CALLING ALL TRANSFER STUDENTS! HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AT A NEW UNIVERSITY

College can be brutal, but a solid group of friends will get you through anything. Whether you’re new to the university or you’re just looking for new friends in general, there are countless ways to make new friends on campus!

You are not going to be the only one looking for friends on the first day. When you first walk into the classroom, take a few seconds to look around and find someone who is sitting by themselves. This is a great opportunity because she is probably looking for a new friend too. Introduce yourself – maybe ask her what she’s studying, how long she has been at this university, and if she has heard any hints about the class! Since people tend to sit in the same spot everyday, you now have a person to talk to every week.

Student organizations are always looking for new members, and the start of a new semester is the perfect time to show up. You can join an academic club related to your major, or even a sorority or something related to a hobby. Become a regular, and you will slowly get to know people who have the same interests as you. Taking on a leadership role also gives you more time with your peers, which will lead to new friendships.

Even if you find a class pretty easy, take it upon yourself to share that knowledge with your classmates. You can either ask random people in class, or send out a class-wide message on an eLearning system to find anyone that might want to meet up weekly to study. Hanging out in a study group with your classmates is a sure-fire way to get to know new people.

Naturally, you’ll probably want to go back to your apartment or home right after class. But, try to force yourself to stay on campus. You might even consider coming a little early to study or sticking around between classes. The more time that you spend on campus, the more likely you are to run into familiar faces, and the more likely you are to form lasting friendships.

You’d be surprised to learn how many people on your campus are using hey! VINA – and you know these girls are looking for friends, so why not give it a try? Since your schedules are likely to overlap on campus, you can meet up with a new vina in between classes for coffee or lunch!