When University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman Elana Meulemans first came to campus in the fall, making friends felt easy. But by spring, without the same on-campus offerings, fostering new friendships wasn’t so simple.
“I think that spring makes it a lot harder to connect with others due to the lack of friction in school activities,” Meulemans said. “It’s important then to keep your connections from the fall semester.”
For many freshmen like Meulemans, the difficulty comes from the sense that social circles have already been formed, and by the spring, there aren’t the same opportunities to meet new people. While the fall semester came with orientation events, new faces and a shared sense of new beginnings, the spring can seem quieter and, for some, isolating.
Without consistent social events that come with the start of the year, many freshman students said they have to be more intentional about forming connections.
“I do sadly believe that people were settled into friend groups come spring,” Lily Rankin, a freshman at the UW-Madison, said. “Even in October, people were settled in, which was kind of shocking.”
Other students said they related to this experience. UW-Madison freshman Mary Weishan found it intimidating to see how quickly students settled into groups. “It was definitely a fear to overcome,” she said.
Outside of existing friend groups, students named several other reasons why making friends can feel more challenging in the spring.
Some students blamed the colder weather, which can keep people indoors and limit spontaneous interaction, while others mentioned heavier workloads and stricter schedules compared to the beginning of the school year.
“There’s more rigor to my classes as I progress into my major,” Meulemans said. “I mean, I don’t even get out of class until 8 p.m. on Mondays.”
Despite these challenges, some students have found ways to build new friendships later in the year.
Weishan said she was lucky to get along with her roommate, freshman Gabi Danza, because she was able to connect with other students through their existing friendship. What started as a small step eventually led to meaningful connections.
“One night Gabi and her friends were going out and without me even being a part of the conversation, [and] they included my name in the plans,” Weishan said. “They just included me within their group, and it made me feel very good.”
While some students described trying to reach out to classmates or attend social events without seeing immediate results, many emphasized persistence.
“I would say making friends in my fall semester wasn’t easy,” UW-Madison freshman Paige Macintyre said. “I made lots of friends, but sometimes they were fake.”
When asked what advice they would give to others struggling to make friends, students suggested taking small steps rather than making big changes.
“Be open to what you’re comfortable with. If you’re not an extremely extroverted person, don’t force it,” Danza said. “There are endless opportunities to make friends at some point, even if it's not right away.”
Others suggested introducing themselves to classmates in discussion sections, attending social events consistently, and following up with people they want to connect with. They emphasized that building friendships takes time.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that going out with friends is especially crucial. Don’t stay huddled up in your dorms,” Macintyre said.
While making friends in the spring semester may feel more difficult, students say it isn’t impossible. Instead, it requires patience, effort and a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone.
“Don’t focus on making a friend group. That's very high-school adjacent,” Rankin said. “Making friends isn’t instant. Don’t force it.”
Staff Writer
