22 Ways to Make Friends at BU

1

Join clubs

It may sound obvious, but one of the best ways to feel like you belong and find a community in college is to join one of BU’s 400-plus student organizations. Take a shot at exploring your interests, discovering a new interest, building your résumé, or just finding a great social space with like-minded people. Whatever your calling is, you’ll likely find it here at BU—even if you couldn’t make it out to Splash. (There are also club sports—more on that below.)

2

Take your headphones out of your ears

Walking on Comm Ave, riding the T, doing homework in Mugar—whatever it is, taking those headphones out exposes you to the numerous conversations going on around you. Those two girls in your class are talking about that new movie coming out this weekend? Well, you wanted to see that, too. And, bam, you’ve just made Saturday night plans.

Photo: A young woman proudly displays her jersey shirt which reads: DELTA SIGMA THETA — Ayanna Dunlop shows her Delta Sigma Theta pride, as she and her sorority stroll at the Howard Thurman Center’s Black Community Reception. Photo by Ajani Hickling (CAS’27)

3

Consider Greek life

You may never have envisioned it for yourself, but a simple 15 minutes spent at one of BU’s many Panhellenic Open Houses held first semester are full of numerous other extraverts. Open house registration doesn’t tie you down to anything and might just kick-start a newfound social confidence.

4

Go to your floor meetings

In all freshman dorms, your RA should be hosting monthly meetings for your entire floor to connect and discuss any upcoming events. Even if there’s a Zoom option, make sure to pop your head out of your door to get to know your neighbors. Maybe they’re hungry for dinner and you can walk downstairs to the dining hall together. All of the large residence halls have bonding events each semester, like game nights, free brownies, and holiday parties. Next time this pops into your email inbox, consider going after class to meet the people outside of your floor.

5

Keep your door open

No need to do this all the time—for obvious reasons—but as long as your roommate is okay with it, keep the door open when you’re just chilling out. This invites anyone to poke their head in and say hello, and it’s a great way to know the people on your floor better.

6

Don’t be afraid to talk to the person next to you

It may be a big, scary lecture hall, but tons of other people are sitting by themselves hoping to get one person’s number—just in case they need to borrow notes. Introduce yourself to the person sitting beside you, and offer to be that person for them. You can study for exams together, and maybe even grab coffee once class is over.

Photo: A packed room full of people mingling. — The LBGTQIA+ Student Resource Center comes alive as students fill tables to celebrate the kickoff of LGBTQIA+ History Month. This kickoff—hosted in collaboration with the CAS Office of Diversity & Inclusion—is one of several events focused on celebrating queer history hosted in BU’s recently opened center this semester. Photo by Ajani Hickling (CAS’27).

7

Go to on-campus events

Scroll through Terrier Central to find some of the best, most unique motivators to get out of your dorm room. With over 50 events each month, there’s no excuse to stay in. Hit up dance classes, Halloween parties, and even games of capture the flag.

8

Hit a home run with Student 9s

Registering for Student 9 Red Sox tickets—and qualifying on a popular night—is a surefire way to make some friends in class, on your floor, and beyond. If you sign up for Student 9s, you’re automatically entered into a lottery that raffles off unsold tickets to students for just $9—and you could be one of them! Your account can be chosen multiple times a semester, giving you ample opportunity to invite potential friends for a fun night out.

9

Reach out to your RA

Your RA is there to help, and generally speaking, is your first line of support when it comes to all things college advice. They may have gone through something similar at the start of college—maybe a roommate disagreement or a bad grade or homesickness—and this could be a great way to have a one-on-one conversation with someone who’s actually been there and was able to get over the hump.

Photo: Wide shot of students tending to a rooftop garden. — A group gathers and weeds during a meeting of the BU Community Gardens Club at the Warren Patio Gardens. Photo by Cydney Scott

10

Join a club or intramural sports team

No matter your skill level, anyone can be a student-athlete by joining a club or intramural sports at BU. This is a great way to meet new people outside of your major, classes, and other academic or career-oriented clubs.

11

Join a cultural group

BU boasts a diverse student body, so whatever your background, there are lots of ways to connect with other students from similar backgrounds and with similar lifestyle interests. It’s a big school, but you can build your own small community by joining one of the many cultural groups on campus.

12

Check out the Newbury Center

The Newbury Center helps first-generation students find comfort in knowing they aren’t alone. Plenty of other Terriers are the first in their families to engage in the college experience, and there are many resources on campus to better understand how to make the most of your time here. The Newbury Center holds events and programming for first-gen students, so students can bond over their backgrounds.

13

Apply for an on-campus job

On-campus jobs are a great way to boost your résumé, make some money, and make more friends outside of your circle within your major or college. A number of options are still available for the semester via MyBU.

Photo: Three young men sit around a table to do work. — Filipinos Sacchi (from left), Lorenzo Bramanti, and Francesco Bortolan discuss their group project July 10. Photo by Ziyu (Julian) Zhu (CGS’25)

14

Find a study group

With midterms coming up, it’s so easy to ask the person next to you to join you for a study session. Studying is the perfect excuse to make a friend in class, because everyone knows two sets of notes are better than one. Now, you’ve not only made some new friends, but your GPA will also thank you.

15

Study in a common space in your residence hall

Instead of doing your assignments alone at your desk, consider one of the study spaces that populate West Campus and Warren Towers. There’s always bound to be someone there looking for a slightly more social approach to homework, and maybe you’ll come across someone from class.

16

Attend a hockey game

Section 108—also known as the BU Dog Pound—is arguably the most social spot on campus. Everyone there has the most Terrier pride, and is always willing to find more people to join in on their chants. Take advantage of your Sports Pass and go to the next BU hockey game.

17

Try Open Skate at Walter Brown Arena

Speaking of ice, when the rink isn’t full of sticks and pucks, Walter Brown Arena hosts Open Skate for anyone. Skate rentals are $5 per person, and admission is free with a BU ID. Ask a classmate or dorm-mate to join you.

Photo: Two young women sit on a park bench, painting and enjoying the Autumn weather — Isabelle Fersthteh Stevens (GRS’25) (left) and Yeganeh Taheri (ENG’28) enjoy the warm autumn light and crisp air as they paint on the BU Beach on October 26. Photo by Julian Massari (ENG’26)

18

Stop by BU Beach

In the nice weather, Terriers know to sit in the big chairs along the BU Beach to people-watch. Instead of reading your book in your dorm room, do it outside before the cold and snow arrive.

19

Explore Boston

Make use of your Charlie Card and invite someone to explore Boston past Comm Ave. It’s important to absorb all this city has to offer, and most everyone at BU is ready and willing to go out and make the most of Boston. Have you hit Beacon Hill yet? Is now the time to finally try a cannoli from Mike’s Pastry in the North End? Take a friend anywhere—from Seaport to Jamaica Plain—and become a real Bostonian.

20

Take a PDP at FitRec

A great way to add a low-commitment, low-stress class to your schedule is to register for a PDP at FitRec for one credit. These physical education classes are perfect for meeting new people in a less academic setting and allow you to make the most of your FitRec membership. Browsing for spring 2025 courses—like pilates, ballet, and yoga—opens Tuesday, November 12, at noon.

21

Head to Coffee & Conversation at the Howard Thurman Center

Coffee & Conversation is a long-standing BU tradition that invites Terriers to engage in public discourse about important issues. Head over to the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground every Friday from 4 to 5:30 pm to discuss everything from the election to well-being to the media landscape.

22

Go to group office hours

Plenty of professors host group office hour sessions leading up to exams, so take some time out of your schedule to head over and kill two birds with one stone—meet some new people while also preparing for an upcoming test.

22 Ways to Make Friends at BU

Dining halls, student organizations, taking your AirPods out before class—tips, advice, new ideas to connect with more Terriers and build your own community

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