How to Make Friends in College – By a Recent Graduate

Are you wondering how to make friends in college? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. As a recent college graduate, I know first hand that making friends in college can be challenging.

In my first semester of college, I was shy in class and I had trouble making new friends. By the second semester, I wanted to make more friends so I knew I had to find ways to adapt to the new environment.

By stepping out of my comfort zone, I quickly began making more friends, getting invited to parties and having a really fun social life in college.

With that being said, here are the 6 best ways to make friends in college.

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6 Ways to Make Friends in College

1. Talk to Your Classmates

If you’re looking for a great way to meet new people, a great place to start is in class. When you’re in class, make small talk with your fellow students.

Overtime, if you sit in the same spot every class, you will start getting familiar with the students around you. This is a great time to add them on social media and form new friendships.

During my freshman year, I would get a bit of social anxiety around other students because college was a big change from high school.

In one of my classes, I was forced into doing a group project with other college students. However, this made me step out of my comfort zone and talk to my classmates.

To my surprise, many students had similar interests as me and I ended up forming some new friendships.

Getting along well with your classmates is great because you can form a study group, have study sessions and help each other with homework.

It’s true that talking to your classmates may be intimidating. However, if you’re friendly, other students will be friendly as well.

Here’s a list of conversation starters for the college classroom:

Conversation Starters:

  • Have you been enjoying this class so far?
  • What year of college are you in?
  • What are you studying?
  • Do you live on campus?
  • Do you like our professor?

2. Hang Out in Busy Areas

Students Studying

If you’re looking for the best way to meet new people, hang out in the busy areas around campus. Try hanging out in the common area, the dining hall or attending campus events.

This will make it easier for you to be around other students and to become a familiar face around campus.

The best place you can go to meet new people is social events because many other students are there to meet new people as well. Remember, many people are in college to make new friends, meet new people and have fun.

Attending events on campus and hanging out in busy areas is a great way to make some potential friends.

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3. Join Clubs

One of the easiest ways to meet new people in college is by joining a club. The best thing about clubs is that they are a great way to connect with other college students who share the same interests as you.

Joining a club opens you up to new experiences and new friend groups. A lot of the time, there will be older students who already know each other in the club. However, they are always very welcoming of new people.

If you’re in college and having trouble making friends, check out the different clubs. If you find something that is interesting, join it! You will meet plenty of new people and make a bunch of new friends.

4. Play a Sport

If you’re athletic or have always wanted to try playing a sport, try out for a sports team. Being on a sports team is a great way to make new friendships.

Personally, I never joined a sports team when I was in college, however I had a few friends that played football and lacrosse on the school teams. They were always super nice, and I would see them around campus and we would all party together.

Trying out for a sports team is a great way to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

5. Work or Volunteer on Campus

Working Student

Campus jobs and volunteering is an easy way to make some college friends. Working or volunteering forces you to use your social skills and talk with your colleagues.

Working on campus is a great place to make some college friends, while earning money as a college student at the same time. When I was in college, I had some friends who would work on campus and they always enjoyed it.

When it comes to volunteering ,there will be opportunities to do so at sporting events and a variety of other events on campus. When it comes to volunteering, there will most likely be other students volunteering as well so it’s a good way to make new friends.

6. Talk to Your Neighbours and Roommates

An excellent way of making new friends if you live on campus, is to talk to your roommate or to talk to your neighbors. These are other students who you will see very often so it’s good to get along with them.

Part of the college experience is making new friends, going to class and partying. If you can do this with the people who live closest to you then you will have an amazing time.

Don’t be shy, be cool and friendly with your neighbours. Overtime you can form a friendship and have a great time together.

Bonus Tip:

Students Talking

In college, it’s a lot easier to make friends when you are with at least one other person. Working in a team of two will make you feel more comfortable when you’re approaching other people.

Whether it’s a friend from high school, a roommate or a classmate, it’s better to meet new people when you’re with someone else.

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Final Thoughts on How to Make Friends in College

For many students, making friends in college can be a real challenge. On the bright side, there are plenty of students in the same position who are looking to make new friends during their time in college.

For some students, making friends is super easy and for others it can take some time. If you step out of your comfort zone and make an effort by trying to meet new people, you will make friends in college.

In this post, I shared 6 ways to make friends in college.

Why do you find it hard to make friends in college? Please let me know in the comments below.

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