<p>I'm a pretty social person, but I realized that the way I make friends is usually through other friends... Like I need someone who I'm really comfortable around to be completely myself and make alot of other friends.. idk if that makes sense
so in a new college setting, what is the best way to make friends at first? Once I have a few, i'm pretty sure it won't be hard to make more, but it's just the initial days</p>
<p>Hang out in your dorm’s common areas, such as around the TV.</p>
<p>In my money best way to make friend is to be frank with whom you want to make friend and get diplomatic at any stage and be specific what you are telling. This will give a good sign.</p>
<p>The first few days are actually the easiest time to meet people because everybody is new and anxious to make friends! Towards the end of the first week most students seem to get settled with an initial core group of friends.</p>
<p>You generally have two options there: be a follower and try to tack onto another group of people, or be a leader and build your own circle of friends! My #1 recommendation would be to take initiative in the crucial first few days on campus. Invite your hallmates to come to dinner with you and your classmates to a trip off campus. Many incoming students will be a bit shy and super happy that someone went out of their way to socialize with them!</p>
<p>How do you “tack on”? Just tag along? In high school it seemed so easy because you have classes and you talk to people, but in a dorm it seems kinda different</p>
<p>@OP, I am very similar to you. At the very beginning you kind-of have to go out on a limb and talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, and act obnoxiously outgoing, go to random orientation and social events (even if they are kinda silly/dumb). But since just about everyone else is in your shoes, they will be way more receptive to your invitations and friendliness than maybe in high school. If you see people eating together at lunch and you are alone, just be like, “hey! Mind if I join you guys?” and introduce yourself. Same thing goes if they are going to a party or any type of social event. Especially if they aren’t just randos, they will likely be receptive to you. Roommates and suitemates are probably the first people you want to reach out to/invite to things/tag along with, because you are going to be around them for the next year and you might as well get acquainted!</p>
<p>I hung out with my roommate and suitemates the first few nights. Although I am not really super close with them any more, it definitely helped me get out there and do stuff and meet others.</p>
<p>More than likely the first people you meet and socialize with won’t be your best friends down the road, but they’ll at least help you find people that you will be friends with.</p>
<p>Leave your door open in your dorm so people know you’re there!</p>
<p>I’m not a very social person… so my easiest way to make friends was by joining clubs that interested me and by going to multiple events on campus like speakers, entertainers, dances, carnival type things, nights at an on campus building with crafts/games/etc. The best one though, is clubs. You find people that share similar interests, and you’re in a smaller group sometimes so it’s easier/faster to get to know people. And if you live in a dorm, go to dorm/floor events often.</p>
<p>After completing freshman year I would say your dorm/residence hall is the best way to meet friends. You’re living with these people, you’ll see them all the time, and it’s really easy to just go up to them (in the first few days) and talk and get to know each other, because everyone is in the same boat and everyone is eager to meet new people and make new friends. Looking back, my best friends from this last year are first and foremost from my floor, along with some people who lived on other floors in my building.</p>
<p>Otherwise, there are so many ways you can talk to new people - orientation, welcome week, classes, dining hall, clubs and other extracurricular activities, etc.</p>
<p>I guess you can ask people to go the dining hall with you</p>
<p>leave your door open so people know you exist
don’t sit alone at the dining hall or eat in your room all the time
go to random school events (they can help, met my girlfriend there :P)</p>
<p>Everybody wants to make friends so you can go up to complete strangers and start a conversation without it being weird. </p>
<p>I guarantee that if you walk down your floor with cookies/candy/food and give it to everyone you’ll meet a bunch of people.</p>
<p>OP - is there already a Facebook group for your incoming class? At least one-third of my kid’s freshmen class is on a FB group together and by the time they show up on campus in August, some will have been interacting with each other in that group for over 3 months. They’re already making some social plans they want to do together on campus, etc. part of the fun of their first week will be trying to meet up and track each other down in person. </p>
<p>See if your incoming class has a FB group. Search FB or ask on the college’s regular page if you can’t find a link to it. Join the group and BE ACTIVE in it. You may already have some new friends by the time you show up for orientation. :)</p>
<p>Dorms are pretty good, but I’ve found a lot of personal success in joining clubs. The ones that require a lot of participation are usually the best, as they bring people much closer together than ones where officers just stand at the front of the room and go through the meeting’s agenda each week.</p>
<p>By this, I mean join clubs that have a lot of outside activities, for example–I’m totally not a student council person, but joined one of our college councils (Each “college” within our university has a council) and we do a lot of volunteer work, and events for students but there are also frequent socials–a lot of my friends have been met through that. Likewise, I know a lot of people who met through things like Student Newspaper–these all require a lot more time and effort than some clubs, but also seem to build closer bonds. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>Bring a Power Strip to the library during finals week!</p>