College Tips

Some students come to college with the assumption that they’ll meet their best friend the first day or that their roommate will become their best friend. They try so hard to make those early relationships work, and they think they’ve failed when they don’t.  

You don’t need to become best friends with the people you meet on your first day of college. You also don’t need to become best friends or even “friends” with your roommate. You need to get along with people and be a compassionate person, but not having that friendship bond with random people you meet is perfectly normal and OK. 

• Create opporutnities for engagement — think of simple things like opening your dorm room door or not looking down at your mobile phone while walking through campus.
• Sit strategically in classes — In many classes, you get to pick your seat. Don’t go to the back corner. Sit among other people. You may be surprised that you meet some of your best friends in your classes. Also, arriving a little early to class can give you the opportunity to have time for small talk.
• Join student organizations and participate in campus activities
• Don't wait for an invite — Everyone is waiting for an invite. Be bold. Be the person who invites someone else. And if no one wants to come, it's OK to go do it alone.  

You’ll eventually find people who click with you and become your friends. Most importantly, don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t find your friends right away.