The Student Room Group

friends in uni

I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean


Hi,
When you go to university it is likely you will have flat mates which is always a good start if you're trying to make friends and socialise with people. Whilst you may not end up close with them (or you might!) it's good to break the ice with them as you will be sharing accommodation and you can always ask to hang out with them during freshers week so you can all get to know the area and try different things.
During freshers week (the first week of term usually) you will be able to join societies as they will likely have stalls about with information on them and they cover a large range of hobbies and sports so you can get to know people with similar interests to you. Freshers will also give you an opportunity to take part in events, such as ice breakers which the University of Kent offers, and see different shows where there will be a lot of people just like you wanting to make friends and who may also feel nervous about it. https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/making-most-freshers-week
You are also correct about finding those on your course as friends, it's a great opportunity during seminars to get talking to those on your course and you can always meet up to revise or do work.
You may also meet people in common areas which you are in a lot such as coffee shops and it is definitely a conversation starter if you see someone regularly in a place that you hang out
Personally, I have made friends during uni through freshers week so when it comes about talk to people and say hi, as they are all doing the same as you trying to settle in! it's no worry if this doesn't work out though as there will be many opportunities to socialise during your time there.
Good luck! I hope this helped :smile:
- Malek
University of Kent Rep
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean

Hey there!
This is definitely a common worry when coming to university so I wouldn't stress about it. The thing about making friends at university is that you can't just wait for people to come to you, you have to go out and find people. For me, I'm not very good at just going up to people and introducing myself so I made use of Facebook and WhatsApp groups before arriving. Because of this, I'd already met and spoken to all of my flatmates and coursemates before moving in. On my first day of university, one of my coursemates asked to meet me before our first lecture because she was just as nervous as I was. We met and walked there together which also helped with finding our way around and we've been close friends ever since. Societies personally weren't for me as there was nothing I liked the look of, although this is the best way to make friends and do thing socially with them.

My advice to you is to live with other people. Even though you say you're an introvert, closing yourself off to living with people from the start will limit the amount of friends you can make. For example, I met loads of my flatmates' mutual friends who are now some of my closest friends. You end up living with around 5 and end up with around 20 more from just those 5 people. It's easier to get on with people when you spend everyday living with them and you'll warm to them eventually, it's just getting past that awkward first conversation and moving forward. The best way I've grown my friendship circle at university is through being introduced to mutual friends and growing from there. I've also got a part-time job which has made it very easy to make friends, some of which already lived in the city and aren't students so they know the city better than I do.

Hope this helped!
Lucy - Digital Student Ambassador SHU
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean

Hi!

As an international student I was really worried about making friends in the new university, and actually the new country as well. However, it turned out to be not as hard as I expected. I would like to give you some of my personal advice on the matter and I hope this would be helpful for you :smile:

So, first of all - there is no such thing as too early. I mean situations like "Oh, this is my first year, I don't really want to join any societies or activities because it seems as too early". No, it's absolutely not. In fact, the more activities you do at university, the more fun it becomes.. and speaking of friends - if you join student societies according to your interests, you will inevitably meet someone you will enjoy to be friends with.

Secondly, I strongly advice you to engage as much as you can, since you never know what you actually may enjoy. As for me, I was super scared of public speaking before I became a student ambassador, but now I do enjoy it a lot! And speaking of your question, I have met a lot of my new friends while working as an ambassador.

So, I wish you good luck with your studies, and if you have any further questions you want to ask - feel free to reach out :smile:

Take care,
- Ilya :u:
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean


Hello,

I hope you’re well! I’m actually an introvert myself so I understand. I actually made most of my friends through accommodation, both student halls and a house. I also made a friend from a part time retail job that I got whilst studying!

I’ve not really made friends from cafes, societies etc because I tend to stay home. However, I’ve heard societies are a good way to make friends! Don’t forget, you’re also likely to make friends with those on your course aswell

Best of luck
Jade :smile:
Cov Uni Student Ambassador
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean

Hey there!

My #1 tip when trying to find 'your group' at uni is to definitely join societies. At Lancaster, I play rugby and this is where I have made the majority of my friends, and now even live with people I met there. Every uni offers so many different societies, there is normally something for everyone. Events during the welcome week are great as well, drinking and nondrinking ones. I also have friends on my course, we basically just ended up sitting with each other every lecture and now have a bit of a study group in between teaching as well. There are so many opportunities to make friends at uni, and also so many different people to become friends with, so if you don't find your group straight away don't stress, there are so many more people to meet.

Finally, a lot of people are going to be scared about making friends, so especially at the begining of the year everyone is so open to making new friends. Even if you are an introvert yourself, lots of people will be willing to come over to you and start conversations!

Best Wishes
Kat
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean


Hello!

Being an international student, I was extremely nervous about making friends at the new university and in the new country. But I made my first friend on the very first day of university who is my best friend now. I hope my personal advice on making friends at university will be helpful to you. I would like to share some of it with you.
In college, friends are made through a variety of activities and means. Some typical ways that I made friends while I am attending university, I think the classroom is where a lot of friendships begin. Through group projects, study sessions, or just by striking up a conversation before or after class, you can get to know and interact with your classmates. Another thing to do at the start of year is getting involved in clubs, student organizations, or extracurricular activities is a great way to connect with people who have the same passions and interests as you do. You can develop relationships with people who share your interests or objectives by taking part in club meetings, events, and activities.
Events and social activities like orientations, Freshers fair, sporting events, concerts, and parties are frequently organized by universities. Participating in these events gives you the chance to socialize with other people. If you are going to live on campus, your roommates and neighbors may turn into friends. From my experience sharing living spaces encourages socializing and interactions naturally, which helps you build relationships with neighbors. University libraries, computer labs, Cafe areas and designated study areas can all serve as good places to make new friends. Seeing the same people frequently while studying fosters interactions and connections.
Social media and online platforms are very common, so many students use them to connect with others and make friends before or while attending university. Examples of these platforms include Facebook groups, online forums, Su buddies and university-specific apps. Always keep in mind that making friends in college takes time, so it's important to be approachable, open-minded, and proactive about striking up conversations and participating in activities. Don't give up if you don't immediately form friends because it takes time. Be patient and wait for connections to arise naturally.
I hope this is helpful.
Kind regards,
Mrunali Kalbhor,
University of Sunderland Student ambassador
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean


Hi there,
Good to know you're thinking about going to Uni. There are many ways to make friends at Uni and it just depends on what your everyday life will be. Personally, I had an older sibling at the university when I arrived who most people knew so it wasn't so hard to find people to talk to but I made my friends from going for classes, my flat mates or school activities I went to, even from the gym. Also, I made a lot of friends from my job as well or just going to the library or maybe seeing someone multiple times, you can never tell. So don't be scared, you would probably meet tons of people when you go to Uni, just make sure you are a 100% yourself at all times. Hope this helps.

Benedicta,
University of Sunderland Student Ambassador.
Original post by Anonymous
I dont know what uni im going to go into yet but as an introvert im kinda scared of how to make friends. i'm unsure if im going to live alone or have a roommate but i wanted to know how people made friends in uni.

was their some sort of activities - did you join a club or did you find someone in class or lectures and bonded?

was it that you just met doing daily activities eg you always see each other in a coffee shop or smt like that.

like you get what i mean


Hi there,

Making friends was something that I was worried about before I came to uni. The best advice I received was just to try and throw yourself into as much as you can. Whether that be societies or sports or things on your course, getting involved is the best way to meet people. Something else that helped me was realising that during freshers everyone is in the same boat as no one knows anyone - so you are not alone! Try not to feel too much pressure to make friends in the first few weeks, it may take time but eventually you will find your people :smile:

Jess

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