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I dont think I can make friends at uni

Hey everyone,
I'm about to start university soon, and I’m already feeling anxious about making friends. I’ve always been more on the introverted side, and the thought of being in a completely new environment where I don’t know anyone is pretty overwhelming. It feels like everyone else will be more outgoing or have no problem jumping into new social circles, while I’ll be left behind.
I keep worrying that I won’t be able to connect with people or find my own group of friends. I want to have a good time at uni, but I’m scared that I’ll end up feeling lonely and isolated.
If anyone has been through something similar, I’d love to hear your advice or any tips on how to approach making friends when you're not the most extroverted person. Did things get better for you? How did you push through that initial anxiety? I’d really appreciate any support or encouragement!
Thanks in advance!

Reply 1

Original post
by lunardays39
Hey everyone,
I'm about to start university soon, and I’m already feeling anxious about making friends. I’ve always been more on the introverted side, and the thought of being in a completely new environment where I don’t know anyone is pretty overwhelming. It feels like everyone else will be more outgoing or have no problem jumping into new social circles, while I’ll be left behind.
I keep worrying that I won’t be able to connect with people or find my own group of friends. I want to have a good time at uni, but I’m scared that I’ll end up feeling lonely and isolated.
If anyone has been through something similar, I’d love to hear your advice or any tips on how to approach making friends when you're not the most extroverted person. Did things get better for you? How did you push through that initial anxiety? I’d really appreciate any support or encouragement!
Thanks in advance!

Hey, I totally understand where you're coming from. Starting university can be really daunting, especially when you're not naturally outgoing. But I want you to know that a lot of people feel the exact same way as you do, even if it doesn’t seem like it on the surface.

One thing to keep in mind is that making friends doesn’t have to happen overnight. Sometimes it takes a little while to find the right people. Don’t pressure yourself to immediately fit into a big group or become super social from day one. Start small—maybe by talking to someone sitting next to you in a lecture, joining a club related to your interests, or attending smaller meetups. You might find that there are more people like you out there than you think!

Also, remember that everyone is new and probably just as nervous as you are. Sometimes, a simple smile or a “Hi, I’m [your name] can open up a whole conversation. And even if it feels a bit awkward at first, most people are just happy someone reached out.

You’ve got this! Give yourself time, be patient, and don’t be too hard on yourself. University is a place for growth, and finding your people might take a bit, but it will happen. Hang in there, and good luck!

Reply 2

Original post
by wonderful-pen21
Hey, I totally understand where you're coming from. Starting university can be really daunting, especially when you're not naturally outgoing. But I want you to know that a lot of people feel the exact same way as you do, even if it doesn’t seem like it on the surface.
One thing to keep in mind is that making friends doesn’t have to happen overnight. Sometimes it takes a little while to find the right people. Don’t pressure yourself to immediately fit into a big group or become super social from day one. Start small—maybe by talking to someone sitting next to you in a lecture, joining a club related to your interests, or attending smaller meetups. You might find that there are more people like you out there than you think!
Also, remember that everyone is new and probably just as nervous as you are. Sometimes, a simple smile or a “Hi, I’m [your name] can open up a whole conversation. And even if it feels a bit awkward at first, most people are just happy someone reached out.
You’ve got this! Give yourself time, be patient, and don’t be too hard on yourself. University is a place for growth, and finding your people might take a bit, but it will happen. Hang in there, and good luck!

Hey, just wanted to add to this great advice! I completely agree that starting small and being patient with yourself is key. It’s super common to feel anxious about making friends when starting university—many people are in the same boat.

I also wanted to mention an app called unidingo that I've heard about. It’s designed to help students connect with each other based on shared interests, classes, or hobbies. It might be worth checking out if you're looking for another way to meet people who are also looking to make friends. Sometimes, connecting online first can make it easier to start a conversation in person later.

Just thought I’d put it out there in case it helps anyone! Good luck to everyone starting uni soon—you’ve got this!

Reply 3

Original post
by Cool-Twist-8218
Hey, just wanted to add to this great advice! I completely agree that starting small and being patient with yourself is key. It’s super common to feel anxious about making friends when starting university—many people are in the same boat.
I also wanted to mention an app called unidingo that I've heard about. It’s designed to help students connect with each other based on shared interests, classes, or hobbies. It might be worth checking out if you're looking for another way to meet people who are also looking to make friends. Sometimes, connecting online first can make it easier to start a conversation in person later.
Just thought I’d put it out there in case it helps anyone! Good luck to everyone starting uni soon—you’ve got this!

Ooh thank you very much! I'll definitely check it out. I'm much more comfortable online so this could work really well!

Reply 4

Original post
by wonderful-pen21
Hey, I totally understand where you're coming from. Starting university can be really daunting, especially when you're not naturally outgoing. But I want you to know that a lot of people feel the exact same way as you do, even if it doesn’t seem like it on the surface.
One thing to keep in mind is that making friends doesn’t have to happen overnight. Sometimes it takes a little while to find the right people. Don’t pressure yourself to immediately fit into a big group or become super social from day one. Start small—maybe by talking to someone sitting next to you in a lecture, joining a club related to your interests, or attending smaller meetups. You might find that there are more people like you out there than you think!
Also, remember that everyone is new and probably just as nervous as you are. Sometimes, a simple smile or a “Hi, I’m [your name] can open up a whole conversation. And even if it feels a bit awkward at first, most people are just happy someone reached out.
You’ve got this! Give yourself time, be patient, and don’t be too hard on yourself. University is a place for growth, and finding your people might take a bit, but it will happen. Hang in there, and good luck!

Thanks for this incredible advice! It makes me feel much more confident, I'm still scared but I understand quite a few people must be feeling this way as well

Reply 5

Hey, I actually used Unidingo last year when I started uni, and it was pretty helpful! It made it easier to find people with similar interests and start conversations without that initial awkwardness. I met a few people through the app who are now my friends, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try!

That said, I wouldn’t rely on it completely for making friends. It's a great starting point, but nothing really beats meeting people in person, whether it's through classes, clubs, or even just random encounters on campus. The app can help break the ice, but try to use it as one of many ways to connect with people. Being open and approachable in real-life situations is still really important.

Hope this helps, and good luck to everyone starting out!

Reply 6

Original post
by laurenecon
Hey, I actually used Unidingo last year when I started uni, and it was pretty helpful! It made it easier to find people with similar interests and start conversations without that initial awkwardness. I met a few people through the app who are now my friends, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try!
That said, I wouldn’t rely on it completely for making friends. It's a great starting point, but nothing really beats meeting people in person, whether it's through classes, clubs, or even just random encounters on campus. The app can help break the ice, but try to use it as one of many ways to connect with people. Being open and approachable in real-life situations is still really important.
Hope this helps, and good luck to everyone starting out!

unidingo was decently big at my uni - they had society events and stuff too. But you still need to have the courage to reach out to people there and it can be tough. I met a lot of friend on TSR too, this is a good place to be - check out the chat area and introduce yourself!! TSR on top >>>

Reply 7

Original post
by used-bestiality
unidingo was decently big at my uni - they had society events and stuff too. But you still need to have the courage to reach out to people there and it can be tough. I met a lot of friend on TSR too, this is a good place to be - check out the chat area and introduce yourself!! TSR on top >>>

I also met some friends on TSR :smile:

Reply 8

Original post
by Cool-Twist-8218
I also met some friends on TSR :smile:

wanna be my friend? hee

Reply 9

Original post
by lunardays39
Hey everyone,
I'm about to start university soon, and I’m already feeling anxious about making friends. I’ve always been more on the introverted side, and the thought of being in a completely new environment where I don’t know anyone is pretty overwhelming. It feels like everyone else will be more outgoing or have no problem jumping into new social circles, while I’ll be left behind.
I keep worrying that I won’t be able to connect with people or find my own group of friends. I want to have a good time at uni, but I’m scared that I’ll end up feeling lonely and isolated.
If anyone has been through something similar, I’d love to hear your advice or any tips on how to approach making friends when you're not the most extroverted person. Did things get better for you? How did you push through that initial anxiety? I’d really appreciate any support or encouragement!
Thanks in advance!

Hey there! I get how daunting it feels to start university and worry about making friends, especially when you’re more on the introverted side. But here’s a different perspective: try not to see making friends as the only way to have a great time at uni.
Sometimes, the pressure to make friends right away can actually make it harder. Instead, focus on enjoying the experience itself—explore the campus, get into the courses you're interested in, or find things you enjoy doing on your own. When you're comfortable in your own space and confident in your interests, friendships often naturally follow. You might find that by doing things you love, you attract like-minded people without forcing it.
Also, consider that uni is a place where you can reinvent yourself in a lot of ways. Use it as a chance to try new things, even if they push you out of your comfort zone a bit. It’s okay if you don’t immediately find your group; sometimes the best connections happen when you’re least expecting it.
And remember, it’s okay to be alone sometimes too. There’s a lot of growth and self-discovery in that space. Take your time, and don’t let the fear of being alone prevent you from doing what you love. Friendships will come, but make sure you’re enjoying your own company in the meantime.
You’ve got this, and it’s going to be an incredible journey, friends or not!

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