For some people, making new friends is a little bit intimidating, especially if they’ve had the same friends for most of their lives. Fortunately, the ISU community offers many opportunities for making friends easily.

Get to know your roommate

When you were assigned a new roommate, you were given his or her contact information so you can get to know a little bit about him or her before you move in to the dorms. If you didn’t take the time to do that, take the time to get to know your roommate now.

Don’t go through his or her stuff or be nosy, but if your roommate has things sitting out such as photos or decorations, ask him or her about these things. Find out what he or she is interested in and ask for an explanation as to why it is interesting. You never know, that could become a new interest to you and thus a friendship is born.

Get to know your floor mates

Once you’ve gotten to know your roommate, ask him or her to venture out in the hallways and try to get to know some of the other floor mates. Chances are, they’re majoring in the same thing you are and would make great study buddies. This will also make hanging out in the den a little less awkward when you know everybody.

Another good way to get to know your floor mates is to attend house meetings. Talk to the people near you either before or after the meeting.

Join a club or organization

This has probably been drilled into you a hundred times or more, but it really is a valuable piece of advice. Clubs and organizations are not only a way to meet new people that share your interests or culture, but also to gain valuable, extracurricular experience in your field of study.

Join a study group

This is one of the best ways to meet people that share your field of study. If you can’t find an existing study group, start one. You can use Blackboard to post a message or ask your professor or teaching assistant to send out an email for you to the class.

If you join or start a study group early enough in your academic career, you will have friends to study with all through college, even if they’re not in your class.

Sit by someone who’s alone

If you’re at the dining center or going to class and you see someone sitting alone, go sit with them and strike up a conversation. Chances are, they haven’t made many friends here yet and would appreciate not only company but also a new friend.