It’s a familiar scene on college quads across the nation at this time of year: decorated tables overflowing with pamphlets and free Frisbees, hundreds of people representing diverse clubs and thousands of students surveying the multitude of opportunities.

As a sophomore, I’m looking forward to experiencing Quad Day a second time, but this time on another campus.

I am an incoming sophomore transfer student from Illinois Wesleyan University, and this upcoming semester will be my first at the University of Illinois. Though I have been to the campus many times to visit, I still could not be more nervous for this school year. Given that the first week of college can be the scariest time for a freshman, I wonder how it will be different for those who are going through their second “first week” of college?

Illinois Wesleyan is a small, private liberal arts school in Bloomington, Ill., with a student body of roughly 2,100 students. Compared to University of Illlinois’ student population of over 44,000, the first few weeks of school might eat me alive.

University of Illinois’ Quad Day showcases around 600 of the 1,000 registered student organizations on campus, whereas Illinois Wesleyan’s RSO fair featured 100 RSOs last year. I think it is safe to say that Quad Day will be somewhat reminiscent of the Madhouse on Madison for a Chicago Blackhawks game for me.

But despite the overwhelming size of the event, Quad Day is still something I’m excited to experience. Quad Day offers new opportunities and the chance to make up for missed opportunities — and there’s a lot of free stuff, which is always a plus.

Having been an active student participating in football all throughout high school and at Illinois Wesleyan, I feel the need to become active. I am lucky enough to have already become a member of many groups and clubs, including The Daily Illini. However, Quad Day will provide me with a variety of clubs I could have never imagined joining. The University’s Quad Day provides each student with over 600 different opportunities to get involved.

Many transfer students face the dilemma that returning students already have a solid group of friends, know their way around campus and therefore don’t have those same first-week jitters. Joining these clubs on Quad Day can help transfer students make some long-lasting friends that will be there as they ride the storm for those beginning weeks.

For transfer students (myself included), Quad Day is that day where everything becomes a true possibility, whether it’s entering one of the top Greek houses or fulfilling the unsure statements of, “maybe I’ll row this upcoming year,” a reality.

Declan is a sophomore in LAS. He can be reached at features

@dailyillini.com.