How To Make Friends At An HBCU
Starting college for anyone can be an exciting, yet nerve-wracking experience. However, stepping into an HBCU for the first time can evoke intense feelings of intimidation. You find yourself surrounded by Black excellence—individuals who look like you and understand you, yet have completely different personalities and upbringings. For a freshman, this can feel overwhelming. But with the right guidance, you’ll discover your lifelong friends. So don’t worry, that anxiety and loneliness that comes with being a freshman will only last a short time thanks to our guide on how to make friends at an HBCU!
Connect During The Summer
Once you’ve made your decision on your school, it’s time to start scouting. Typically, colleges and universities create Instagram pages for incoming freshmen to connect—this is where you can follow other people, see who’s in your major, and start reaching out to those you seem compatible with. If there’s someone from your hometown attending the same HBCU as you, ask to hang out! Getting a head start on friends before you step foot on campus can ease any worries you have about meeting new people. Oh, and don’t forget to join those group chats!
Attend Freshman Week Activities
Listen, I know these activities often start bright and early, and some may drag on for a bit. But trust me, freshman week is one of the best opportunities to meet new people. Each event is designed to ease you into campus life and connect you with fellow peers. Don’t isolate yourself during this week; it’ll only make friend-finding harder. If you’re apprehensive about going by yourself, ask your roommate to go as your plus one, or ask in your dorm’s group chat. Sure, the freshman week activities may seem corny and repetitive, but you never know who you might click with. Remember, every other freshman there is going through the same experience—new, nervous, and eager to connect. So put yourself out there!
Connect With Classmates In Your Major
This may seem obvious, but in practice, it can be quite challenging. Especially in majors with larger enrollments, such as Biology or Psychology, where class sizes can be huge. But, you can form new connections by starting or joining study groups (GroupMe is a great app for building classroom connections). By suggesting regular study sessions with people outside of class, it’ll be a lot easier to get to know them. The same goes for students in smaller majors, like English, where you’ll likely encounter the same faces throughout your coursework. Surprisingly, group assignments can also build true friendships as well. You might meet someone whom you might not have otherwise interacted with, leading to unexpected bonds. Classes, in general, are just the perfect space to meet with like-minded people.
Get Involved
You don’t necessarily need to aim for the presidency of a student government association or vie for a spot on the student council (although, if that's your goal, go for it!). Still, it's worthwhile to participate in campus events and organizations. Attend organization fairs, yard events, or even casual dorm gatherings. HBCUs have tons of organizations for various interests, so there's bound to be something that catches your eye!
Party, Party, Party!
Partying isn’t for everyone, but you can meet some cool people on a night out. You might run into someone from class, which creates the perfect environment to kiki with them. Partying typically brings out the outgoing side of people (alcohol or not), making it easier to be sociable. Remember, while education remains a priority in college, there’s still room to have a little fun, and partying can be a part of that. It’s all about a healthy balance.
Make Your Presence Known
A big part of why people tend to not make friends in college is because they never go outside. It may seem daunting if you struggle with social anxieties, but you’ll never know who you’ll meet if you don’t try. Start small; instead of going straight to your dorm after class, try studying in the student union. Branching out is the first step to making yourself visible. College can become stressful and lonely, and having friends to confide in is a game changer. So go take a walk around the yard, you might find a new friend!
At the end of the day, try not to stress too much about making friends in college because it will happen when it happens. There are plenty of people you will meet at university and some will stick and some may not. All in all, understand that the best thing for you to do is be yourself. It may sound cliche, but college can make you lose yourself if you’re just trying to fit in. Always stay true to yourself because that’s what HBCUs are for– a safe space for Black students to express who they are!