College can be a scary journey to take alone. While you can remain in communication with your friends from home, you still need to find on-campus friends to hang out with. This can make it seem like you’re essentially rebooting your life, but college friendships can last a lifetime—and you don’t want to miss the opportunity. Here are a few tried-and-true ways to make friends in college.
Join a Club
Colleges are typically home to many clubs—some of which may even interest you. If the current offerings don’t, then see if you can start your own. You can likely start anything from a general book club to something completely niche or more specific. You can also join an intermural or club sport, like quidditch or softball. While playing sports is a great way to make friends, it can also help you in the classroom. So, even if you’re not the best athlete, this may be something to consider.
Eat with Others
School cafeterias can be intimidating, but don’t be shy. Try to be open with others, and—if you have to—force yourself to socialize during lunch instead of sitting by yourself all the time. While there is nothing wrong with eating alone, the cafeteria presents an excellent opportunity to meet new people.
Work with Classmates
Whether you’re working on a project together outside of class or working at the same job, don’t pass up the opportunity to work with your classmates. This is a good idea because there is a good chance you may have the same interests based on the fact that you have the same major. A campus job will also give you a little more income to help cover expenses and let you have some fun.
Live on Campus
Many colleges across the nation don’t require you to actually live on campus. While this is an excellent option for some (especially if the commute is easy) it makes it difficult to find and maintain new friendships. Living on campus lets you enjoy the college experience and come across people you may not meet in your classes. If living on campus isn’t financially possible, make an effort to stay on campus as much as you can. Don’t just go to class and run home.
Be Yourself
There are thousands of students at a college. While this may seem overwhelming, it means that you will surely find someone who has the same interests as you. In short, just be yourself—and wear it on your sleeve. This is one of the easiest and best ways to make friends in college. If you’re open about your love for things, there is a good chance someone will notice and connect with you.
