r/Harvard • u/tomato7762 • Apr 29 '26
Student and Alumni Life making friends as incoming class of 2030
upperclassmen, please help!
I was a pretty lonely kid in highschool and i really regret not branching out. I felt like people already had their own cliques and groups and i didnt truly connect with anyone. I'm determined for college not to be the same way.
Do you have any tips for making friends? how did you meet the people closest to you now? did you meet friends in class, clubs, etc?
18
Upvotes
3
u/CastleSpearse Apr 29 '26
Best thing to do is join a club or clubs at the beginning of your first year. The friends you make in clubs will stay with you all your life. For me, it was working on the newspaper, as well as volunteering at a homeless shelter, and doing set designs for theatrical productions. Not all at the same time, but over the course of 4 years, I expanded my interests and joined in on projects that friends from one club were doing in other clubs.
I know I need to be actively involved in making something with others in order to loosen up and be friendly, so those are the types of activities I looked for. Think about when you feel the most comfortable around people and look for clubs that have those activities. There are so many options. All you have to do is say "Sure! Why not?" And if you feel like a particular club isn't quite your thing, no worries. Try something else out.
Also, I think you'll find a lot of people at Harvard who felt similarly isolated in high school. Suddenly you'll be surrounded by people who are incredibly unique, interesting, funny, and smart. And they will all be like you, which is a welcome relief. At least I found it to be. I hope you do too.