Friendships

Last reviewed: 11/17/2022

College is a great opportunity to meet new people and form lasting friendships. Sometimes, it can be tricky to find friends on campus so here are a few tips to get you started.

How Do I Meet People at Columbia?

• Stay positive. A positive attitude will attract others to you.
• Be patient. Great friendships take time to build.
• Relax and be yourself. Remember that you do not need to change who you are to fit in with new friends.
• Get involved. There are a variety of student groups on campus that can match your interests such as intramural sports, religious and spiritual groups, fraternities and sororities, and much more.
  • Student groups on campus
  • Fraternity and sorority life on campus
• Read campus newspapers and blogs:
  • Columbia Daily Spectator, aka “The Spec”
  • Bwog Columbia Student Blog, aka “Bwog”
• Check event listings for things to do:
  • University Events Calendar
  • Barnard Events
  • Office of University Life
• Connect in class. Sit next to someone you don’t know and start a conversation. Ask about the assignments, the professor, or studying tips. Organize a study group for a great chance to connect with other students outside of class.
• Study outside of your room, in the lounge, or in the library and make friends on study breaks.
• Introduce yourself to people living on your floor or in your building.
• When eating, sit with someone who is sitting alone. Introduce yourself and ask if you can eat with them.
• Challenge yourself to meet one new person a day.
• Introduce your friends to other friends. This will help build your network and people may start introducing you to their friends.
• Take notice of flyers posted around campus for events and opportunities to join new student groups.

What Do I Say / Do?

• Ask open-ended questions. This can initiate conversations and show that you are interested in getting to know someone.
• Don’t force yourself to say/do anything that feels uncomfortable or unsafe.
• Stay true to your morals, values and opinions. These are what make you unique and special. Celebrate and share these with others.
• Ask about classes or activities on campus.
• Use good listening skills when getting to know someone. Ask others about themselves. Do not get distracted by your cell phone or take over the conversation.
• Find common interests that could include hobbies, music, movies, TV shows, sports teams, etc.
• Stay connected via email, texts, Facebook or set up another time to meet in person.