Making Friends in College: A Guide for Introverts

By Jemia Spence
Web Content Contributor 

I know you’ve heard people say that college is where you make your lifelong friends. It is a new experience for everyone, and a way to create your own path in life. Most students come to college and maybe know one or two people. However, if you’re an introvert you may find it difficult to meet new people or to put yourselves out there.

Here are a few tips that have helped me make new friends over the last three and a half years as a college student.

Join a Club

Join clubs and organizations that you are interested in, this is one of the ways people meet friends. Through social clubs you will find people who enjoy the same hobbies and that is a perfect way to connect with new people.

When I was a freshman, I joined an organization called Gospel Expression Association (GEA). I was surrounded by people who shared a common interest as me. They encouraged me to step out of my shell by joining the choir and becoming a member of the E-Board.

Engage in Projects

Most introverts prefer to work alone. However, in college, students are inevitably going to be put into group projects whether your partners are decided by you or your professor. So, unless you have friends in the class already, you’ll most likely going to be working with strangers.

Cooperating with people and being forced to talk to people you don’t know can be an uncomfortable situation, but remember you’re all working towards the same goal.

Join social media groups

Whether you are an incoming freshman or a senior in college, you can find groups to join on social media to chat and make friends. When we were just starting school online, I joined different groups on Facebook to keep me in the loop and to communicate with some students.

You can connect with incoming students, interact with current students, find dorm or apartment roommates, find clubs that you’re interested in, join sports groups, and get a feel for what’s available on campus.

These are just a few tips that I have learned that I hope can help you as well. Remember to put yourself out there, have fun, and make the most of your time in college. Afterall, some of the friends you make in college will be in your weddings or even godparents to your children.

Featured Image by Jemia Spence