So what's the best way to make new friends? Sadly, there is no manual to making new friends and it is up to you whether you want a whole harem of friendly faces around you or just a few close, carefully chosen ones. But follow these steps and soon enough you will have filled the empty space left by your best friends from home being so far away.
Where to look?
The most obvious candidates to fill your friendship vacancy will be the people who you are living & studying with. Remember, you are all in exactly the same boat so there is no need to be shy - be sure to introduce yourself, ask questions and engage in conversation. Everyone will be nervous about meeting new people so don't forget they feeling the same emotions as you are. Why not keep your door on the latch for a little while rather than locking it? This shows your roomies that you are approachable and will encourage them to stop by and say hi.
Common ground
An important basis of any new friendship is having something in common. This might be a favourite movie or band, you might have both come from the same town or visited the same holiday destination. Perhaps you both went to Glastonbury last year or saw Beyonce at the MEN arena? When chatting to somebody new, speak about these shared experiences or backgrounds to highlight how well you could potentially get on.
Dutch courage
If, like most students, you like the odd drink or two then this is a great way to bond with flatmates and classmates alike. In the interest of encouraging responsible drinking then you don't need to get paralytic, just a few drinks will lower inhibitions enough for you to let your guard down a bit. Of course, drinking games will get you all a little more plastered than a few beers or spritzers in the pub but are a great way to get to know your new friends. After a few rounds of Ring of Fire, I can almost guarantee you will all be best buddies. And if you are arranging a few drinks, how about making it fancy dress? It shows you are willing to have a laugh as well as making a night out that little more memorable. And with costumes, don't hold back - being a student is all about having fun, and an epic fancy dress outfit will earn you serious kudos with your peers.
Food, glorious food.
If alcohol isn't your thing - and even if it is - don't forget the equally awesome bonding powers of some good food. If you like to cook or bake, now is the time to show off your skills and use them to bag a few friends. Everybody wants a housemate or friend who can serve up the perfect curry, prepare a hangover-conquering roast or whip up a batch of cupcakes. Set aside a night where you take it in turns to cook for each other, or if there is a chef in the house then you can all put money in each week and have a foodie night. If no-one wants to cook one night, go out and enjoy the restaurants and cafes your city has to offer. Big cities have an endless and vast array of places to choose from, whatever you fancy and to suit all budgets. Ordering pizza to eat with a movie is an easy and cheap way to spend an evening with mates. Whether you choose to dine in or out (or order takeout), these are all great bonding opportunities with your friends. If all else fails, make all your housemates a nice cuppa and you can bond over that instead.
Skip the drink... occasionally at least!
This may seem like a contradiction to what I said before - alcohol is genuinely a great way to make friends - but try skipping alcohol once in a while to something else instead. Be cultural and go to the theatre, a gig or a museum. Explore the city together, go shopping or stop for lunch. Sit down and watch a film in your living room, bedroom or at the cinema. If you really want to build a proper friendship then it should be about more than just downing shots together 3 or 4 nights a week. Real friendship is about getting to know someone properly, not just on nights out.
Societies & groups
So you went to Freshers Fair and you were bombarded by countless groups & societies all vying for you attention? Yes, it's a helluva lot to take in, but you need to work out which of these are relevant to you. They are a great way to meet like-minded individuals who share the same interests. Whether you like acting, theatre, sport, hip-hop or feel strongly about LGBT issues - there will be a society for you. Check your uni website for lists of all the societies out there. It is valuable to be part of the uni community, and you will be surrounded by friends in no time.
Social Media helps!
Embrace modern technology and use Facebook and Twitter to discover various groups online for students at your uni. Societies will have their own websites, Facebook pages and twitter feeds. There will be a Facebook group for freshers starting at your university, and even studying your subject. Make sure you have a good browse online for these and you will be meeting a great group of people full of potential best friends. I have personally made a number of good friends who I met through a Facebook group, so I know it works!
Most importantly, just make sure you are having fun. Yes, uni life and all this studying can be hard work but enjoy free time with your flatmates & classmates, speak to them, get to know them and they will already be your friends!
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