topic Struggling to find friends at uni in Young people

Struggling to find friends at uni

hamish_c7 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 11:40:52 GMT

Hi all, this is my first post ever on this website. I guess I'll jump right into it. I'm a male first year student who's finding it really difficult to make friends with people at uni. It's been pretty rough going from highschool where I was fairly popular with a good circle of mates to uni where I know virtually no one. I have friends from highschool at uni with me but I want to meet new people as well. I've made friendly acquaintances with people in my lectures/tutorials but nothing really past that. I know its only the end of week 2 but I'm really missing having a social life. Any advice?

Struggling to find friends at uni

hamish_c7 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 11:55:57 GMT

Just to add to my post - I'm not introverted or particularly lacking in social skills and I enjoy spending time with people so I'm not nervous about speaking to/hanging out with people. I'm just lonely is all.

Struggling to find friends at uni

D84 — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 15:15:46 GMT

Hi Hamish, here's two small ideas of advice.

Try looking at any, particularly social, events clubs at your Uni are running.
Add people on Facebook and join any relevant groups (Eg. Year/Degree group). You could ask acquaintances through Messenger to catch up for food/drinks or do something you both like?

Struggling to find friends at uni

happycarrot — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 23:03:50 GMT

hey there hamish 🙂

kind of echoing D84's post

I felt much the same as you in first year (i'm seccond year now)

but turned it around by joining several clubs and turning up to events. I totally reccomend it. it took time, but that's how i made most of my university friends. its a good way to make friends with people in other departments too

Struggling to find friends at uni

ro5i3 — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:05:24 GMT

Hi Hamish 🙂 I've been at uni a few years now and I totally understand what your saying about the big change in the social atmosphere. This is what I've learnt in my own experience and from what I've learnt working with a psychologist at the uni:

- Its often difficult to make friends in lectures and tutes. In the last few years I've only made one friend that I've stayed in contact with this way

- If your uni runs sports comps you could join a team. My uni has the competitive comps for people who are really into their sport, and social comps for people who want to meet others and have a friendly game

- It took me a couple of years to get into this one, but join a society that you are interested in, and start going to some events. It could be a personal interest (e.g., anime, sustainability) or related to your degree (e.g., engineering society, criminology society)

- Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities on campus

- Most uni's seem to have a campus wellbeing centre and you can usually make an appointment to chat with a professional who also knows all about the uni and could give you some advice directly related to your campus