How to network in college?

[Anonymous]

As a college student, how do you go about building a "network" so that it will be helpful for you once you graduate from college? My DS recently started his first semester at University of Michigan, and he is attempting to build his "network". However, he ran into quite a few people who made it clear to DS that this is not possible unless he brings something unique to the table. Otherwise, DS should not be bothered. Is that how it works these days?

[Anonymous]

I think if he approaches social interactions as primarily transactional he’s going to get a response that aligns with his approach. I would start with normal college kid things like joining clubs and having fun

[Anonymous]

Join clubs. This is the obvious answer.

[Anonymous]

Be cool. Don't be, like, all uncool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Join clubs. This is the obvious answer.

This.
Networks are formed naturally for the most part, not intentionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if he approaches social interactions as primarily transactional he’s going to get a response that aligns with his approach. I would start with normal college kid things like joining clubs and having fun

This! He should not give off a vibe that he is connecting with people to " network". That is gross.

[Anonymous]

If he is trying to join the professional frats, I think he may have better luck after freshman year. It seems a lot of that has to do with who you know and you can't know too many people after just 3 weeks of classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if he approaches social interactions as primarily transactional he’s going to get a response that aligns with his approach. I would start with normal college kid things like joining clubs and having fun

This! Networking is natural. In club sports, Greek life, ECs.

Don’t push it - you will be annoying and no one will want to be with you.

[Anonymous]

If someone ever tries to network with me anywhere other than I networking event I disengage. How about just making friends?

[Anonymous]

My son has a top NYC job due to connections. What did he do? He drank, partied and golfed a lot at a top20 college and made a myriad of social connections with private/boarding school kids who have parents in influential places. He also got top grades. He became adept at navigating this world at a private high school where he had also gravitated to the monied, drinking crowd. We (parents) are nothing like this.

[Anonymous]

Jon clubs, become close with your professors in your major, visit the career center and most importantly, have rich parents who have rich friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Join clubs. This is the obvious answer.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son has a top NYC job due to connections. What did he do? He drank, partied and golfed a lot at a top20 college and made a myriad of social connections with private/boarding school kids who have parents in influential places. He also got top grades. He became adept at navigating this world at a private high school where he had also gravitated to the monied, drinking crowd. We (parents) are nothing like this.

Ssshhh… DCUM’s finest love to pretend that T20 students don’t drink and party.

[Anonymous]

Some colleges have students start a Linkedin profile in the first few weeks of class. Also, if your student has a campus job or gets a summer internship, he can start networking from there. Otherwise, as others have said, he should concentrate on some genuine friendships and activities. If he is getting negative feedback about networking in the first few weeks of school, he is pushing it too hard and being too obvious which will only be detrimental in the long run. But, if he is determined, he will likely have better results attending speaking events and joining professionally minded clubs.

[Anonymous]

At least it sounds like he landed at the school where he belongs.