Seven Tips for Meeting People and Making Friends on Campus

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 16, 2002) – Meeting people and making new friends isn't exactly something that can be taught in a classroom — but those things are just as important as academic excellence for students to have a truly successful college experience.

Fortunately, every college campus has a number of professionals who can help by offering advice to students of all ages and personality levels, but especially to freshmen. Their tips include:

Participating in student orientation activities;

"Probably the single most effective way for college freshmen to meet new people with similar interests is by participating in their university's student orientation activities," said Lisa Macke, a counselor at Tennessee Tech University.

Macke, who described herself as a shy freshman, says she met many of her own college friends by participating in student orientation activities at her alma mater, Indiana University in Bloomington.

"My best friend and I came from a town of about 5,000 people to this university of 30,000 people and decided not to be roommates," she said. "We had very little interaction the first couple of weeks so we could just meet new people, and I had to force myself to go to that first orientation activity. I never in the world thought I would enjoy it, but I did."

Taking part in sorority and fraternity recruitment;

Sarah Boucher, a senior marketing major and member of TTU's Kappa Delta sorority, said she failed to participate in the recruitment process because she thought sorority life wasn't for her. Then she decided to attend a sorority function to which she had been invited, and received a bid to join that very day.

"I would completely recommend that students participate in their college's sorority and fraternity recruitment activities, even if they decide Greek life is just not for them," she said. "Besides, they may find like I did that their first impressions were wrong."

Attending the university fitness and recreation complex;

Features of many such fitness facilities include basketball and racquetball courts, swimming pools, a walking and jogging track and various group exercise sessions — and
participation in any one of those activities might provide an opportunity to make a new friend.

Playing intramural sports;
Getting involved in religious organizations;
Becoming a volunteer;

"Volunteer work lets you do something beneficial and provides an outlet for meeting other volunteers at the same time," Macke said. "There are numerous possibilities for volunteering both on and off campus. When I was in college, for example, I volunteered at a local women's shelter."

And joining extracurricular clubs.

"Students at most universities can obtain a complete list of campus organizations simply by stopping by the information desk, Student Activities office or comparable department," Macke said.

"As long as a student's class and work schedule isn't already overloaded, I recommend that he or she get involved with several campus organizations. It's a good way to know you'll have at least one thing in common with all the other members," she added.

--Karen Lykins

This information posted 19 August 2002