Post By: COYD Staff
So you’ve already been a freshmen and a college student, so the adjustments you have to face as a transfer student are different from an incoming freshmen. The biggest difficulty we’ve heard from transfer students is meeting new people. The complaint is students already have created their social circle and aren’t necessarily looking for new friends. Below are a few tips that could help meeting new friends:
1. You’re not alone. Meet other transfer students by attending Transfer Orientation.
Most schools have different orientations for incoming freshmen and transfer students. If so, I highly recommend you attending the transfer orientation. Both orientations are similar and will cover basic information about class registration, academic advising, placement exams, campus activities, campus life…etc.
However, the difference between a freshmen orientation and a transfer orientation are the students you will be meeting, other transfer students. And remember, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Other transfer students who are probably also struggling to meet new people, will be more open to making new friendships than non-transfer students.
2. Join a student or volunteer organization
Don’t sit on the sidelines and wait for friends to come to you. It is well known that people who work together or have similar interests tend to become friends. These volunteer and student organizations usually have weekly meetings so you will have plenty of opportunities to talk to new people.
3. Join an intramural team
If you play sports, this is an excellent way to meet friends. You don’t have to be a varsity level athlete to participate in intramural sports. Some are more competitive than others. As long as you like the sport and like working as a team, joining an intramural team could be a great way to meet new people.
4. Go to office hours
Commiserating with other people is one of the best ways to build a connection. Don’t just go to office hours to get help. Go with the mindset that you can meet other people who are also in your class and are also struggling with the same problem set that kept you up all night. That commonality right there can create immediate conversation and connection.
5. Be positive and smile
Bottom line, people gravitate towards happy people. If you walk around with low confidence and your head down, you will not attract other people. Even though you might be lonely, just be thankful for all the things you have, cheer up and walk around with your head held up high.
6. Introduce yourself
This sounds very basic but believe it or not, many people can talk to someone for over 15 minutes and still not know that person’s name. When you introduce yourself, most likely they will introduce themselves as well. This way you can remember their name and the next time you see them, you can go up to them and start building a relationship.
