I am so happy to be back on NC State University’s campus, which means it’s a new school year to meet people. We have a brand new set of classes, new faces to see, and new beginnings to endeavor on throughout the year. But we may be left clueless on how we take advantage of these new opportunities to socialize and make friends. Trust me, I’ve been there. So, I will be sharing some tips that have helped me over the years to expand my social circle!
1. Join clubs:
I cannot stress this tip enough. I literally found most of my friends by attending clubs on campus, especially during the first few weeks. Stay active in the clubs, go consistently and talk to people! Clubs make it a whole lot easier to “click” with another person since they are centered around a common interest. “Well, where are all the clubs?”, you may ask. The Student Involvement Fair is held at the beginning of every semester, showcasing hundreds of clubs across NC State’s campus. Their next one will be held in January 2024, so be on the lookout for that. You can also utilize the Get Involved at NC State page to sign up for clubs you are interested in, and usually they will reach back out to you. If you don’t see any clubs you like, go start one – seriously.
2. talk to people in class:
If you are naturally introverted, this one may be a bit hard, but trust me, it works. Find a vacant seat next to someone who you think you would probably be friends with and sit next to them. Now all you need is an opening question to get the ball rolling. Here are some of my go-to questions to ask:
Is this [XYZ] class?
Were you present during the last class? What did he/she go over?
Do you feel like you’re ready for this test? [use this one about a week before an upcoming test and follow up by inviting the person to study with you!]
I would suggest coming to class at least five to ten minutes early, so that you’ll have time to talk with them, without interrupting their learning time.
3. Join a sorority/fraternity on campus:
I am not incredibly knowledgeable about sororities/fraternities on campus, but I’ve heard positive things about them! Some sororities, like Pi Beta Phi, are still holding informal recruitment, so reach out to them on their Instagram for more information about that. If you aren’t into Greek-life, NC State has a lot of service and pre-professional fraternities such as Alpha Omega Epsilon, Omega Phi Alpha, and Alpha Epsilon Delta.
4. explore the wellness center:
Another great way to meet new people is to take advantage of NC State’s Wellness and Recreation events. From outdoor trips, to group training classes, and club sports, there are a variety of activities that one can indulge in to not only have fun, but to socialize with others. I have always wanted to join one of their sessions, so feel free to reach out to me about how it goes!
5. Get an on-campus job:
This is a bulletproof method to not only find your people, but get some money along the way. I feel like the coolest people I have met are through work, and especially working on your college campus, you meet hardworking people who are just like you! There are so many places you can work at while at NC State, like The Atrium, Talley Student Union, the Ask Us desk at D.H. Hill Jr. Library, or even as a Resident Advisor in one of the dormitories (and that’ll get you money, plus free food, room and board!!).
6. bonus tip:
This may be more on the extreme end, but use it sparingly because it works. I can wholeheartedly say that every time I have used this method on someone, they become one of my closest friends. The secret is to think of one person that you have seen or spoken to that you want to be friends with and make it your mission that it will happen. Invite them to hangout, text them to see if they want to study with you, things like that. Even going as far to send them TikTok videos or memes that reminded you of them goes a long way in reeling them in! Again, I know it sounds weird, but it truly truly works.
And I get it, you may not be a social butterfly. I definitely wasn’t when I got into college. But if it’s even just to use one of these tips, you would be surprised at the amount of people you will meet. Just be yourself, authentic and real, and I promise you people will see that and want to stick around!