For many students, making new friends in college isÂ
harder than Acing a midterm or writing a 200 page paper. If you are used to avoiding human contact altogether, it is time to lighten up. College only comes once. Your time is here and now — to give up one of the best and sometimes only opportunities to meet and befriend people from all across the nation and world is loss you should avoid!
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Talk to the person sitting next to you in class.
I know, I know – this is easier said than done. I am probably one of the shyest people you will ever meet, but if you take the initiative to strike up a conversation with someone they could turn out to be a great friend. Since both of you are taking the same class, you two already have something in common! Plus, you will have a study buddy and someone to collaborate with on class projects.
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Get involved!
College is the time to figure out what you are passionate about and what better way to do that than to get involved in a student organization based on your interest? By joining an organization, you will meet people with similar interests to you and be able to find opportunities to internship or volunteer (perhaps even overseas!). Besides making friends, joining an organization is something you can put on your resume after you finish college.
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Throw a block party.
If you live in a dorm, put up fliers for a party in the commons room. It does not have to be anything spectacular, just snacks and the opportunity to socialize and unwind from classes and studying. Just make sure it’s OK with the dorm supervisors first!
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Be sporty!
Go to the gym and take some classes (yoga or spinning for instance), start a game of basketball, talk to the cutie on the treadmill next to you. There are so many possibilities to make friends through sports. If organized sports aren’t your thing, learn something new like hacky sack! As a beginner to this activity, I can tell you it isn’t the easiest thing to pick up, but it’s fun, you can get other people involved, and maybe even teach them something new too!
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Do you play an instrument or sing?
You could start a band! Put up fliers in the commons, throughout your dorm, or in your classes asking people to audition. By starting a band you will meet people who are musically inclined just like you! Whether you guys just get together to jam or practice to play in cafes, you are guaranteed to have fun.