We can name several Hollywood blockbusters that make it look easy to make friends in college (“Animal House,” “Pitch Perfect,” “Old School,” “Legally Blonde,” etc.). In reality, though, making lifelong college friends looks and feels a lot different than it does on the big screen.
Although, we’re confident you’ll leave The College of Saint Rose with friendships that will last a lifetime, we’re pretty sure it won’t look anything like those montage scenes you’ve watched in the theaters (or the one that you just watched).
To put it simply, making friends in college can be a challenge. You might not make friends for a few weeks, but that’s OK. You’re not alone. Each new student is in the same position. You will figure it out together. Our best advice is to put yourself out there and try new things. In the end, you never know who you might meet.
We think you’re going to make lots of lifelong friends. But, in case you need them, here are a few tips on how to make friends in college:
- Join the club
Joining a club or organization that interests you is easily the best way to make friends at college. By joining a club, you’re automatically surrounding yourself with people who have the same passion or curiosity as you do. Saint Rose has more than 40 clubs and organizations in all types of interest areas. If you’re not sure what you’d like to join, the clubs hold a fair at the beginning of the semester to help you figure it out. Whether you’re into Ultimate Frisbee or salsa dancing, you’ll find your people at Saint Rose.
- Plan an event
Colleges are known for their events. And, at any given event, you’ll find hundreds of students participating and having a good time. That means you’ll get hundreds of chances to make new friends. At Saint Rose, we have some really exciting events throughout the year, such as:
– MidKnight Madness: An evening of school spirit, basketball, and dance performances.
– P.B. & Jams: An afternoon where students make thousands of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for local homeless shelters — relay style.
– Study Break Breakfast: A free on-campus breakfast before the fall and spring finals.
– Dodgeball Madness: Teams of all sorts bring the heat on the court.
– Orgullo Latino: A celebration of Hispanic culture that includes freestyle dancing and more.
There’s even an app you can download and use to find events on campus, check-in at events, and win prizes.
- Explore the area
There might be a lot of events on campus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t branch out and explore other areas of the college community. You never know who you might meet along the way. Saint Rose is located on several city blocks in Albany. Students can ride the bus (CDTA) for free with their student IDs or rent a bike through the bike-share program for just $2.50/hr. The city is rich in history and continues to make history at the New York State Capitol (just under two miles from campus). There’s so much to do and many opportunities to make new friends.
- Open your eyes
We mean that literally. Open your eyes, and you won’t miss the potential to make college friends. The person sitting next to in your Psychology 101 class could be your future bandmate, podcast co-host, best man, maid of honor, etc. Don’t shy away from reaching out and saying hello.
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