Making friends after Week 1

Natalie

The beginning of the school year can sometimes make friendships feel measurable, especially when looking around and everyone seemingly already having their group. It’s important to remember that there is no timeline for building friendships in college, whether you are happy with the people around you or still looking to meet a few more. Keep reading to hear from fellow Bruins about their experiences making friends at UCLA — for students, by students.

“The best way to make friends at UCLA is to keep putting yourself in situations where you meet people! Join clubs, sports teams, talk to people in your classes and say yes to plans. It's also completely okay to not have it all figured out by Week 1. Sometimes, building friendships takes time! Keep putting yourself out there and get involved with what interests you and friendships will naturally follow.” -Natalie, Psychology and Communications B.A. ’27

Ava

“I've met most of my friends at UCLA by saying yes to things, even if it scared me or I’d never done it before. This campus is full of awesome people doing awesome things. You might be surprised by what you learn about yourself and who you'll meet at that random event you went to last minute. Apply to that club, go to that concert, start that conversation while waiting in line. The best thing about making friends in college is that it never stops; two years in and I’m still building great relationships every day!” -Ava, Cognitive Science B.S. ’28

Elyse

“I honestly didn’t make many friends my freshman year of college and it was really hard not to compare myself to other people who seemed to have a lot of friends. But I quickly learned that it’s more about the quality of your friendships than how many you have. I really poured into the few friendships I had, which naturally led me to meet more people via mutual friends, and now going into my senior year, I feel like I truly have a community and friends that will last me long after my time at UCLA is over. Some of my biggest tips for making friends at UCLA are:

1) Join fun, unserious clubs. Your extracurricular involvement doesn’t need to be all about career development. You can still gain leadership skills in hobby clubs. It's great to meet people who like the same things that you do. 

2) Reach out to people even if it is uncomfortable. If you meet someone who you can really see yourself being friends with, reach out to them and schedule more hangouts. Do not wait for them to make the first move. You might get ghosted or rejected but it’s OK! That friendship was simply not meant for you, and you have thousands of other people you can become friends with at UCLA. 

3) Become your own friend. For many, college is the first time that you're out on your own. It can be scary but learning how to be alone is such an integral skill for adulthood. I spent a lot of time by myself my freshman year, but it was honestly fun. Nearly every Saturday morning during spring quarter, I would take the bus to the beach and go for walks or runs along the water. I’d honestly give anything to go back to that time. 

In conclusion, don’t feel discouraged if you don't have a massive circle of friends by the end of fall quarter. Don’t feel bad if you don't even have many friends by the end of the year. Everything will happen when it’s meant to!” -Elyse, Economics B.A. ’27