making friends

<p>I've lived in the same small town my entire life with most of the same friends from kindergarten up. I make new friends with the occasional new people, but I've never had to completely start over. How easy is it to make friends in a college far from home? I'll be involved in activities.....but I'm nervous about making new close friends.</p>

<p>If you are involved in activities, it will just happen if you let it. I'm very shy, but getting involved with other kids through activities makes making friends simple. We dont have much of anything at my school in terms of activities, but every little intramural or pool game people want me to play, I play. I made friends with probably 2/3rds of the other outgoing kids(I'll say 75% of the kids in the dorm are terribly sheltered and leave their room to eat and go to class only...) in my dorm by just putting myself out there. I didn't even talk much in the beginning, but when people started accepting me, it was alot easier.</p>

<p>Thanks - that's reassuring! I tend to be shy too, but once I get involved in something, I should be okay. I kind of wish I had had to make more friends in high school though...</p>

<p>Especially at large public universities, it is very difficult to make friends in lecture since the class size is so big, so there isn't enough time to see each other enough to develop a friendship. Social clubs is a great way to make friends, as well as sports (teamwork does the trick).</p>

<p>any easier at small LACs?</p>

<p>LAC means Local Area Colleges?</p>

<p>lac = liberal arts colleges</p>

<p>Dagnabit! Sucks being new around here!</p>

<p>yeah it took me awhile to catch on too.....</p>

<p>i'm not gunna lie... facebook helps. Once you decide what college you want, create a facebook account, and start messaging people you think you would like. Its like pre-screening your friends (LOL!) anyway i met my best friend off of facebook. Like over the summer i just like messaged this girl like everyday, until i finally came to college, and i had someone to hang out with. Because like when you get to college and the parents move you in & leave... you get to a point like "what do i do now?" By having already talked to people over the summer, you HAVE something to do. </p>

<p>good luck!!! (and don't worry... like everyone is in the same boat as you. Everyone wants is alone and needs to meet new people. So don't think your the "only person" who is by yourself who needs to meet people/ friends)</p>

<p>Yea, facebook really helps. I already know few people well just by having facebook</p>

<p>Facebook and myspace both help. I made a couple friends in my classes who searched for me on myspace and then we became better friends at school in the process.</p>

<p>sounds good - I think I'm just being paranoid. Maybe it's all those roommate horror stories....</p>

<p>i agree about the facebook thing...i'm really shy too, but i've already chatted with a few people already. it's much easier to break the ice online than in person, and now i have a general sense as to the kind of person they are. and for all i know we might all try and meet up the first day or something. it's nice to know that i'm not 100% alone, and that i will recognize at least a few faces.</p>

<p>In my head I picture dorms as a fun community hangout where most everyone becomes friends. Is this a little idealistic, or realistic? I love the idea of getting friends just for living somewhere.</p>

<p>A little of both. Freshman year you'll probably be living in a situation that can go either way, but when you're an upper classman you'll have control over where you live which should allow you to have a 'fun community hangout' with friends.</p>

<p>I know one reason I can't wait for college is to get away from the whole high school, immature, clique, popular b***h thing. I fit in with a lot of different types of people and have close friends, but the gossip just drives me insane. I really hope people are a little more mature in college - I think they will be for the most part, right?</p>

<p>in my experience.... most of my closest friends live on my hall, which is pretty convenient. odds are that you will make close friends on your hall, since those are the people you are living with and that you will see a lot and talk to.</p>

<p>jackson17 - i think it depends partially on where you go to school. it shouldn't be as bad as it was in high school, but clique-y people in high school are not going to be ENTIRELY reformed in college. I think, also, that the chances of it being somewhat similar to high school are higher if the school is very small (since everyone can't help but know everyone else's business). overall, though, i definitely think it will be better in high school no matter where you are - just HOW much better varies.</p>

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the chances of it being somewhat similar to high school are higher if the school is very small (since everyone can't help but know everyone else's business).

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<p>I go to a school with 300 students. In no way is it anything like high school.</p>

<p>how so, beck? i imagine most people being too busy to be mean. i've heard that from some of my older friends. they say that even if the work is hard, everyone wants to complain about it together.</p>