They say friends are the family you pick for yourself, and in college, the pool you have to choose your friends from increases dramatically. This is a summary of the types of people you meet so you can figure out which friends are in it for the long haul, or who to call when all you want to do is Netflix and (actually) chill.
1. Orientation Insta-friends
When you first get to college, especially if you're out of state, you don't know anyone. And that's generally the case with most other freshmen. So at orientation you make instant friends based on a mutual lack of acquaintances. If you're lucky, you'll meet people who you would normally be friends with under different circumstances, but these are the types of friends you may talk to for a couple of weeks before you go on your merry way.
2. Rush Friends
For the ladies, during rush you're carted around from house to house with a group of girls that you chat about your experiences with (even when your Pi Chis try to hush you). These are the kinds of people that, unless they're your roommate or you end up in the same sorority, you probably won't stay too close after pref night.
And for the gents: First, your rush is so much better. You are treated like a princess with all the brothers fawning over you and giving you free things. But it's same story with the guys that you frop with (read: fraternity hop). Unless you end up as brothers at the end of rush, you part ways.
A lot of times these are the kinds of people that you see around campus and avoid making eye contact with because you remember them, but you're not sure they remember you, and it would be too big of a hit to the ego if your hello was met with confusion.
3. Class Friends
In every class you take, one day one you'll scout the room to see if you can find any familiar faces. These friends are the ones who will understand when you're complaining about the professor's odd antics, and the ones you'll text about the homework that's due in one hour that you haven't even started. If you hang out with them outside of class, it's probably just to study (unless you're already friends, and then they might fall under the next category as well).
4. Drunk Friends
We all have those friends who are great companions on a Friday night when you want to go out and blow off steam. They are loud and will lead you to all the places you want to go because they're up for anything. But when you settle down and want to have a life chat over coffee, these probably aren't the ones that you're going to call.
5. Your SO's Friends
Short and simple, there're two types of these: the ones you genuinely like and will hang out with voluntarily, and the ones you tolerate because you respect your partner.
6. Actual Friends
These are the people you will be friends with for life. They're the people you call when you need someone to talk to, to watch Netflix with, or to be any of the other categories of friends, because they're your crew. These are the friends you love even in the moments when you have to grit your teeth and roll your eyes. They toe the line between friends and family, and you know that when all the chaos of college settles, they'll be there ready to take on real life with you.
