Senior w/ Question for current college student

<p>I'm a senior in highschool and will be attending college next fall. I wouldn't really call myself quiet, but I can be quite shy. Throughout my life I have always had friends, though I am not a social butterfly by any stretch. For the first few years of highschool, I managed to keep the same small group of friends. However, as of late, I have felt myself to be drifting away from them for a variety of reasons. These include differences in political opinions, intellect, interests, and psychologies. Furthermore, I am the only one in my group of friends who has taken very challenging classes and not dropped off. Most of my friends have only taken 1 or 2 APs and dropped most of them second semester, I am taking a full schedule of APs.
Well, my point is not to come on here and complain. I guess I just feel trapped and I feel as though I am becoming less social as time has gone on. I don't party at all, nor do I have any interest in ever doing so. So, in some ways I can't wait until college where I can finally start over. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else was in my position before starting college and how social life differs in college?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>YES! You sound exactly like my high school self. I have found a few people who are similar to me in interests. I was a huge introvert in high school (and still am to a certain extent though I have found ways to become more social). I just wasn't interested in a lot of my peers in high school and now that I am exposed to people of different backgrounds and such I have found it easier to make my idea of a good social life work.</p>

<p>I was extremely introverted in high school... had a bunch of friends but only a few close friends. I don't make new friends very quickly. Fortunately for me, I ended up going to my flagship state U along with several friends, so I already had a base of friends to start out with when I started college.
While, because of that, I haven't put in 100%, I've certainly tried to make new friends anyway. You will need to try and get past your shy tendencies and put yourself out there, and make an effort to make new friends. But it will work out pretty well, with so many different types of people, you'll be almost guaranteed to find some people you'll like.</p>

<p>yes you can start over in college. i kinda felt like u in high school, and was looking forward to the new start. and it really is NEW</p>

<p>Depends, really. There's a good chance you'll find yourself in a similar situation in college. Learn to savor your independence. But if you insist on "making new friends", you're going to, like the above poster said, have to put yourself out there.</p>

<p>I think you should really think about college "fit." If you go somewhere where a lot of folks share your approach to life or where there are enough people that you can find your niche, you will make close friends.</p>

<p>Yes a lot of people do try to reinvent themselves in college, although normally it's extremely easy to see through (i.e. "who's that guy trying to act all cool? he looks like a total loser"). If you don't party, join clubs, or do any outside activities, it will be hard to find a core group of friends unless you find a huge study group.</p>

<p>think of it this way.
everyone is in the same boat: no one knows anyone else and everybody is extremely nervous about finding their niche/groups of friends.
no one knows about who you were in high school, giving you the opportunity to start anew, and be who you are and who you want to be</p>