How to Make Friends in Uni
Making friends at university is a challenge that many students find daunting at first. It is normal to feel nervous but remember that other people are in the same position as you and building your confidence will help you get through the first few weeks. One of the first places where you will meet new people is in your accommodation. Halls of residence are always buzzing with new faces and excited students, so you are likely to make friends with fellow students. Alternatively, you may live in a private house and be surrounded by housemates who are always eager to chat.
Joining a club
Joining a club or group at university is a great way to meet people and socialise with other students. These clubs and groups usually have weekly social events and a dedicated guide to help you succeed. It is also a great way to meet people who share similar interests and goals. These people can become valuable connections for your future professional network.
Don’t be shy and approach people who approach you. Make it a point to introduce yourself to other students if you’re in the same class as them. You can also talk about the class you’re taking or read about the course you’re studying. Also, you can go to campus tours and orientation events to meet people.
Joining a club can help you spark a social life at uni and can lead to lifelong friendships. According to ActivateUTS and Student Success Report 2020, 84 per cent of university students report that joining a club or group gave them a sense of belonging and helped them make new friends.
While it’s not necessary to join a club or group, you can still join one if you’re interested. There are over 1100 student clubs at university, which makes it easy to find the right one for you. You don’t have to attend every one of them, but you should try out as many as you can at first.
Reaching out to new people
One of the best ways to meet new people in university is to start a conversation. You can do this by sending a simple email or message to someone you haven’t met before. Ask them about their major and other topics you have in common. If they reply, you can also start a conversation.
You can also join Facebook groups to meet other incoming students. Many colleges create these groups so that students can meet and get to know each other. These groups are great because they provide the perfect opportunity for students to make new friends while sharing common interests. You can also ask people for advice.
You can also try to meet new people by volunteering at the university. Most universities have volunteer opportunities. You can join a club based on your interests, or even volunteer with a community service. This way, you can meet new people and contribute to the community at the same time.
Reaching out to new people is not an easy task, but it is a vital step towards meeting people in university. Make sure you introduce yourself and maintain a conversation with them until lecture starts. You can even suggest a day out with them and ask them to go for lunch together.
Joining a campus event
One of the easiest ways to meet people is to join campus events. You can often find groups of students with similar interests at these events. You can also get to know others in these groups through volunteer work, studying together in the library, or talking to others. There are many different campus events to join, including social causes, fundraising, plays, and guest speaker lectures.
If you are not sure what events are on campus, try talking to people who live in the same dorm. Usually, these people will be looking to meet new people. You can also join campus organisations, as these tend to have their own schedules. This is an excellent way to meet people and socialise, and may even be the best way to make new friends!
Another great way to meet people is by joining campus sports teams. Many colleges offer intramural sports teams, and you can often meet people with similar interests through these events. In addition, you can even join a fraternity or sorority. However, it’s important to note that these groups aren’t for everyone, so check the school website for more information.
There are numerous campus events to join, including clubs and societies. You can also volunteer your time to help the university community by volunteering at events. This way, you’ll get to meet new people while helping the university.
Taking part in group projects
Group projects are great opportunities for meeting new people. But be warned: it’s easy to get caught up in the group’s agenda. As the group leader, you will have a disproportionate amount of work. Your group’s project should be the best in class and earn top marks. If you’re stuck in a group that doesn’t do a great job, don’t be afraid to do a little work yourself.
Volunteering is another great way to meet new people. While college campuses are often buzzing with parties and other social events, it’s also essential to be responsible. Doing volunteer work can give you a boost of confidence and help you make new friends. Volunteering with a local charity or a nonprofit can be a great way to meet new people and make new friends.
Working in groups also helps people learn. Students can share ideas and gain new perspectives by talking to other students. The study used probing questions to encourage participants to share their personal experiences. It concluded that friendships are beneficial for students in a number of ways, including conceptual understanding.
Group projects can also be helpful in making new friends. They can give you a chance to meet people from different backgrounds and with similar interests. You can meet these people through volunteer events, group projects, and events. You can also make friends by participating in campus activities, such as plays, guest speaker lectures, fundraisers, and comedy nights.
Forming friendships over time
A recent study examined the effects of randomized first contact opportunities on friendship networks in a Swiss university engineering department. Students were matched randomly and came from a range of locations, including different countries and Swiss regions. The study found that only 0.38 percent of dyads knew each other prior to week one. Nonetheless, students formed dense social networks during the academic year, calling on average 4.2 friends per week.
A key part of building strong friendships is intentionality. You need to take the initiative to initiate new relationships. Make it a point to ask your classmate out to coffee, invite your roommate to a football game, or sit next to someone new at lunch. Make time to make friends and remember that your friendships will grow and shrink over time.
One study examined the effect of friendships on daily challenges. Participants were asked to take on a challenge in pairs or on their own. The participants were given a backpack containing 20 percent of their own body weight. The students thought they were climbing a hill, but they were actually just standing at the base of a 26-degree incline. The weights in the backpack were meant to simulate what they would need to carry to reach the top.
While friendships are incredibly important, the results from this study are not necessarily reassuring. It was shown that people who stayed in contact with their friends were healthier, while people who stayed isolated had higher risk of developing heart disease. Researchers suggest that this is due to the fact that they were more likely to seek help when they needed it.
