What to do if you’re in second year and haven’t made any friends

You’ve made it all the way through your first year of university and are currently ploughing through second year. Everything seems to be running smoothly – you are getting decent enough marks to still be in your degree and maybe you’ve even gained some work experience in your field. But something is missing; you realise you haven’t actually made any friend yet.

Everybody says that making friends at uni is easy, but this isn’t always the case. It could be because you’ve moved away from home, you’re too shy to talk to new people, you’re too focused on studies or maybe you just haven’t been successful in turning acquaintances into BFFs. If this sounds like you, firstly know that you’re not alone. Secondly, take solace in knowing that with a few simple tips, you can slowly grow your friend base to become a pretty decent squad.

Change an acquaintance into a friend

This can be tough; everybody is so busy that it can be difficult to find the time needed to foster close friendships when you meet new people. The trick is to start small. Perhaps suggest a coffee before class or grab lunch when you both have a break. Once you feel more comfortable, invite them to attend a laid back event such as your university’s market day or an evening networking event. Soon you will have spent enough time together to move into the friendship zone.

Seek friends in unconventional places

By second year, a lot of the usual ways you would make friends don’t always work anymore. Maybe you already know most of the people in your course and don’t see them as potential friends. This means it’s time to start thinking out of the box.

The person that orders the same coffee as you, the guy at the photocopier, the person who is always in the library and so on. Literally anytime you have the chance to speak to another human being, take it. You might just find out that you have a lot in common, which could lead to something more.

Join the friendship version of Tinder

Friend finding websites are actually a thing, and they’re great for people who struggle with small talk. One of the best websites for finding friends is Meetup. All you need to do is create a profile, add your uni location and search for groups and activities that you want to be a part of. There is literally a group for everything. If you can’t find your wolf pack, you can just create your own meetup and wait for people to join.

Most importantly, don’t feel disheartened that you haven’t established any close connections yet at university. There is most definitely nothing wrong with you, you just haven’t had the opportunity yet. Try the tips above and really try to put yourself out there. Before you know it, you will be making some real connections and won’t remember what life was like without your new friends in it.

Hayley Payne

Hayley is a Public Relations and Politics student at Griffith University. She spends her (little) free time writing, watching movies and generating future plans.

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