Certain things are known to be hard. Organic chemistry is a notoriously difficult course for pre-med students, Finnegans Wake is a doozy for most people, and the first day at a new school, especially if you’re joining a graduating class in a later year, can be pretty intimidating. For college transfer students, you may not have to worry as much about having the right backpack as you did in middle school, but walking into the great social unknown at a college is still pretty unnerving. 

If you’re starting a new year at college as a transfer student, here are five tips to help you meet people and make friends at your new school:

1. Talk to people at orientation
Orientation is a big part of the college experience. For many students, it’s their first introduction to a parent-free world with more options and fewer restrictions. Colleges have specific orientations for transfer students, and orientation is a perfect setting for interacting with other students. Unlike most of the people in your classes or dorms (if you’re living in one), the people you’ll meet at orientation are new to the school, just like you. Most people at orientation are trying to find a group of likable and interesting people, so introduce yourself and ask others if they’re interested in participating in specific events or if you can join them in their activities. 

2. Join clubs and organizations
The best part about clubs and organizations is that they allow people with similar interests to get together and bond over a shared passion. As a transfer student, joining these groups as soon as possible will help you find your niche while exposing you to different groups you may not have otherwise met. Check out a good number of clubs at the beginning of the year to meet new people and possibly learn more about latent interests that you have yet to pursue.

3. Live near other students
Living on campus is the best way to meet other students, but for some transfers, living on campus is neither an option nor ideal. If you’re living off campus and are able to choose where you’re living, look into apartments and neighborhoods where your fellow students usually live. By living in an area or building with a sizable student population, you will be connected to your school’s community and able to connect with your peers. Many schools provide information regarding off-campus housing, including listings, neighborhood information and resources. 

4. Leave your apartment/house/room
Colleges offer students several spaces for socializing and studying, and as a transfer student, spending time in these areas is more conducive to meeting new people than willing friendships into existence from your bedroom. For upperclassmen and declared freshmen and sophomores, spending time in the building that houses your major can be a great way to meet other students in the same department.

5. Step outside of your comfort zone
As the new student, you’ll often be the initiator when it comes to social settings. If you’re an extrovert, walking over and introducing yourself to a stranger comes naturally, but for those who are shy, it’s a process that takes practice and effort. Challenge yourself to take that first step and strike up a conversation. Each person you sit next to in orientation or class presents an opportunity for interaction. The more you speak to people, the easier it will become. Obviously a conversation doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you and the other person will be BFFLs by the end of the week, but it’s a step in the right direction for forming friendships.

Melissa Woodson is the community manager for @WashULaw, a premier Master of Laws  program offered through Washington University in St. Louis as well as a contributor to the LLM guide. In her spare time, she enjoys running, cooking, and making half-baked attempts at training her dog.