How to Make Friends in College Classes

Making Friends in College

It doesn't matter if you're a first semester freshman, a senior about to graduate, or an adult returning to college after several years, there is very little about the college experience that is more intimidating than walking into a classroom full of fellow students that you don't know.

Even someone with an outgoing personality, an extrovert, often wonders, "How will I ever find the courage to raise my hand and ask a question?"

The solution is to make friends with your classmates--which is not as difficult as it sounds.

Tips for Making Friends in College Classes

1. Sit Near Others

Know what kind of student you are, and position yourself accordingly.

If this is a class in which you hope to do well, sit at or near the front of the classroom.
If you know you can sit in the back and still absorb the information, feel free to do so.

Either way, you will be surrounded by students who feel the same way about the class as you do.

Tip

This gives you something in common besides the fact that you all signed up for the same course.

2. Be Aware of Others

Observe your classmates to get a sense of who they are and what you might have in common.

You might notice someone who seems shy like you or a peer who is reading the same book as you.
Someone who is very talkative in class might be a sociable and energetic friend outside of the classroom.

When you identify a new potential friend, sit near that person if possible.

Be sure to really listen to the ideas shared by your peers too.
A student's views shared during class discussion can help you identify who you might have common values and interests with.

3. Talk to Others

Smile and introduce yourself.

By the end of the semester, you and the person sitting next to you are going to have a lot of shared experiences
- You're sitting through the same lectures, you have to write the same papers and take the same tests, and you both know it.

After the introduction, ask the other student what their major is, where they're from and what dorm they're staying in.

People love to talk about themselves, so give your neighbor the opportunity to do so.
Plus, maybe the person right next to you in class lives in your dorm room and you just didn't know it.

4. Get Involved

Participate actively in group activities.

Class study groups or the ever-dreaded assigned group projects are a great way to make friends with your classmates because you need to meet and communicate with them outside of class time.
Bonding over the homework you were assigned in class can lead to laughs and late study nights in the library.

5. Reach Out for Help

Talk to the students sitting near you before class starts.

Was there something you didn't quite understand in the assigned reading?
- Ask the person next to you what he thought of that section.

If the people behind you are talking about how hard that last test was, turn around and politely join the conversation.
If it's a math class, and the person on the other side of you asks what answer you came up with for problem number 3, compare notes.

Tip

Or, if people are discussing that weekend, chime in with what you did and maybe they'll come out with you the next weekend!

6. Make Conversation After Class

Hang around after class instead of rushing out the door for another chance to chat with classmates.

Discuss something that just happened in class, what other class you're taking or what you're doing this weekend.

If you found someone in class who you really liked, this is a good time to share information and get their phone number too.

7. Ask Others to Lunch

Head to the dining center together after class if it's a meal time.

Socializing over a meal is much easier than socializing in class, when you need to focus on the professor and the instruction.

8. Invite Others from Class to Events

Invite classmates that you enjoy being around to an activity unrelated to class.

Are you hosting a game night in your dorm room tomorrow night?
Do you need another player on your intramural sports team?
Do you have an extra ticket for this weekend's football game?

Spending time outside of the classroom helps you move from classmates to friends.

Tip

Be a friend. The old saying, "The best way to have a friend is to be one" definitely applies here. Make some effort to reach out to the students sitting next to you, and by the end of the semester, you'll have a bunch of new friends.

Give it time. No matter how big your college or university is, once you've declared a major, you'll start to see the same faces in your major-related classes. Since you and the familiar face have classes and professors in common, you have even more topics to talk about. Reminiscing on shared experiences that come standard in your major is an instant icebreaker.