Q: How do I make friends in such a large University with so many people? I'm a little concerned because you know... College is supposedly where you meet your life-long friends, right?
The Answer
At Berkeley, the people I've met who have made the strongest bonds to their friends meet them in some of these ways:
1) Find a close community where they could feel at home - where they could talk to easily and honestly without feeling the need to perform.
2) Try to get involved in something that is larger than themselves so that it's not just a social organization, but working together towards a common purpose. Then it's not just social for social's sake.
At first, everyone always bonds with their dorm or floormates really well, staying up late to chat, going to the DC, hanging out, &c. But, as I remember my first year, sometimes those relationships can be shallow and filled with drama. And of course, everyone is different, but you can't go wrong with honesty and dedication :)
