Hey guys so I’m into my second semester as a freshman and I really do love my college and I am glad I go here but I can’t help but feel unhappy every now and then because I don’t have that tight group of friends I had in hs. I know it’s so common for college freshmen and other years to feel lonely but I just feel so alone. I recently went through sorority recruitment but I ended up dropping due to the lack of connection between me and the two other houses I had left. I joined several clubs in the beginning of the year but unfortunately I haven’t made any real friends due to the short meetings, and I just feel so empty because wherever I look it seems like everybody has their group of people. I was counting on the recruitment to help me find that circle of friends but unfortunately things didn’t go as planned so i’m feeling lost as ever. I don’t wanna go about my life thinking that I have 3 years left and I can quickly go through them because that’s not realistic. At this point I’m just waiting for summer so I can move on to soph year and join more clubs because so far freshman year has been so upsetting in terms of making relationships.
Maybe an on campus job or an internship would help you to make friends while keeping you busy.
Why do you think that you have not been able to connect with others ?
I don’t know why I haven’t been able to connect with other people, I love to go out and I’m a pretty extroverted person it’s just I feel like friend groups have been made already and it’s too late. I do have three or four friends that I hang out with often but we are not all friends so it feels like I have no group. I am planning on doing some on campus jobs but the ones that are there are more assistant based so I would just be by myself.
It’s never too late to make friends. In fact the best friends are often made in the least expected ways. All these “fixed” groups of friends that you observe may in fact be rather superficially connected and at risk of dissolving or group reshaping constantly. Don’t give up. It takes openness and time to make authentic connections. Start chatting with that person who is always doing laundry the same day/time you are, or the person who is always on the treadmill next to you at the gym, and the kernel of a friendship might just occur. Hang in there.
religious groups? Volunteering maybe ?I can tell you that often others look like they are having a better time than they are.
Have you tried asking someone from class to study?
Check out this post:http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1808143-having-trouble-adjusting-to-college-making-friends-top-10-things-to-do.html#latest
Get a job on campus, or volunteer with a campus organization that interests you. You will make friends most easily that way.
Hi! I regret to say I don’t have too much advice but know exactly what you are going through. I’m in my first year as well and have struggled a lot and have had many ups and downs. I like my school but for some reason feel it may not be for me. I might rush next year to see if I can find a social scene I really am comfortable with as I miss my tight knit group from high school as well, but am also considering possibly transferring and am very torn. Please feel free to reach out as I know that talking about this with people who feel similarly has sometimes really helped.
Hey! I’m so sorry to hear that, but hopefully things will get better!
I really agree with @Publisher and @Lindagaf. I consider myself as a person who has a lot of friends, but sometimes I’m surprised at how many more I make during college. This year, I took on an on-campus job as a tutor for the school Writing Center. While I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the job because most of my co-workers were older than I was, I ended loving the job. The people I work with are so down-to-earth and friendly and take time out of their day to talk to me, even when I’m really stressed out. Maybe you can take on a job working at the library or somewhere else on campus where you’ll be around people. You might be surprised where it takes you! (And you can get connections too like me!)
If you don’t want an on-campus job, talk to the people in your classes! Start out with some small talk and see where it goes from there!
I’m sorry if I didn’t more meaningful advice, but best of luck! You got this 