Are you struggling to make friends in college? You’re not alone. A lot of us can relate. Here are a few tips to improve your situation.
I’m struggling to make friends in college
If you’re struggling to make friends in college, I just want you to know that you’re not alone. I’ve been there before.
During my first year in college, I think I only had one friend. ONE.
It can be difficult to make friends in college because it’s soooo different from high school. You don’t have a homeroom class anymore, so it’s a lot harder to form a tight-knit community.
Plus, when you’re in college, you have a lot more responsibilities than before. You probably have a part-time job to make ends meet, and you’re also studying a lot more. AND! You’re in a completely new environment.
It’s A LOT!
So don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make a bunch of friends the first semester you’re in college. For a lot of us, making friends require a lot of effort, and we might just not have enough mental energy to put ourselves out there every single day. And that’s okay!
How long does it take to make friends in college
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question since everyone’s college experience is so different!
Some students find their lifelong besties within the first few weeks of freshman year, while others take a little longer to find their place. And that’s OK! Don’t worry if you don’t click with everyone you meet – college is all about experimenting and finding out what (and who) you like.
The best way to make friends in college is to get involved in activities and clubs that interest you. That way, you’ll already have something in common with the people you meet.
Attend campus events, strike up conversations with your classmates, and be open to meeting new people.
Related post: I Hate College What Do I Do? This Might Help You Feel Better About It
No friends in college, feeling depressed
When you see everyone else making friends and having fun, it’s easy to feel left out and alone. But don’t be too hard on yourself – even the most popular people in college go through periods of feeling lonely.
Have faith that things will eventually get better, and try enjoying your time alone (even though I know it can be difficult)
If you’re feeling down, try reaching out to someone – even if it’s just to say hi. Or, you can consider reconnecting with your high school friends or old friends that live nearby your college campus.
You never know, they might be feeling the same way and would love to hang out and catch up!
Related post: 16 Tips For When You’re Feeling Lost In Life
How to make friends in college when you’re shy
I’m an introvert, so I know how nerve-wracking it is to make friends in college. Here are a few tips that have personally helped me meet people on campus, and I think you’ll find helpful too:
1. Join a club that aligns with your interests.
Student clubs offer so many opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community, which can help you meet even more people!
Plus, these groups often have fun events and weekend trips where you can get to know everyone in the club even better.
So if you love dancing, try auditioning for the dance club on campus! It’s almost impossible to not make friends when you’re surrounded by people who share a similar interest as you.
2. Make eye contact and smile!
Haha, ok. I’m not saying that you should literally smile like an idiot and stare at everyone in your classroom in hopes of making friends. NO, DON’T DO THAT!
But, what I’m saying is, you should try to be open and show others that you’re interested in getting to know them.
Take off your headphones and try your best to not put on your resting b*tch face every time you’re walking on campus.
This way, other students in your class will see you as a friendly person they can strike up a conversation with! Trust me, this works!
Related post: How To Make Friends After College? 13 Best Tips And Tricks
3. Consider using Bumble Friends
Bumble is not just a dating app. You can also meet friends there (just make sure to change the setting to ‘friends’ instead of ‘dating’)
So if you’re struggling to make friends in college and have bad social anxiety, I recommend that you check out this app.
If you live on campus, you’ll probably get to match with many people who also live on campus and use the app.
This way, you can literally make friends from the comfort of your own bed, haha. Of course, always make sure to meet in a public space. Better safe than sorry!
4. Sit at a group table at the library/coffee shop
When you’re feeling shy in college, it can be tempting to want to hide away in a tiny little cubicle in the corner of the library. But if you’re looking to make some friends, that’s not going to do you any good!
Instead, try sitting at a group table in the library or coffee shop. That way, other students can easily come up and introduce themselves.
(I’ve actually made a few friends this way! They were all extroverts who LOVED talking to the people around them, haha)
5. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself
It’s important to be open to making new friends, but don’t put so much pressure on yourself that it feels like work. Remember that friendships take time to develop, so just relax and enjoy getting to know new people.
Also, don’t worry about trying to be someone you’re not – just be yourself, and the rest will fall into place.
Is it normal to have trouble making friends in college?
Yes, it’s normal to have trouble making friends in college. I had an extremely hard time making friends when I first got to college, and I know other people that had the same experience.
In college, everyone has different class schedules, and it’s not like in high school where you have a homeroom to go back to after each class.
When you don’t see the same people every day, it’s hard to make a deep connection. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to meet new people in college.
You can join a club or student organization that aligns with your interests, participate in campus events and activities, or just strike up conversations with people you meet in your classes.
Related post: Does Life Get Better After College? Everything You Need To Know
How do I stop feeling lonely in college?
You leave your home, family, and friends to start a new adventure. You’re thrown into an environment you’re not familiar with, and now you’re faced with the challenge of making new friends.
College can be super exciting yet make you feel extremely lonely at the same time. But don’t worry, this feeling won’t last forever. Here are three tips to stop feeling lonely in college.
- Acknowledge your feelings. One of the best ways to get rid of your negative feeling is by acknowledging them first. I know it can be scary to admit that you’re feeling lonely, especially when you’re in college, a place where you’re ‘supposed’ to be having the time of your life. But it’s natural to feel some apprehension when you embark on a new chapter in your life. So don’t dwell on those feeling or let them take over.
- Make a plan to be more social. Take the time to seek out opportunities to meet new people on campus! Join a club or go to campus events, and get involved in your community! If you’re introverted (like me), I know this can be hard. But try pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone once in a while. It’ll be worth it!
- Reconnect with people from your past. Don’t be afraid to reach out to old friends from high school or even middle school. Being in college doesn’t mean you have to forget everyone from your past! Reach out to them and ask how they’re doing. Maybe they live in the same city as you and you’ll get to reconnect.
Related post: Why Is College So Hard? 7 Ways To Make Your College Life Easier
You’re not alone!
If you’re struggling to make friends in college, I just want to remind you again that you’re not alone!
When I felt depressed and lonely in college, I thought I was the only one. And it made me feel even more miserable since I felt like I was weird and bad at socializing.
But this is totally not true AT ALL!
A lot of college students feel the same way at some point or another. College is such a big transition and it could be tough to adjust.
So if you’re feeling down, know that you’re definitely not alone and that things will eventually get better! 🙂 So hang in there!
Also, if you ever need someone to talk to, email me! I’m here for you
xoxo,
