How to Make Friends Your Freshman Year

Once you arrive on campus your freshman year, it easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of information and activities that are thrown at you.  You are put into a dorm room to live with strangers along with 30 or so others on your floor.  Your classes are packed with new and unfamiliar faces, and you are on a campus surrounded by strangers.

So how are you supposed to meet your future bridesmaids when you don’t yet know a single person?  These simple tips will give you a great head start to making friends in those crucial first weeks:

1.  Keep your dorm room door open.

For many, this is the first piece of advice that you get, whether it comes from your parents, RAs, teachers, alumni, or college advice websites.  When people are walking down the hall and see that your door is open and that you are just watching TV or casually hanging out, it’s an invitation for them to come in and introduce themselves.  (This same concept also applies when you are studying.  If you are struggling with homework or writing an essay, you can simply go down the hall, find an open door, and ask a familiar classmate for help.)

2.  Host a dinner and movie night in your dorm.

I have not met many people in my life that don’t enjoy a pizza-and-movie night.  One of my first nights at QU, a room down the hall hosted a Frozen night, and we fit 15 people in the room to watch.  Another night, my roommate and I invited some friends to watch Holes, and we all ordered pizza together.  (Tip: Pick a universally popular movie; not many people will come in if you’re playing a horror movie like Saw.  Also, don’t be afraid to split the bill for food.  No one expects you to pay for two large pizzas and Cinna Stix.)

3.  Visit as many dorm rooms as you can.

In addition to keeping your door open, it is also a good idea to walk around your dorm, and others’, to socialize throughout the first couple of weeks.  You don’t always have to be the host.  It’s perfectly OK to be someone else’s guest sometimes.

4.  Talk to the people that sit next to you in class.

Especially during the first few weeks on campus, don’t go to class and stay silent.  Talk about the class with the people sitting next to you.  Even if it is just a quick comment about the homework, people will recognize you as social and be friendly with you in return.

5.  Go to campus events. 

There are so many fun events on campus where you can meet a lot of new people.  For example, on one of my first days on campus there was an event called “Friends with Benefits” where they brought dogs to campus.  Everyone hung out playing with the puppies and got to know each other by talking about the dogs they had back home!  Plus, there is almost always free food.

6.  Sign up for every club that interests you.

The involvement fair is crazy and regardless of whether you are required to go for QU 101 or not, you should attend.  There are tons of amazing clubs that you never would have thought existed.  Put your email on every sign-up sheet that interests you.  It’s not an obligation to go to their meetings, but you will still know what the group is up to, in the event that you decide to join later in the semester.

7.  Grab a friend for every meal.

As the weeks go on, you get bombarded with homework and studying, so take advantage of the time you force yourself to take off.  Every time you are headed over to the cafe for a meal, grab one of your friends!  Eating is a great time to engage in some social interaction.  And trust me, your pals will be glad to have a study break. 

8.  Do one amazingly fun thing each weekend.

It can be super easy to let your time slip by and end up doing homework or watching Netflix all weekend.  So plan ahead and invite people to do something fun every Saturday or Sunday.  Have you gone cliff jumping on Sleeping Giant Mountain yet?  Have you taken advantage of the free trips that QU offers to the beach or even NYC?  Check outthe programming calendar, grab a friend, and go! 

9.  Hang out with the clubs that invite you to do so.

A lot of times, a club will have their own space in the school. (Examples include Greek life, WQAQ, Q30, The Chronicle, Student Programming Board, etc.)  Many times during their opening meetings they’ll say, “We are always hanging out in [location].  Come chill with us!”  They aren’t just saying this to get you to come to the next meeting.  They will legitimately hang out with you, so take advantage of it! 

10.  Stay off your phone.

This is so important!  I know that it is addicting to stay connected and keep up with the friends you have already made, but interact in person, too!  Personally, I hate when I go out for a meal with someone and he/she won’t get off his/her phone.  Not only is it rude, it makes the other person feel awkward.  Leave the phone for when you are alone.

So go out and meet some new friends!  Be open to all the new, exciting experiences and opportunities that Quinnipiac can provide.  You (usually) only get one shot at this college thing, but if you do it right, once is enough.

• making friends in college