Expanded Horizons: How to Make Friends in College
Your first-year of college will be all about fresh feelings, places and people. But with all that going on it can be tough to make meaningful connections and avoid loneliness. Thankfully, the modern university experience facilitates making friends through well-supported campus communities.
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The independence of college life can be equal parts exhilarating and intimidating.
New schedules, new responsibilities, and, perhaps most importantly, new friendships are all a part of the college first-year experience.
The benefits of those new college friendships extend far beyond camaraderie during late night movie marathons or at Homecoming tailgates, though.
Studies have shown that students who have a diverse, supportive friend group throughout college are more likely to graduate on time and find greater success in the classroom and beyond.
However, some students find that the transition to a university can be stressful and that meeting new people and making friends in college can be difficult.
So, how do you make friends in college? Fortunately, the on-campus first-year environment is designed to help you make friends in and outside your field of study. Let’s learn how.
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What Are Some Ways to Make Friends in College?
Many prospective students are anxious about first-year college loneliness, especially if attending a school far from home or living on their own for the first time.
To combat this common feeling, modern college campuses have been designed to contain ready-made communities that span academic, cultural, civic and creative interests, all able to expand your college social life and create lasting friendships.
Places to meet like-minded people in college include:
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Study groups. Often used within your major as a way to stay on top of challenging coursework, study groups provide an opportunity for first-year students to support one another.
Recent NIH studies have shown that students with encouraging social groups have an easier time in the classroom, especially for those from underrepresented communities.
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Your residence hall. The fellow first-year students with which you share your residence hall will also be seeking out the same kinds of social relationships.
This means that, regardless of your relationship with your roommate, connecting with your neighbors is encouraged and facilitated, providing you many opportunities to meet new people.
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Pre-professional clubs. Both as a platform for career planning and a way to meet fellow students who share your interests, academic clubs and societies can foster enduring friendships.
Because these organizations can have an impact beyond your undergraduate experience on campus, the connections you make can extend well into your career.
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Multicultural organizations. Students from underserved populations can often feel isolated during their first-year of college, leading to lower graduation rates.
Cultural clubs and student centers are not only an excellent way to meet new people, but can also provide invaluable services to help you thrive during the transition to college.
All of this is supported by small class sizes and close connections with faculty and staff, which combine to create a network of compassion and rapport.
I Thought We Would Be Friends: What Do I Do If I Don’t Get Along With My Roommate?
Having to share a space with someone you may have never met before is one of the biggest adjustments for first-year college students.
Sometimes living with roommates results in fast friendship, but other times there can be disagreements and tension, a prospect that gives some students anxiety.
To help alleviate this stress, residence halls and dormitories are staffed by trained live-in professionals, Resident Assistant (RAs), who can help you work together with your roommate to make your first year as comfortable as possible.
Experienced at mediation, conflict resolution, and helping first-year students set personal boundaries, RAs can help smooth over the worry that comes from living with roommates.
Also, because RAs get to know the students they work with very well, they can help point you toward campus groups, events, or organizations where you can expand your social circle and meet new people.
How Can I Make Friends In College Outside Of My Major?
The cohort within your major is an ideal place to make friends you can connect with throughout your career, but recent sociological studies have shown that a diverse social network during college can help students thrive even more.
One excellent way to expand your social circle is through sports. Student athletes come from every corner of campus, with athletics at the Division III level some of the most accessible in the country.
Intramural sports are another great way to meet people across the campus community, as they are often open to everyone from undergraduate students to tenured professors.
Artistic organizations — like theater, music, and dance — also feature students from a wide variety of majors and concentrations.
Campus communities, especially at small, private universities, are collaborative by design, empowering students to explore their interests and engage with those they might not have otherwise.
What Can I Do To Make Friends Quickly in College?
Believe it or not, you can start making friends at college even before you are officially admitted.
Connecting with other prospective first-year students at events such as senior preview days and campus visits is as easy as sharing social media usernames. The same students you tour campus with may very well be your peers when school starts.
The same goes for admitted student receptions and new-student orientation. Both are spaces where you can make friends in advance of moving to campus, setting up a community as soon as possible.
Taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather, group trips are another great way to connect with a diverse array of new students.
Pacific’s place in the vibrant Pacific Northwest makes it the ideal place for both outdoor adventures and also big city day trips that can tap into shared interests between burgeoning friend groups.
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