<p>It's been a couple of weeks since school started.
I realize that I have trouble making NEW friends. I usually hang out with my high school friends, but I feel like I need to "branch" out. </p>
<p>I didn't realize how hard it felt, though.
How do you guys make new friends? I don't have much problem talking to people in my quiz sections, I just have a problem trying to make new friends in a lecture room of 400 people...</p>
<p>Still, I don't talk to anyone much after that, besides the old friends.
Do you guys recommend just randomly approaching people and sitting next to them? With an intention of getting to know them without being too creepy? Ha. I noticed when I'm eating lunch with friends, there are people that sit alone... I'd like to sit next to them sometimes, but what are the chances that they'd talk to me without feeling awkward?</p>
<p>Overall, I'm interests in meeting new friends that I could study and hang out with. Not just the same people</p>
<p>I commute, so it's a bit harder for me...</p>
<p>Yes, it’s definitely harder if you commute!</p>
<p>If I were you I would definitely consider joining a few clubs if you can – [RSO</a> Directory : Student Activities Office](<a href=“Student Activities | The HUB”>Student Activities | The HUB)</p>
<p>Commuter here, about an hour to two hours each way, each day. I was lucky to be admitted into CSE right away, so a large portion of my new friends are from ACM or from just hanging out in the CSE labs, where I can find people with many similar interests.</p>
<p>I also made friends at student associations/casual sports - badminton, Chinese Student Association, Taiwanese Student Association, religious clubs, etc. They don’t meet all the time, and most host a few events each quarter. I basically made the rest of my friends there, and the only person from my high school I even talk to is also a CS major, even though 30+ from our school always ends up at UW.</p>
<p>Do your lectures have quiz sections? That’s where I get to know people as well. If it’s like an ECON 200 lecture where there is no section (I think!), you could always just say hi, shake hands, kind of introduce yourself. Right off the bat, you can probably figure out if this person wants to have anything to do with you. If not and it seems really awkward, you don’t have to talk to them again. =)</p>
<p>Also I am not sure if you are familiar with Catalyst Tools yet – <a href=“Retirement of Catalyst WebQ and GradeBook – IT Connect”>Retirement of Catalyst WebQ and GradeBook – IT Connect;
<p>Check your tools, and check and see if any of your classes have a GoPost discussion board. Often there will be people posting about forming study groups (if not, you can make your own post). That’s probably a better way to try to make friends compared to chatting with someone in the five mins before class starts or whatever.</p>