Making close college friends is one of the most important things that you can do when you go away to college. After all, this is your team, the people who will follow you the rest of your life, and you can make sure you choose wisely by following these tips.
The college years are some of our most formative and memorable lives. We make friends, learn new things, and discover who we are. But as we all know, college can’t last forever. So how do you build relationships that will last well beyond your college days? Here are 7 tips to get you started.
1. Talk about things other than schoolwork.
While it’s important to discuss your classes and assignments with your friends, there’s more to life than school. Make sure to talk about your hobbies, interests, and what’s going on in the world.
This will help you get to know each other on a deeper level and build a stronger foundation for your friendship. At the same time, don’t be looking strictly for similarities. Even differences can cause bonding if you both seek to understand where the other is coming from.
2. Don’t be afraid to disagree.
Friends don’t have to agree on everything; in fact, healthy disagreement can be a good thing. It allows you to see different perspectives and learn from each other. Just make sure to disagree respectfully!
Have you ever been in a situation where you strongly disagree with someone, but you’re not quite sure how to express it? It can be tricky to know how to disagree respectfully, especially if the other person is passionate about their beliefs. But if you can learn to disagree without being disagreeable, you’ll find that you can have much more productive conversations – and maybe even find some common ground.
One of the keys to disagreeing respectfully is to avoid personal attacks. It’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and say something that you’ll later regret. If you can focus on the issue at hand instead of getting wrapped up in attacking the other person, you’ll be much more likely to be heard and respected.
Another helpful tip is to try and see things from the other person’s perspective. Even if you don’t agree with their opinion, understanding where they’re coming from can help you respond in a way that takes their feelings into account.
Finally, remember that it’s okay to agree to disagree. Sometimes people are never going to see eye-to-eye – and that’s okay. If you can end the conversation on a positive note, you’ll both walk away feeling good about yourselves and each other.
By following these simple tips, you can learn how to disagree respectfully – and maybe even find some common ground along the way.
3. Be there for your friends, even when it’s tough.
Friendship is a two-way street; sometimes that means being there for your friend even when they’re going through a tough time. Whether it’s lending a listening ear or offering a shoulder to cry on, being supportive during difficult times will help solidify your friendship for the long haul.
4. Make time for each other.
With busy schedules, it can be tough to find time to hang out with friends as often as we’d like. But making an effort to see each other regularly—even if it’s just for a quick coffee chat or study session—will help keep your friendship strong. If you live far away from each other, schedule regular video chats or phone calls so you can stay in touch.
5. Celebrate your victories—and commiserate your defeats—together.
Sharing both the good and the bad moments is an important part of friendship. When something great happens, celebrate together! And when something not-so-great happens, lean on each other for support. These shared experiences will help you grow closer as friends.
6. Be yourself!
This one might seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating: Be yourself! Don’t try to be someone you’re not just to fit in or impress your friends. True friendship is built on authenticity, so just be yourself and let your friendships develop naturally from there.
College Is As Much About the Friends As the Education
These are just a few tips for building relationships that will last well beyond college—but the most important thing is just to enjoy the ride! College is a special time in our lives, so savor every moment with your friends (while also keeping an eye on the future). Who knows? With these tips in mind, you might just end up making lifelong friends along the way.
Now it’s your turn, readers! What are some of the things that you’ve done to make and keep friends? We want to hear from you, so sound off in the comments section below.
Aric Mitchell's work appears regularly here at 4tests.com and across the web for sites, such as The Inquisitr and Life'd. A former high school teacher, his passion for education has only intensified since leaving the classroom. At 4tests, he hopes to continue passing along words of encouragement and study tips to ensure you leave school ready to face an ever-changing world.
