How to make friends in college (even if you're starting from scratch)

Moving to a new city, starting college, or living away from home for the first time can make you wonder: how do I make friends?

Every year, thousands of students search Google for:

• how to make new friends

• how to make new friends

• how to make friends from scratch

• how to make friends

The good news is that you will never again be in an environment as conducive to making friends as college.

At this stage, everyone is open to meeting new people. No one wants to be alone. Even though it may seem like groups have already been formed, most students are also looking to how to make new friends.

Especially if you decide to live in a university residence, where interaction is daily and natural. Common areas, events, and shared spaces multiply social opportunities.

If you want to see what the full experience is like, here you can find out more about life in the StepHouse residences. StepHouse.

One of the factors that most influences how to make friends from scratch is where you live.

In a university residence, contact is constant: shared kitchens, study rooms, terraces, gym.

This type of environment facilitates spontaneous conversations such as:

• "Do you study here too?"
• "Would you like to study later?"
• "Shall we go to the supermarket?"

Living in a residence hall automatically connects you with other university students.

Friendship does not arise by magic. It arises through repetition.

If you are really looking to how to make new friends, you need to meet the same people several times.

✔ Always study in the same area
✔ Eat at similar times
✔ Sign up for recurring activities

Familiarity breeds trust. And trust breeds friendship.

Many students underestimate this. But sharing academic hours creates strong bonds.

In the European university system, ECTS credits reflect the actual time spent studying:

ECTS Table – Hours 

Now imagine sharing some of those 150–900 hours with other people.
That's how real friendships are built.

If you're wondering how to make friends, start with simple plans:

• Coffee after class
• Library
• Gym
• Watching a series in the common room

You don't need big events. You need consistency.

In dynamic university towns, the environment helps a lot. You can see options for activity plans designed at StepHouse.

A supportive social environment facilitates the natural emergence of such plans.

Stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for make new friends.

Sign up for:

• Team sports
• Cultural activities
• Events organized at your residence
• Volunteers

The greater your social exposure, the more likely you are to connect with like-minded people.

❌ Waiting for them to always talk to you
❌ Compare yourself to other groups
❌ Lock yourself in your room
❌ Thinking it's too late

The reality is that many students continue to wonder how to make friends from scratch even in their second or third year.

It's never too late.

Participating in activities, living in university housing, and suggesting small plans from the first week.

Start with short, repeated conversations. Repetition reduces anxiety and builds confidence gradually.

No. Most students are in the same situation and also want to meet new people.

Knowing how to make friends is not a matter of luck, but of strategy and environment.

College is the best time to start from scratch. If you choose a residence like StepHouse , which is a space that encourages interaction, take the initiative and keep in touch with the right people, you'll see that making new friends is much easier than it seems.

Often, a college friendship begins with something as simple as sharing notes... and ends up becoming part of your story.

And it all starts with a small step: saying hello.