How to Meet People in College

Knowing how to meet people in college can be more challenging than you might have expected. There are tons of students, yes, but it can be hard to make individual connections in the crowds. If youre not sure where to start, consider one of these ten ideas: Join a club. You dont need to know anyone in the club to join; you just need to have a general interest about the clubs activities and mission. Find a club that interests you and head to a meeting -- even if its the middle of the semester. Join an intramural sports team. Intramurals can be one of the best features of being in school. Youll get some exercise in, learn some great athletic skills, and -- of course! -- make some great friends in the process. Volunteer on -- or off -- campus. Volunteering can be an easy way to meet people. If you find a volunteer program or group that shares your values, you can make a difference in your community while also making some personal connections with people just like you. Win-win! Attend a religious service on-campus. Religious communities can be like a home away from home. Find a service you like and the relationships will naturally bloom. Get an on-campus job. One of the easiest ways to meet folks is to get an on-campus job that involves in teracting with lots of people. Whether its making coffees in a campus coffee shop or delivering mail, working with others is a great way to get to know a lot of people. Get involved with a leadership opportunity. Being shy or an introvert doesnt mean you dont have strong leadership skills. Whether youre running for student government or just volunteering to organize a program for your club, serving in a leadership role can allow you to connect with others. Start a study group. While the main goal of a study group is to focus on academics, theres also an important social side. Find a few people who you think would work well in a study group and see if everyone wants to help each other out. Work for the campus newspaper. Whether your campus produces a daily newspaper or a weekly one, joining the staff can be a great way to meet other people. Youll not only connect with your fellow staff members, but youll also connect with all sorts of other folks doing interviews and research. Work f or the campus yearbook. Just like the newspaper, the campus yearbook can be a great way to connect. Youll meet tons of folks while working hard to document all that happens during your time in school. Start your own club or organization! it may sound silly or even intimidating at first, but starting your own club or organization can be a great way to meet other people. And even if only a few folks show up for your first meeting, thats still a victory. Youll have found a few people you share something in common with and who, ideally, you can get to know a little better.