As if coming into a new environment isn’t hard enough, finding your people can be even harder.
Maybe you’re a freshman walking onto campus without knowing a single person. Maybe the friend group you made last semester has drifted apart from each other, and you’re not sure how to rebuild your social circle. Or maybe you’re a transfer student who has to start over at a new school.
No matter the situation, having to put yourself out there and meet new people can feel intimidating. It’s easy to assume everyone already has their friends figured out, but chances are, there are plenty of other students who are in the exact same boat.
Making friends doesn’t happen overnight. And in college, it is important to keep a circle of people around you. Here are a few ways to put yourself out there and meet new people on campus.
TAlk to people in your classes
Class is one of the easiest places to start meeting new people. If it’s a class for your major, the people around you most likely have the same interests. Spark a conversation with the person next to you. If it goes great, try to make plans outside of class time to hangout.
You don’t have to immediately become best friends. Sometimes, one casual conversation can turn into a friendship that lasts throughout college.
Go to campus events
Those welcome week events are going to be your lifeline. Everyone is there for the same reason: to socialize and meet new people.
You could start by giving someone a compliment, asking how they heard about the event, or joining a group activity. Even if you don’t leave the event with a best friend, you’ll leave knowing a few more faces around campus.
Send that dm
If you’re someone who is more on the shy side, you don’t have to rely on approaching people in person. It doesn’t hurt to reach out to someone through social media. It an be an easy way to break the ice before meeting them in person.
If you’ve seen someone around campus who seems cool, has similar interests, or noticed you have mutual friends, there’t no harm in sending them a message. The worst that can happen is they don’t respond. Or, they could respond and you might end up finding a new person to hangout with.
Go to a club meeting
Joining a club is one of the best ways to meet people who already have the same interest as you.
The first club meeting of a semester is one of the easiest times to join because everyone is getting settled, learning how the club works, and meeting new people. You definitely won’t be the only new person in the room.
There’s a club for everyone on campus. Look through your school’s list of clubs and find something that genuinely interests you. Whether its a cultural organization, sports club, or academic organization, give it a shot.
And you don’t have to fully commit to the club after the first meeting. Simply just show up and introduce yourself to everyone. You might discover a new hobby or even find you people.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there
Starting over can be scary, especially when it feels like everyone already has a group. But relationships rarely start when you’re sitting around waiting for someone to approach you.
Say hi to the person sitting next to you. Go to the event even if you have to go by yourself. Send the DM. Introduce yourself at that club meeting.
You will have a few awkward conversations along the way, and that’s okay. College is fully of people who are also trying to figure things out, even though it doesn’t look that way. The goal isn’t to instantly find your forever friend group, it’s to give yourself opportunities to find them.