How to Make Friends at University During the Pandemic — 5 Tips
Find out more about Buddoop’s Project and how you can support us at Indiegogo.
Starting university used to be an exciting experience! You’ll get to know your campus, join societies and maybe participate on some challenges… like trying every bar near campus in a day…
Well, this year you might not be able to do those things in the way you were expecting. Meeting people will now take a little bit of extra effort with the reinforcement of social distancing and online learning… as if making friends was not already challenging… don’t be weird yet, don’t be weird yet, don’t be weird yet…
We know that joining activities in the first few weeks of uni is crucial if you have any intention of creating a social circle. Don’t worry. Despite everything that is going on the world, you can still make the best out of your university and build strong bonds with other students.
Here are 5 easy things you can do:
1 Join your campus’ online events
We know this might not excite you as it would in the real world (what’s real anymore?). Normally, you would dress up, daydream about who you would get to meet on your way there and wear the new shoes you bought during the summer.
Well… you can still do these things to get you out of that hoodie and those joggers for once. It would help to break the routine.
Universities are trying their best to give you a memorable experience at their campus. So there will be events!
Action Tip: Join your student union newsletter and follow them on social media so you’re up to date with what might be happening. Check the societies you would have joined in pandemic-free-circumstances and get in touch with their committee. They might be planning awesome things too, some of them may be in person. Following the guidelines of course.
2 Say “YES” more often
We know we’ve been telling you every now and then that saying no is OK. Follow your wavelength and do things that excite you so you don’t waste your social battery. HOWEVER! During these peculiar times, it’s really easy to say no to everything just because things mostly happen online…
No one will be talking about it the next day. How could you know?
Well, whether you like it or not, eventually, you’d like to talk to someone and share moments with them. Also, this pandemic won’t last forever and being really optimistic, you might even be able to do your second semester on campus…
So start building relationships from the beginning. Grab a beer, sit in front of your screen and wear your best smile. Put your communication and listening skills in practice and meet new people!
Action Tip: Put all of your online events in a calendar to make them more real. This will keep you motivated and remind you to keep that time slot free.
3. Start with your flatmates
If you got lucky to live on campus or near your university, the chances are that you’ll get to share a place with other students.
Get to know them, and ask them how their day went and what their plans are for tomorrow. When poping in into the kitchen ask them what they’re cooking. Slowly but surely, these little things will help you get into actual conversations and you’ll find yourself with a new group of friends.
You can share some meals every now and then. You could for instances, bake a cake together, make cocktails, have an indoor party among you. You could also grab some popcorns and make a movie night. If you have a balcony or a garden, you can even share a barbecue together on a sunny day (before it starts freezing!).
Your flatmates will be the ones closest to you and they might even be there longer than you and already know some people they could introduce you.
Action Tip: Be a respectful flatmate. To them, if you don’t qualify here, you won’t qualify in the friendship. So, in the shared areas keep your things tidy and clean, and don’t take anything that is not yours without permission. Also, don’t be noisy. They might not tell you, but they’ll appreciate you more.
4. Get to know your class
Online lectures will happen. We all know that.
If given the opportunity of an extra 10 min to exchange contacts with your classmates, do so!
They are doing the same course as you so eventually, you’ll work together… and it’s always nicer to work with a friend.
Action Tip: Write the name of your classmates down in your first lecture and see if you can find them on social media. Maybe you don’t get the opportunity to meet them in the first few lectures and this seems a plausible alternative. Let’s put those stalking skills of yours in practice.
5. Go outdoors
After you get to meet a few people online, you’d like to meet them in person. To make it more human.
By following the safety guidelines you can meet your new friends outdoors and still enjoy your social life.
As winter approaches…
… outdoor activities might become more challenging. So… avoid crowded and enclosed places if indoor activities are the only way.
Avoid physical contact, speak quietly, wear your mask whenever necessary and keep your hand sanitizer handy.
Once you get home, wash all of those germs off!
We hope these tips gave you some hope about how you can go around the pandemic and still enjoy the social experience uni has to offer.
To know more about Buddoop, be up to date with what we are working on and enjoy some humour, follow us on our social media: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Given the global pandemic and your safety, we are delaying the official launch of our social network. For now, we are giving early access to a small group of people to get feedback on what we’ve built so far.
You can request an invite at https://www.buddoop.com/
If you believe in our cause and would like to support us you can do so at our Indiegogo campaign by clicking on the link below:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/buddoop-make-friends-online-without-swiping/x/24457974#/
We can’t wait to meet you! 💙
