends who are interested in the same things,” she said.
Kimaya Agarwal a College of Engineering junior also said that the organization culture at BU can be quite beneficial in helping socially awkward students accomplish more.
“Any student can join an organization and does not even need to have qualifications to apply for executive board positions,” Agarwal said. “[The organizations] are just looking for potential. Ultimately, it helps people become more outgoing.”
Agarwal said the classroom atmosphere can facilitate networking amongst people. Her writing classes helped her meet many people, especially because those classes are independent and interactive in nature.
“[Writing classes were] different than with lecture classes where it is just the professor speaking and the students listening,” she said.
“Everyone can find somewhere that they fit here as long as they look for it,” McKeon said as guidence for freshman and the socially uncomfortable.
“There are plenty of kids like [the student] that may be socially awkward but despite their awkwardness there are other people like [the student] that will help them feel like they’re right at home,” Garcia said.
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