Uni’s Back in Full Swing—So Why Can’t You Make Any Friends?

Sitting in the bathroom stalls > having to converse with people before your tutorial.

Your plans on uni break might have included entering this semester with newfound social charisma, bumping into the first person you see on your way to class and becoming instant besties.

And the reality, now a couple weeks in, is probably a little disappointing.

Unless you’re a natural social butterfly or attend uni with people you already know, it’s hard to form new friendships on campus.

We asked the lot of you—and the consensus is unified. We’re all a little awkward and shy on the inside. But the good news is there are others like you out there.

"I'm like Will Byers whenever he's around El and Mike" - Christelle.

“Entering first year uni, it was just a bunch of us private school kids clinging on for life in first semester” – Haley.

“I followed a guy I thought was cute to a bus stop after class and got talking to him waiting for a bus that wasn’t on my route. I caught a random bus to the middle of nowhere just so I could have a friend.” – Lily.

“I would wait in the toilet blocks if I was anything more than two minutes early for a tutorial, so that I wouldn’t have to make small talk in the class before it started.” – Lucas.

“I overshared about my entire life in order to be cool and friendly and relatable.” – Natasha.

“I moved into student accommodation with four other strangers. We bonded over heart breaks, nights out, practical jokes and yelling at each other over dirty dishes” – Kalen.

We can give you the rundown on tips and tricks for making friends at uni, but you need to remember that it takes time. In fact, it could be a little odd if you get profoundly attached to the first person you run into.

Here’s how to give it your best shot. And remember—you just need to be you.

1. Join clubs and societies.

Everybody’s probably telling you this like “duh”. But this is a tried and tested method once you gain the confidence to go up to that stall, put your name down and attend the first event. If you’re super baller, you could even run as a student representative.

2. Consider living in student housing.

This is a certified way to meet hundreds of students and literally be forced to interact with them. While it may sound like a nightmare to some, it could form some of the most important friendships of your life.

3. Follow lots of university social channels.

You can always find your fellow memers and pot-stirrers on social media. Plus, you can keep up to date with events, exchange witty remarks with students in the comments, and stay on trend.

4. Sit in communal areas of the library.

Not ideal for when you actually wanna get some work done. But if you’re simply scouting for mates, there’ll be some easily distracted peeps always up for a chat in the talking areas of the library. Usually later at night, too.

5. Get a part-time job on campus.

If your uni has jobs going at Student Services, or even at some of the food shops or cafes, consider killing two birds with one stone and applying to work there. You’ll be able to meet fellow student workers, serve heaps of students, and make money at the same time.

There’s plenty more where this came from, and if you’re stressed out about uni as a whole, we’ve got the whole package for ya. Check out our Ready, Set, Uni Pathway if you fancy and we’ll catch you lingering in the study halls.