What do you say to make friends in college?

Start simple: your name and a question like "What are you studying?" or "Which floor are you on?" Then suggest a small plan, like dinner or walking to an event together.

How do I make friends if I'm shy in my first week of college?

Pick one-to-one moments (the kitchen, a queue, the seat next to you in class), use one simple opener and say yes to invitations, even for just an hour.

Is it normal not to make friends in the first week?

Yes. Many people find their friends later in the first term or year, through classes, clubs and seeing the same people regularly.

How do I make friends in college if I don't drink?

Go to daytime events, clubs, sports, study groups and quiz nights. Plenty of students don't drink, and you'll meet them at those events.

What do I say when introducing myself in class?

Your name, where you're from or what you're studying, and one small, light fact about you. Keep it to about ten seconds.

How to Make Friends in College: What to Say First Week

The first week is the easiest time to meet people

Orientation week (freshers' week in the UK and some other countries) is unusual: nearly everyone is new, most people are a bit nervous, and talking to strangers is expected. That makes it the easiest week of your college life to start conversations. People who seem confident are often just as unsure as you.

You don't need clever lines. You need simple ones, said often.

Openers by place

Where	Opener	Easy follow-up
Dorm hallway or kitchen	"Hi, I'm Sam. Are you on this floor too?"	"Where are you from? How was moving in?"
Orientation event	"Have you found anything good on the schedule yet?"	"Are you going to the quiz tonight?"
First lecture or class	"Is this Intro to Psychology? I'm already lost."	"What else are you taking?"
Dining hall	"Mind if I sit here? I don't know anyone yet."	"What are you studying?"
Club fair	"What does your club actually do each week?"	"Is it okay for complete beginners?"
Queue for anything	"Is this the line for student cards?"	"Which halls are you in?"

"What are you studying?" and "Where are you from?" are the standard first-week questions. They're not boring, they're useful: they give you two quick things to connect on.

Turn a chat into a plan, right away

Most first-week conversations are friendly and then end. The ones that become friendships usually have a next step. Make one on the spot:

"A few of us are getting dinner at six. Want to come?"

"Are you going to the welcome party tonight? We could walk over together."

"We're in the same seminar. Want to grab coffee after on Thursday?"

"Let's swap numbers, I'll add you to our floor group chat."

If you're not sure anyone's going anywhere, be the one who suggests it. It feels scary, but almost nobody says no in the first week.

Say yes, especially early on

Invitations come fast in the first couple of weeks: dinners, parties, club meetings, trips to the shops. Say yes to more than feels natural, even if you're tired or shy. You don't have to stay long. "I'll come for an hour" is fine.

If you don't drink or don't like parties, say yes to the daytime things: the city tour, the club taster sessions, the quiz night, the late-night pizza run. There's usually plenty on offer that isn't loud.

Keep showing up to the same places

Friendships tend to grow from seeing the same people again and again. One great conversation rarely does it alone. Pick two or three places to keep turning up:

Your dorm floor or shared kitchen. Cook at the same time each day and you'll keep meeting the same people.
One or two clubs or societies. Go to the second and third meeting, not just the first.
A study group for your hardest class.
A regular activity: a sports team, a volunteering shift, a choir.

The second meeting is easier than the first: "Hey, you were at the climbing taster, right? How did you find it?"

When you have to introduce yourself to a group

Many first classes and seminars start with "Go around and say your name and something about yourself." Have a 10-second answer ready: your name, where you're from or what you're studying, and one small fun fact.

"I'm Priya, I'm from Leicester, I'm doing biology, and I've just discovered I can't cook rice."

For longer versions, see how to give a self-introduction speech.

Mistakes new students make

Mistake	Why it slows things down	Instead
Waiting for people to come to you	Everyone's waiting, so nobody moves	Say hi first; it's expected this week
Staying in your room "to settle in"	You miss the easiest week to meet people	Leave your door open; go to the kitchen
Chatting but never making plans	Friendly faces stay strangers	Suggest one small plan on the spot
Sticking only with people from home	You miss new friendships	Keep old friends, add new ones
Judging your whole social life by week one	Friendships take weeks to form	Keep showing up; give it a term

If it feels slow

Lots of students don't find their people in the first week, and that's normal. Groups formed in orientation often change by the end of the first term. Keep going to classes, clubs and shared spaces, and keep making small plans. If you feel very low or isolated, most colleges have student support or counselling services, and it's worth reaching out.

Practice the first lines

If starting conversations makes you nervous, say your openers and your invitation line out loud a few times before you arrive. The free small talk drill gives you openers to answer out loud. The Speaking Coach app has a "Meet someone new" scene, where a partner plays another student and follows up on what you say. For the long game of turning acquaintances into real friends, see making friends as an adult.