Making friends in college can be hard. From meeting new classmates every quarter to finding time to socialize to attempting normal conversations after all-night study sessions, there are plenty of challenges. But have no fear! These 15 expert tips will help you ace Friendship 101 in no time.
1. Anticipate needs of classmates by bringing proper supplies.
Be the person with the right thing at the right time to make people happy. Useful items to carry include gum/mints, stapler, chargers for all manner of electronics, pens, number two pencils, blue books, paper, lotion, and lots of cash. Trust me, you'll be an instant hit when you sweep in to save the day with your mini-stapler on essay day.
2. Don't correct people's grammar.
No matter what incorrect, ignorant, or poorly phrased words emerge from your classmates' mouths, resist the urge to play teacher. People in college like to think they're smart. Some are even correct. Either way, most don't appreciate grammar Nazis infiltrating their school.
3. Own a car, and give free rides to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
No...of course I didn't have plans...
4. Encourage classmates unconditionally.
If your future friends post pictures of their grades on social media, make sure you give them a supportive "like." Maybe even add a congratulatory comment if you're feeling particularly friendly. Don't say anything if said grades aren't actually that great, and make sure you act completely shocked whenever a classmate receives a bad grade. Must just be the teacher's fault...
5. Talk in class, but not too much.
Practice raising your hand enough to spare your fellow classmates from having to participate but without annoying them with the constant sound of your voice. It's a tricky balance, but can be achieved with hard work and persistence.
6. Single-handedly take care of group projects.
Yeah, you could all work together, but then where's the excitement of one person scrambling to do the work of five people while the other four sleep in?
7. Don't act too energetic or happy.
People will get suspicious and suspect you are an imposter. College students are sleep-deprived and unenthusiastic. Try to fit in.
8. Wear deodorant and maybe even brush your teeth sometimes.
Learning how not to offend people's olfactory senses is a great skill you can utilize even once you graduate college. Once you have mastered the basics, you will be primed to make a great impression no matter where you go.
9. Share pictures of your super healthy yummy food you will not be sharing with anyone.
It will make your newfound friends feel all warm and fuzzy inside while they eat their cold leftover pizza.
10. Have extra dining dollars/food/money.
More often than not, food is the key to a college students' heart. Find ways to share food with your classmates and you will be sure to be popular for the duration of dinner at least.
11. Don't take too much care of your body.
Remember the whole sleep-deprived thing? Well, in order to truly fit in, you will have to not only avoid sleeping too much but also consume unhealthy food and beverages, push your body to extremes of exhaustion, and make some poor life choices regarding parties and the like.
12. Master the bus conversation.
As awkward as it is, you will run into people you know on the bus. Learning how to have short, trivial conversations will self-consciously riding public transportation. Think of it as the elevator speech of socializing.
13.Have a pet.
If you own an adorable pet and let others interact with said pet, you are sure to be an instant hit. They probably really like the animal more than you, but, hey, who's squabbling over details?
14. Help the poor lost souls wandering campus.
People get really confused when trying to navigate campus sometimes. Be a good Samaritan and point them in the right direction. If you're really lucky, maybe you will see them again and they will remember your kindness. Probably not, but who knows.
15. Be actually a really genuinely nice person.
Being nice is radical and edgy and people will think you're cool. It's also less likely to piss people off. Either way, just practice being a decent human being and you'll be OK. Probably.
