Students often have a lot of worries in the months and weeks leading up to starting at a new school, whether they are joining as a freshman or coming in as a transfer student. Anxieties about getting lost can be solved by downloading a campus map, but what about those harder to solve concerns, like making friends and fully integrating into the campus community? How do you make friends in college beyond just joining a club or a sports team? Well, here are a few ideas of where to start.
You’ve got to eat, so have fun doing it
Oftentimes, the most valuable friendships you’ll have in college start at the dinner table. Friend groups mingle and mix during meals, as most people go to the dining hall around the same time. Inviting a classmate to lunch or dinner after class is easy when both of you are going there anyway, and you’ll always have something to talk about, even if it’s just classwork and the food.
UB doesn’t just have Marina Dining Hall
There’s also the Grille @ The Hub, which is open much later than the dining hall and is the perfect spot for a late-night get-together with friends. And of course, there’s Café Scribe, serving delicious Starbucks coffee, along with other drinks and snacks, in the mornings and afternoons. Invite a potential friend to the library to grab a coffee and you’re on your way to a close friendship — along with a good, handcrafted drink. Starting this year, you’ll be able to visit with friends at our first Subway sandwich shop on campus as well!
What if you’re too nervous to ask someone to join you for lunch?
Well, there are plenty of other social spaces on campus for you to take advantage of! There’s the newly-renovated Wheeler Recreation Center offering open gym space and regular fitness classes, the Wahlstrom Library, the Student Center’s activities and pool tables, the resident hall common areas, beautiful Seaside Park — the possibilities are endless! Sometimes the most important thing to making friends is just being out of your dorm room and around campus. You’re certain to find a group of friendly faces who’d be willing to connect. All these places are great spots for both commuters and residential students to make friends in between classes and while they’re hanging out on campus!
UB is the place to be
The friendly and welcoming atmosphere of UB carries into the classroom as well. When you think of college, you may be picturing a large, impersonal lecture hall filled with yawning students and a barely audible professor — but UB’s average class size of 10 students means each group gets to know each other and the professor over the semester. After all, what better way to make friends than by engaging in class with like-minded individuals who share your interests?
Better still, you never have to go far to find the support you need to thrive, whether socially or academically. “The staff, present students, and alumni were so welcoming and willing to help me every step of the way. This really meant a lot to me because I wasn’t able to attend open houses and orientation, due to the distance, being an international student,” says Ujuonu Adanna Kamanu, a Health Sciences major.
Did you know UB has over 60 clubs and organizations, as well as 16 different sports teams? Which ones will you join?
Become a leader at UB to connect with countless classmates
UB provides many opportunities for students to embrace and grow their leadership abilities. From stepping up in Resident Hall associations, club boards, student government, and volunteer work with a club or the Office of Civic Engagement, to just starting a study group for your class, there’s countless ways to pursue your passions and gain leadership experience at the same time. Not only does being a leader help you grow as a person and a student, it introduces you to people from all over — people who could become your next best friend.
Make the most of your college experience
At UB, you can join a community service-based club like the Black Students Alliance or the Gender Sexuality Awareness club, which also host exciting social events like the UB Drag Brunch. You can also find an internship or get a job as a tutor — no matter what you do, becoming a leader in your UB community will not only help you make lifelong friendships, but will help you throughout your academic career and even after graduation. Jobs often look for natural leaders with the experience to back their skills up, and college leadership roles can be just what you need to get the leg up on other applicants.
Take the First Step
Reaching out to strangers can be scary, especially for introverts or those with anxiety. College is a new experience, in a new place, with new people, and it can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that many students are feeling overwhelmed and anxious as well. Whether you’re at orientation or studying in the library, there’s a good chance the person you are too afraid to say “hi” to is just as scared of saying “hi” as you are. So, take that first step. Be the one to break the silence. You won’t regret it.
At UB, #UBelong. Ready to learn more about life at University of Bridgeport? Find your home away from home!