How To Make Friends in College

Making friends in college is tough stuff. If your campus is huge like mine, you may see an interesting person one day…and then never see them again. Some of my lectures have been so large that every week I could sit next to a different classmate. Even trying to find time to chat with someone during class is hard enough.

Basically, everyone looks too busy to be bothered and it’s awkward introducing yourself to someone you’ve never met. Why are adulthood friendships so hard??

I’ve been in the same place you are and really didn’t make any friends until the end of my second year at college. I blame myself (and my depression lol) for that though, and I’m here to provide with you the tips I used to finally meet some people!

It’s really about just putting yourself out there and to stop overthinking how other people will react. We are all awkward and want to make friends, so I promise that most people will appreciate your presence rather than turn away from it.

Just Say Hi

Always introduce yourself to at least one person in each of your classes. If you’re going to be there for 16 weeks, you might as well have someone to talk to (and nothing bonds students more than a mutual dislike of a class). Introducing yourself on the first day is not as awkward as it seems, and the person next to you is no doubt waiting for you to make the first move. I understand that in some classes it can be hard to “socialize” (aka a strict professor or large lecture), but at least find one person you can reach out to.

It’s a good idea to get some form of contact information from that person in case of “emergencies” (help with an assignment, missing class and need notes, etc.). If you’re working on a particularly hard assignment, ask them to meet up and work together! You never know who can become your next bestie.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to say hi first. You’re both probably as equally awkward and shy about introducing yourself to others, so someone has to take the leap.

Study With Others

Most students don’t have the time to actually “hang out” because they have too much work and studying to do. That’s understandable! However, invite someone to study with you anyways, because just being near another person can help fill your social need. Even if you two are completely different majors doing different work, just sit down at a table together and keep each other company.

You’ll end up chatting with each other during breaks and will soon enjoy each other’s company. This is how I maintained some friendships last year. We would meet up at a common area and all do our work together, yet separately. Sometimes these study sessions could last hours!

Related: 6 Different Studying Methods You Can Try

Join a Group

Yes, this is cliche. And if you’re anything like me, clubs and organizations just make you all weird and anxious. But, I promise, joining a club will almost always guarantee you a friend. You already have an interest in common, and you’re scheduled to see each other at least once a week!

Tip: Make sure it’s a club you’re genuinely interested in so you don’t get stuck surrounded by people who are nothing like you.

I saw a flyer on my campus with the headline “are you a glow-getter?” and information about a time and place to meet below it. Despite not knowing what the heck it meant, it piqued my interest and I mustered up the courage to show up to the meeting. I’m so glad I did because I’m now a part of one of the coolest groups of girls on campus that share interests in beauty, skincare, and girl power. If I didn’t just go for it, I wouldn’t have met some amazing girls that I now consider friends.

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Hi, glow getters! Heather here. 👋 It’s been a crazy busy but great first month! Many, many thanks to this amazing luci team from Temple University, family, friends, and all of the lovely IG partners who’ve become like family. Beyond grateful. ❤️ There’s so much planned for October (including the ambassador program!) and can’t wait to share with you! 😘✨ #staytuned #comingsoon • • • #findyourluci #monday

A post shared by luci (lu-chi) skin (@luciskinofficial) on Oct 1, 2018 at 8:47am PDT

Get Friendly With Your Dorm Neighbors

You’ll be seeing these people around the halls daily, so introduce yourself to avoid awkward silences when you pass each other in the halls. Plus, you’re literally right down the hall from each other, so hanging out should be easy! If you have a cool RA, you can even schedule group events like movie nights or outings.

For some reason, my dorm building (or maybe just my floor) was not as open and friendly as I thought it would be, so I ended up barely knowing any of my dorm neighbors and had to experience those awkward head-nods and half-smiles. Not fun and do not recommend.

I have friends at other schools that have told me their hallway leaves their doors open for the first few days so people can pop in and out of rooms and introduce themselves. (Not quite sure how I feel about this, but it’s a simple way to meet people!)

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee

I don’t know a single college student that would turn down getting a cup of coffee. It’s an easy ice-breaker to invite someone to a coffee shop and just chat for a bit. Or, again, you can study there! If you’re both on a budget, just agree on making your own coffees and then meeting up 😉

Tip: Extend the invitation instead of waiting for it.

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Attend School Events

Again, another cliche. It can be awkward to go alone to events (since, you know, you’re looking for friends), but just go anyways. There is no doubt going to be another person who is by themselves, which gives you the perfect opportunity to say hi. All it takes is a few seconds of courage! Especially attend events for your specific school or major, so you can meet people studying the same things as you!

If you’re in a creative field like me (Advertising), it’s nice to know other creative people to bounce ideas off of or get feedback from. It’s definitely a goal of mine to meet more people at my school of study!

Use Social Media

Honestly, I do not like Facebook lol. I haven’t used it since I was about 14 and never planned on using it again. However, it seems to be the best way to get connected with others at your school through group pages and events. I recommend joining a group for your graduating year (ex. Temple University Class of 2021) and checking out who is posting on there. Many people will simply introduce themselves in a paragraph or two, inviting others to do the same. Some will post about events or clubs to join, while others are asking questions that you might be able to answer.

You can look for other Facebook groups to join (like one for your major or a sport you play) to get connected with people at your college. Facebook is the easiest platform to find fellow college students because you search for people by the school they attend. Instagram is harder because you can’t filter people by their school, but you can check your school’s hashtags and location to see who is posting.

Tip: Don’t be afraid of sending someone (who looks like you’ll get along with) a message!

Give It Time

Very rarely do you become besties with someone overnight. Although you may be desperate to make friends right now (*cough* me *cough*), you don’t want to rush anything and let it all play out naturally. Being too eager can turn people off because they’re already busy with classes and work. Be cool, casual, and let your friendship progress organically.

As I said, many students have packed schedules and might not have the time to hang out. So, appreciate small conversations during and in-between classes and never take any form of socialization that makes you feel good for granted.

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If you found these tips helpful or have more to share, leave a comment down below! Don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list for post updates and more. Lots of love x

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