by Kristy Novoa

Created on: November 06, 2007

Making friends in high school is relatively easy. You have lunch at the same time, in the same area, and you spend virtually all day, every day with the same people. So much "togetherness" means that you're likely to find a group of friends relatively easily. College, on the other hand, is very different. Each individual's schedule is different. This means you could see some people as infrequently as once a week while seeing other people as many as three different times a day, four days out of the week. With such disparities in scheduling, it can be difficult for some people to make friends in college. Here are a few tips for making friends in your first year.

It may seem like a good idea to live off campus and commute to school, but the reality is, dormitories are a great way to meet college friends. Roommates are usually randomly assigned by the university, giving you a chance to meet someone you may have never become friends with otherwise. In addition, there are typically countless students roaming the dormitory hallways and any one of them could be a potential friend.

A lot of freshmen make the mistake of partying too much in an attempt to secure a social life and an emotional support system in college while they are away from their families. Although partying is a lot of fun, remember to go to class. In class, you'll be able to meet people with similar interests, at least academically, who can become your friends. You can start your friendship by sharing notes or studying together, and then move onto other social activities from there. In any case, going to class is a great way to meet new people in college.

Universities and college campuses are riddled with various clubs, teams, and community groups that students are free to join. Join one of these clubs to meet new people with similar interests. At the very least, joining a club is a great addition to your resume or graduate school application. But, you're still likely to meet new people.

Many students like to study in their dorm rooms or at their off-campus homes. Although this may seem like a good idea, there are a few problems. Studying at the dorm means that you are only exposed to your roommate(s), stripping you of the opportunity to meet new people. Studying at your off-campus apartment or house can mean your complete isolation from the rest of the student body. Studying at the library, however, gives you an opportunity to meet new people with diverse academic interests.

School-sponsored events are another great way to meet new people and make friends in college. Many universities will have social mixers to encourage students to form new relationships, make networking contacts, and become friends. If you have time in your schedule, attend some school sponsored events, including athletic events, and you are guaranteed to meet a large number of new potential friends.

Today, it is very easy to network online via social networking websites. Websites like www.TheFaceBook.com or www.MySpace.com are both great places to network with people from your school. Join your particular institution's network on FaceBook and get immediate access to different parties, events, and other information about your school. You can also read comments left on message boards by members of your school or community and reply with your own messages. This is a great way to meet new people who attend your school, online, from the safety and convenience of your home or dorm room.

Making friends in college can be difficult, but if you make the right decisions, you can see almost anything as an opportunity to meet new people and establish new friendships.

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