Looking for some epic ways to make new connections and find new friends on your college campus? This post is all about the 7 ways you can find new friends on campus.
There are so many things going on when you take classes or play sports on a college campus that sometimes it can be hard to find new friends.
Like legit, I-actually-want-to-hang-out-with-you kind of friends.
Throughout the years I've been at college, I have seen the ups and downs of making (and trying to make) friends on campus and have found the most essential ways to find really good, quality friendships at college. Some people are naturally more quiet while others are super outgoing and some are somewhere in between.
Introvert. Extrovert. Ambivert.
No matter what kind of person you are, there are definitely great friends out there for you! Here are the totally doable, legit ways to find friends on campus that are sure to add more epic humans to your friend list.
This post is all about finding new friends on campus.
FINDING FRIENDS ON CAMPUS:
1. Cue the Approachable Vibes
Just showing up doesn't mean you are sending out approachable vibes. Not even on your best hair day.
The goal is to be someone other people can feel like they trust, want to get to know or at the very least: someone they like well enough to sit next to in class without it being creepy.
Smile more. Be kind to everyone you meet. Walk into the room like you belong there but not like some elevated VIP. Say something like "Hello" or "Hi, how are you?" to the occasional random passerby (notice I said occasional not to every person you see: that can get weird sometimes).
When you sit down, rather than being closed off, open up your arms and hands more to help appear more relaxed and calm. And if you are in the West, look people in the eyes when you are talking to them. Act like you want people to talk to you and choose to be totally fine if they do or if they don't.
Whatever you do, don't look bored.
2. Plan Your Intro
Decide how you want to introduce yourself to other college students. Go beyond saying your name though and think about a few short things you can share about yourself.
Happy tip: Where you are from, what your major is, your interests or hobbies and even talking about your family can help you start the conversation. And if you can ask similar questions to the person you are talking to, you increase your chances of turning your intro into a smooth transition in meeting someone new.
You don't need to memorize a bunch of words for this one, just think through what you would like to say and practice it a few times before you get there.
When you start to see the same people in your classes, you can soon expand your conversation to topics that arise in the classroom or the course.
3. Join a Study Group
This can be a great way to connect with people over a common goal: success in the course. To get the most out of a study group, be a positive and productive contributor to the group conversations. And when it's time to tackle a group project or assignment, keep your word, do your part and turn it in by the group's agreed upon timeline (this makes you look epic too).
Since the goal of a study group is often to do well in a course, they are less likely to be impressed by conversations that take away from the overall group productivity.
AKA stay focused on the goal. You can talk about the other stuff later.
4. Attend a Campus Event/Activity
If you attend one of these events or activities in hopes they will entertain you, chances are - at some point - you will get bored. Instead look for ones that put you in social settings with other students with similar interests.
Sororities and fraternities aren't the only places to find friends or meet new people.
Clubs involving sports, community service, cooking, student government, film, gaming and even clubs that help animals are great places to find new people with common ground. You can even check with your college about starting your own club on a topic you enjoy that others would enjoy too. Then the friends can come find you!
5. Welcome Out-of-Towners and Transfer Students
If you've ever been the new kid in school, then you know how easy it is to feel like an outsider or how challenging it can be to find a new normal. College students can feel this way sometimes too. By welcoming out-of-towners and transfer students you can help them adjust to their new surroundings and ease the unfamiliar or awkward vibes they may be facing.
And who knows? They may be looking for a new friend too.
6. For Close Friends, Look for Quality over Quantity
It's great to find new people, and to make connections but when it comes to your close, inner circle don't be afraid to get picky. There is only so much time in a day and only so much time in between classes to spare.
Happy tip: One message from an epic friend that really cares about you can hit way deeper than fifteen messages from random classmates.
By all means make many connections (quantity) on campus but refuse to ghost the high quality friendships you find for an instance of new person curiosity.
7. Online Faces > Online Spaces
Refuse to be content with a follow back. Pretty much anyone can find and add new people to their social networks. Then those new people just sit there in a part of your online corner maybe scrolling through your feed and maybe liking your next posted meme. Or not.
Remember, finding epic friends involves building bridges with them. If for some reason your schedule changes or you are not on campus as much, use online options like Zoom or other online video conferencing hangouts to help stay connected and to continue building friendships in meaningful ways, rain or shine.
With these totally doable and legit ways to find friends on campus, you are sure to add more epic humans to your friend list. So what are you waiting for? They can't wait to meet you!
This post was all about finding new friends on campus.
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