Published September 04, 2026

NYU Students Share Their Best Advice on Making Friends as a First-Year Student

Olivia Richter

Senior Writer and Strategist

Admitted Students Communities & Clubs Student Voices

A large group of students hanging out on an NYC street.

One of the biggest questions on every incoming student’s mind is “How will I make friends?” If you’re preparing for NYU and find your mind cycling through questions like “How will I meet people?”, “Will they like me?”, or “Who will I hang out with?”, you’re far from alone. The good news is that there are countless ways to build community at NYU. Some you might expect—through residence halls, clubs, and classes—while others happen in ways you’d never anticipate. Below, current students and recent graduates share the advice, experiences, and unexpected moments that helped them find their people.

Take Advantage of Clubs and Activities

“Join a team! My first year, I joined the Mock Trial team, a very small club that travels to tournaments. Because of this, I had consistent practice times every single week with the same small group of people. This really helped me my first year, when I didn’t have as many friends and was still acclimating to college. They were like a family in a way—a group I could always laugh with and talk about my day.” — Violet Lahde, English Literature and Politics major at College of Arts and Science (CAS)

“I am very shy if I don’t know you very well, so I was scared that would prohibit me from meeting new people. The moment I threw myself into the NYU community, I found people with common interests. And eventually, I found my best friends!” — Leyla Washington, Political Science major at CAS

“Consider joining Greek life! I rushed Psi Upsilon my junior year, and it made my experience at NYU so much better. I formed tight-knit bonds with my brothers. It felt like a second family. NYU may seem like a huge school, but once you find your community, the circle becomes smaller.” — Pei Lin Lu, recent graduate in Childhood Education and Special Education at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

Two students posing with seltzer waters.

Explore New York City Together

“My most unconventional tip for making friends at NYU is to go to things by yourself and talk to people. I discovered the SNL standby line while at NYU, and one time when I went alone, I ended up in a six-hour yapping session with two people who became close friends. We exchanged numbers and haven’t stopped talking since. This year, I met another close friend in the same line. Now, the four of us have a tradition of waiting in the SNL standby line, grabbing Cane’s [chicken fingers], and catching up. We’re even going to Coachella together!” — Leyla

“At Welcome Week, I met so many people from vastly different backgrounds. That is the NYU social It Factor—a bustling culture of people looking for true connection. When I hang out with my friends, we play board games, go for walks, and visit the zoo. I found friends who truly align with me much quicker than I expected.” — Maya Sachdev, Applied Psychology major at Steinhardt

“You get to do so many unique things in the city that you probably would never know about. A few weeks ago, the resident assistants took a group of us to Koreatown to take a salsa dancing class. It was really different but fun. Every other week we’re trying something new. We tried oxtail sandwiches in Dumbo, ate pasta in Little Italy, and tried a new chai spot in Chinatown that turned out to be one of my favorite places to study.” — D’Andre South, Data Science major at CAS

From Classmates to Besties

“Putting yourself out there means something different to everyone. For me, it meant going to campus events, being open to meeting friends of friends, and, most importantly, making friends in class. My first class friend was a graduate student in the nursing school, and my second is someone I still have regular movie nights with! Having class friends means you always have a study buddy, someone to help when you’re sick, and a low-pressure friendship that can grow over time.” — Maya

“I remember during my first year I took Writing the Essay, and I sat next to a girl, Annie, who was so engaged in the course that it inspired me to be more open as well. Little did I know, Annie would become one of my best friends, and we would eventually become roommates! My biggest advice is if you want to hang out with someone in your class, just ask! They are probably just as nervous as you, and they do want to connect with you.” — Leyla

“Try sticking around after class to speak to some of your classmates. Courses are going to be one of your main points of contact for making friends. Even just getting someone’s number to ask future class-related questions is a great way to get to know someone.” — Cecily Johnson, recent Film and Television graduate at Tisch School of the Arts

“Having class friends means you always have a study buddy, someone to help when you’re sick, and a low-pressure friendship that can grow over time.”

—Maya Sachdev, Applied Psychology major at Steinhardt

People walk along a tree-lined path and relax on benches in Washington Square Park.

General Advice from Your Future Peers

“I know it can feel a bit overwhelming to be surrounded by people from so many different cultures and backgrounds, but that’s actually one of the most beautiful things about NYU. My advice is to lean into that diversity and use your first year to talk to as many people as you can—in the dining hall, during orientation events, or even in your core classes. You’ll be surprised by how open and curious everyone is. Some of my closest friends today are people I met just by sitting next to them during one of those early days.” — Ansh Kumar Singh, Computer Science major at NYU Abu Dhabi

“There is this very common misconception that there exists a timeline in which you need to have everything figured out. If there is something I’ve learned in my time here, it’s that that is not true at all. It might take a short while or maybe a long time before you find the people and the spaces in which you truly feel like you belong. But as long as you keep putting yourself out there and taking everything as a learning experience, sooner or later, you will find it.” — Manuel Estrada, Psychology major at CAS

“The beginning of any friendship involves stepping out of your comfort zone. That first hangout, text message, or conversation is always a little scary and can be uncomfortable! But putting myself out there in those moments has either resulted in a lifelong friendship or just a hangout. It can feel really scary, but at the end of the day, there really isn’t anything to lose! And the more you do it, the easier it will be.” — Violet

Olivia Richter

Senior Writer and Strategist

Olivia Richter is a Senior Writer and Strategist for NYU’s University Relations and Public Affairs Office of Marketing Communications. She is endlessly curious about people, what inspires them, and how they use inspiration to create change—something she finds in abundance at NYU. A New Hampshire native, she encounters her own inspiration when exploring new places, spending time in nature, reading books, and connecting with close friends and family. Olivia holds a BA in Communication Studies from American University.