<p>When meeting new people in college, we would probably first ask them for their name, then ask where they are from and what major they chose. But what other common topics are there to talk about to keep a conversation going?</p>
<p>i usually have things to say but i guess if i run out i'd ask if they like the college? y/ y not? how was high school, do they miss it...</p>
<p>i'd ask wat clubs r they gonna join, would they be interested in fraternities... then i'll find common ground for other things to talk about</p>
<p>have them go into detail about the questions you first ask them. when they say where they're from, ask them if they like being so far/close to home and family. ask them about their hometown, big/small, etc, and their family. share this info about yourself as well. this helps you to get know someone better as well as keeps a convrsation going. you'll probably find that a lot of ppl enjoy talking about themselves!</p>
<p>maybe I'm talking to the wrong people, but sometimes when I try to make conversation, they answer with 1-2 words.</p>
<p>Sometimes people just won't help you, but it usually works to ask them questions. Most people like talking about themselves.</p>
<p>no, no casper's questions are kind of nerdy. you can be like, "are you going to do greek life?" but dont get too detailed. The basics wil always be:</p>
<p>1- What's your major?
2- Where are you from?
3- <em>What year are you? (</em>usually you'll know if they're a freshman)
4- Which dorm do u live in? (*you might already know)</p>
<p>and you can only have 4-5 questions already implanted to ask, but the rest has to be Impromptu. Ie: "where are you from?" "ooh, I'm from Colorado...."<br>
Response:
A) oh im from Utah...what part of colorado?
B) Oh wow...do you ski alot?
C) Oh ok, see I've never been east of Ohio! (say it w/ excitement)
D) oh do you live close to the Mountain top airport in denver, I think it looks really cool.</p>
<p>and that always generates conversation...</p>
<p>How are they kind of nerdy?</p>
<p>Talk about a recent or upcoming party, people seem to bond over those things.</p>
<p>if ur not comfortable or shy, i dont think u can talk the "outgoing" way. I was just suggesting topics, i wasn't saying u should ask the same way my questions were.</p>
<p>but really, talk about wat u like. if u talk about something ur not interested in, itz gonan be really boring n u wouldnt wanan continue talking anyway.</p>
<p>el bumpo..</p>
<p>If you both are dormies, you can always share war stories about roommates, campus food and dorm life. </p>
<p>Ask what they like to do outside of the classroom or off campus, i.e. parties, movies, music, theater (plays), sightseeing, cultural or ethnic-related activities (if appropriate), politics, philosophical discussions, campus organizations, greek life, etc.</p>
<p>You can always ask an upperclassman to give you the '411 on courses or professors, i.e. which ones are good, which ones to avoid.</p>
<p>Try to formulate questions so that they won't respond with 1-2 word answers. </p>
<p>Talking about campus food always seems to be a good ice breaker for dormies.</p>
<p>Ask about favorite movies, classes they want to take, something that you're likely to have in common or be able to ask more questions about (ie "I've never seen that movie, what's it about?" or "Yeah, I'm gonna be taking ENGL 150 with soandso too, I hope it won't be too bad of a class")</p>
<p>Try to avoid asking too many questions about gpa, ap classes, test scores and such...creating a competition isn't a good way to make good friends :)</p>
<p>Hmm...interestingly enough, I've never had a problem keeping conversations going :-) You have options. You can either chat, asking occasional questions but basically holding up the conversation yourself. Or you can poke around subtly until you discover something the person is interested in. Books, travel, areas of the country, sports, people, politics, food, clothes, movies, differing dialects, cultural things. This is after you get passed the "what's your major/where are you from" stuff. Some people are a little difficult to draw out. I suppose there is a possibility that when people don't talk back much, they just don't like me, but I generally assume they are just shy. And they usually do eventually open up.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, it seems keeping a conversation going to easier for the girls. I'm a guy btw.</p>
<p>Pull jokes.. that always works. (But of course don't try too hard..)</p>
<p>"Try to avoid asking too many questions about gpa, ap classes, test scores and such...creating a competition isn't a good way to make good friends"</p>
<p>Speaking of competition, ask if they play tennis, golf, handball, racquetball, etc. or some pasttime you both can engage in.</p>
<p>"Hmm...interestingly enough, I've never had a problem keeping conversations going :-)"</p>
<p>Yeah, some people are naturals when it comes to conversation. They can talk about anything or nothing, and make it sound interesting, humorous and engaging. </p>
<p>And then there's the rest of us who have to force a conversation out of ourselves...</p>
<p>LOL! Whoever gave that A, B, C, D response... that's kind of funny. "say it w/ excitement!" XD</p>
<p>
[quote]
maybe I'm talking to the wrong people, but sometimes when I try to make conversation, they answer with 1-2 words
[/quote]
Oh, I hate that so much too!! When they do that I stop talking to them unless I just like them too much.</p>