How would you describe yourself? Are you outgoing or shy? Is your personality introverted or extroverted? These are some of the questions you should ask yourself before you decide on how to make new friends in college.
College life is full of challenges. Not only do you have to deal with academics, but also social interactions, living arrangements, and other issues. If you don’t know how to handle these problems, you’re going to struggle during your time in school.
Making friends in college is important because you’ll spend a large portion of your life in college. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose the right friends who will support you throughout your studies.
How to get along with classmates in college? How to make new friends? What should I expect from my roommate or classmate? These questions might seem trivial at first, but we will drop ten powerful tips that will answer these questions and also give you a nice college experience
Why Do You Need Friends in college?
College is the time when you start building new relationships with people who share similar interests. How important are these friendships in your life now?
The importance of friendship has always been recognized. In ancient times, friends were considered to be the closest companions and confidants. They shared their happiness and pains, helped one another through difficulties, and supported one another during good times and bad times. Friendship was also viewed as a significant part of socialization.
Nowadays, however, friendship is often seen as something optional or even unnecessary. College students are expected to focus solely on academics and career development. As a result, they tend to neglect their friendships.
Studies suggest that students who make friends and establish relationships in college are more likely to be academically successful and graduate eventually. Social interactions are essential for humans. When you have friends who can empathize with and encourage you, blow off steam with you, and help you through challenges, you will be better prepared to face the challenges at University.
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Why you must make friends in college
Friendship is essential, no matter who you are. But when you go to college, you not only learn new things, but you also become a better person. After graduating from college, you will be asked some questions about your skills and experience.
However, you’ll also be asked how well your skills match up with a team, how well you relate with others, and how well you get along with managers, supervisors, and clients. What do all of these things have to do with friendships and relationships? Friendship takes many forms, and some of them include working together, learning from each other, and having fun with each other. Your friends help shape your lifestyle, and they allow you to interact with people around you.
Students stand to gain from making friends with their classmates. Students who form study groups discuss their ideas for projects, deliberate over mistakes, and celebrate their successes and good grades.
It doesn’t sound particularly friendly or flowery to speak of friendships in terms of what one person can gain from them. But the very nature between them is reciprocal. As someone provides you with the support and encouragement you need, you must give that same level of support and encouragement back to them.
Friendship is a two-way street, as is networking. Acquaintances made in pursuit of your college major and acquaintances with similar interests going into your chosen career; these friends can form a foundation for your professional network.
How to make friends in college as an introvert
- Be friendly, but not too friendly.
- Don’t be pushy.
- Don’t try to force them into hanging out with you.
- Ask questions about their interests and hobbies.
- Listen attentively.
- Let them come to you.
- Try to avoid making judgments about them.
- Avoid telling them what you think of them.
- Show interest in what they’re saying.
- Keep your comments positive.
- Always Smile.
- Remember that everyone has flaws.
- Look past those flaws.
- Focus on the positives.
How to make friends in college when you’re shy
Are you shy to talk? Are you afraid of rejection or anxious about meeting new people? If so, then you might want to try these tips to get over your social anxiety.
Being shy isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, some people are naturally introverted and prefer spending time alone. On the other hand, some people are extroverts who thrive off interacting with others. The key is finding out where you fall on the spectrum.
“I’m shy,” says one student. “It makes me nervous to talk to strangers.” Another agrees. “I don’t really enjoy talking to people I don’t know. I’d rather stay home and read a book.” Yet another admits he’s “a bit socially awkward” but still manages to connect with his peers.
How can we learn to overcome our shyness?
- Practice speaking in front of people you don’t know well.
- Ask someone who is good at public speaking to give you feedback on your presentation.
- Find a mentor who has been through this before.
We will be listing ten proven tips needed to make friends in college.
10 Proven Tips on how to make friends in college
Now that we’ve covered why we need friends, we should concentrate on how to find them, especially like-minded people. I know this may appear kind of weird because there are a lot of people in college. After all, friendship should just happen naturally. But if it doesn’t work like that all the time, don’t worry—you can still get there. Seeking friendships can feel unnatural.
However, I think that being intentional about your relationship is one of the keys to a happy life. Unlike your family, friends in college can be assumed to have a different purpose than friends at home. It makes sense to be deliberate when choosing potential friends. We will be listing below the proven tips.
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1. Do Not Fake Your Lifestyle
Whatever college you choose, there will be people who share your interests and personalities. Your personality must shine through so that your friends are attracted to who you are as an individual.
“I wouldn’t want to be friends if I couldn’t be myself around them,” said Tuft’s freshman Minna Jacobson. She added that it’s hard to relate to people who act like they’re something they aren’t.
Follow the Alexandra Elle motto, “Be yourself. Love yourself. Always.” Your college years are critical periods in your life. Therefore, you should make sure you spend quality time with people who appreciate your unique qualities. They will be the main drivers for creating long-lasting friendships with them.
You might also want to remember that the advice your parents gave you when you were a kid still holds true. Don’t worry about fitting in. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and be open about your interest and experiences. You’ll attract compatible friends.
2. Explore Your Dorm
College dorm rooms are filled with other students going through similar experiences, ready to make friends. Many dorms have communal spaces, where events are held simply to help freshmen get to know each other better.
If you’re not at school, chances are you’re in your room. Especially if it’s the first year of college. Dorm rooms may not be the most attractive places, but they’re excellent places for making friends.
Dorm rooms are great because of all of the spontaneous social interactions they invite. Whether it’s hanging around in the common area doing your homework, eating in the dining hall, brushing your teeth in the community bathroom, or having an impromptu Nerf war at 2 am on a Tuesday, it’s a good place to meet people.
Of course, the same rules apply in other living situations. Living with random people was where I made most of my best friends in school. Even if you’re living off-campus, you can still make some effort to get to know the people who live next door to you.
3. Be Active In Class
There are 168 hours per week. If you spend 8 hours a day sleeping, then you have 112 waking hours left. You probably spend around 15 hours in class each week. That works out to be 10.71% –13.39% of the total time you’re awake. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends.
When you start classes, you’ll have lots of chances to meet new people. As a first-time college student, you’ll probably be enrolled in seminar classes specifically designed to teach you how to adjust to the college environment. Strike up a casual conversation by asking them questions. Simply being in the same class should be enough for you to start chatting.
For upper-level undergraduates, making friends in your major can be helpful because you’ll likely take many similar courses throughout college. Also, students in your class probably share similar interests and career ambitions you can discuss.
Utilizing the opportunity that classes offer could be the perfect tip for making friends in college.
4. Join Campus Organisations
Campus organizations are probably the best place to make new friends. Because there are so many of these, it’s easier to use one. Whether it’s a sport, a social club, an academic club, a cultural club, a recreational activity, a musical pursuit, or a career aspiration, there’s probably a club for it.
Campus clubs have all the benefits of regular campus events with the added benefit that they meet regularly. This enables you to interact with the same people repeatedly, which is an important component of building friendships.
You definitely will find people who share similar interests with you by joining a club or on-campus organization. Are you into writing? Do you wish to be a journalist? Do you enjoy helping people? Join a great charity group. Whatever you’re passionate and interested in, there’s probably already an on-ground community for it. And if there isn’t a club yet, then you can always create one yourself!
5. Attend Social Events and Meetings
Colleges often maintain a full schedule of student activities and events throughout the academic year, which includes sporting events, concerts, film screenings, theater performances, workshops, and even well-known speakers. These events not only provide a great way to meet new people, but they’re also an enjoyable way to connect with your college community.
Many colleges offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, including community cleanups and planting new trees around campus. If you find something you’re passionate about, then get involved and make a change.
You can find campus activities and volunteer opportunities on your college’s website. Keep an eye out for flyers put up around campus.
If you’re going to be attending school this fall, you might want to stop by some of the campus events so that you can meet up with other students. If you find a few people you vibe with, then you can all make plans for the next school event together, just to boost your social life.
6. Join Campus Religious Groups.
The University has many religious groups on campus. Some groups meet weekly, others monthly. These groups offer opportunities for students to connect with each other and grow spiritually.
Christian Fellowship
the Christian Fellowship is a group of Christians who gather together regularly to share their faith and fellowship with one another. Some have specific meeting days in a week. A look into their structure will show how there are a lot of mutual relationships arising from them, this is the facet of their belief, love among neighbors
Muslim Students Association (MSA)
the Muslim Students Association (MSA) is a student organization at the University of California, Berkeley. The MSA has over 1,000 members and currently holds an annual conference for its membership. The MSA works to promote Islamic culture on campus through various events such as the annual International Day of Solidarity with Palestine, the annual Eid-al-Fitr Celebration, and the annual Muslim Student Union Conference. In addition to these events, the MSA organizes cultural programs and social gatherings.
all these meetings and a variety of programs from the various religious groups can help you bond with fellow students
7. Informal Hangouts With Acquaintance
you might want to ask the difference between friends and acquaintances.
Acquaintances are people we know casually but don’t really care much about. They may be nice enough, but we wouldn’t consider them close friends. Friends are people who we value very highly. They mean a lot to us, and we would do anything for them. We usually have a lot of fun when hanging out with friends.
Informal meetings with an acquaintance are a very good platform for that migration. Friendship is all about trust, and trust is earned.
Informal hangouts give you lots of time to really talk and get to know each other.
8. Utilizing Online Platforms
This may require many platforms, but the most common is any Facebook group associated with your class or school. Before the semester started, I knew people who made new friends by joining the Facebook group for the course.
Social media is one thing that our generation does better than any other. And yes, you can definitely use that to your advantage during this semester. Share your Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or whatever you prefer with the rest of your class. Connecting with your classmates on social media will help you get a better sense of who they are outside of class.
If you aren’t physically at school this fall, one relatively easy way you could still make connections from a distant location would be to set up a study group that met virtually—contact people in your favorite class who are stressing you out the most and ask them for help. Sure, you guys may not sit next to each other in the library anymore, but you can still get together for study sessions via Zoom.
9. Get a Job
Campus jobs are ideal for students since they usually don’t require any special skills or experience. They can also be a great way to meet new people! Many colleges maintain positions exclusively reserved for college students in coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, computer centers, and recreation centers.
Because on-campus jobs may be limited, many students find work off-campus at local shops, grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants One major downside to working on campus is that on-campus positions typically pay less than off-campuses positions. Off-campus jobs are a great way to meet new people and earn some extra cash.
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10. Be Jovial with all
Be Jovial With All is a term coined by a group of people who believe that we should all try to be happy and positive regardless of what happens around us. This may seem like a simple idea, but it’s not always easy to follow. It takes practice to become a “Jovial with all” person.
This is the major attitude that keeps people around you, and if you master this act, then you’ll find someone around you that you can call a friend.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you’re like most students, you’ll find yourself surrounded by new faces every year. And even though you may feel nervous about meeting new people, remember that everyone has their own story, and you never know when you might meet someone who shares yours. So go talk to them! they could end up as your friend.
FAQs
Where Did You Make Your First Friends?
For most people, the answer fits into one of two categories: Your school or Your neighborhood What do these two areas have in common?
What Are Campus Events?
Here are just a few of the types of events that were common at my college: Guest speakers Karaoke nights Protests Charity 5Ks Free craft nights Classical music concerts Music festivals TEDx Quidditch matches Themed dances (with free food!) Global Nomad Social Campus events are a great place to meet people.
What Are The Benefits Of Having Friends?
Actively seeking out friends means you’re more likely to have people around you who energize you, make you laugh, and support you during difficult times.
How can we learn to overcome our shyness?
- Practice speaking in front of people you don’t know well.
- Ask someone who is good at public speaking to give you feedback on your presentation.
- Find a mentor who has been through this before.
How to make friends in college as an introvert
- Be friendly, but not too friendly.
- Don’t be pushy.
- Don’t try to force them into hanging out with you.
- Ask questions about their interests and hobbies.
- Listen attentively.
- Let them come to you.
- Try to avoid making judgments about them.
- Avoid telling them what you think of them.
- Show interest in what they’re saying.
- Keep your comments positive.
- Always Smile.
- Remember that everyone has flaws.
- Look past those flaws.
- Focus on the positives.
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