So... I'm kinda new here.. (Hi, guys! ) and I normally don't do this, but I guess things can change. Anyways, thanks for listening.

Here we go... I started college this year. No big deal. It really wasn't as hard to adjust as I thought it would be. But I guess now the whole honeymoon phase of, "Oh, I'm finally on my own and I get to do what I want to do" is starting to wear off. I've never made friends easily. Never. And at the beginning of this year I was doing great. When I first got here I was meeting tons of people and always had someone to talk to, but now that people are starting to break off into little groups I'm not really a part of any of those groups. I guess the thing is that I have tons of acquaintances and casual friends, I just want a close friend. You know, someone I can call up and say, "Hey, let's do this that and the other thing tonight." And we go do it. Someone I can talk to about anything.

But I know getting close to people takes time. I didn't really develop a group of close friends until my senior year of high school. But, most of the time, I just feel like I should be out doing something, having fun, and enjoying "the college experience" but I have nothing to do. I'm not outgoing like everyone on my hall, and they're all quite cliquish and all they do is party, so I feel uncomfortable whenever I'm around them. I just don't understand who I'm supposed to be. Overall, I'm happy with who I am. I might even be happy with my life. It's just this place that kills me. I'm just afraid I'm wasting my time and money here because I don't feel like I'm getting the "college experience." Maybe I should just give it time?

Any advice??
Oh, and thanks for reading all this.

Just don't put to much pressure on yourself to be apart of everything. Hopefully you'll find someone along the way or maybe just invite someone out one time. IDK, just some ideas.

I had one semester in college that was horrible, too cliquish, outcasted. It was terrible. Then the next semester got better when I got put in with a different group. Hopefully this will happen for you too.

I think you should give it time, but I havent gone to college yet, so what do I know. However, are you going to college just for 'the college experience' or are you going so that you can be educated and get a good job? Because its not all about the 'experience'. If its about the education then keep going, forget about the experience, it may get better. If you're just going for the 'experience' then idk. Shouldn't it be about education...

I know exactly how you feel. I'm in the same boat, in my junior year. I was pretty much a hermit the last two years though. Now I'm more friendly, I'm part of a few clubs, I have a part time job, I'm meeting much more interesting people and I think I'm getting closer to making that kind of close friendship than I was my freshman and sophomore years. My roommate and I are like on the same wavelength, too, so we always have nice quiet evenings in with a movie or something. Still, some nights I feel so lonely and I wish I was out somewhere with a group of people I could call friends. I'm still pretty isolated and I wish I knew how to turn all these acquaintances I have into friends. That's a real challenge for me. It makes me feel kind of pathetic. But I'm going to keep trying.

I think the best way to meet people that you would like more would be to join a club or two. I met my roommate by chance, but I'm meeting a lot more people I'd like to be friends with in the clubs I'm a part of. Getting out there and doing things with people who have similar interests is a great way to make friends, and colleges are full of clubs.

I hope you feel better and make some friends. I'm pretty sure you will, you seem nice enough.

You'd be surprised how many girls in my old dorm would stay at home on fridays doing homework or playing video games,watch tv or just walking around the dorm aimlessly lol.
The "college experience" really is just the experience of living in a dorm away from home. The rest of it is different for everyone. Not everybody is super social and goes out all the time. I did a little of both, some weekends I just didn't do anything and just watched movies in my dorm, and then sometimes I went out with my friends to dances, events, spent the night at friends, ect.. It was alot of fun,don't get me wrong, but it's definitely not for everyone(I have a kind of "split" personality in that I can be super outgoing or a compete hermit) Just do what you enjoy, the most important thing in college is that you keep your grades up.
There may be someone in your dorm who feel the exact same as you but you wouldn't know it because you haven't met them yet.

You sound EXACTLY how I did last year. I have only casual friends as well, no one really close anymore after high school.

The first year of college was hell for me because of my expectation that things had to be the way I was always told they would be. In other words, I expected to have made an incredible amount of connection with diverse people like my other friends in other colleges managed to do. But is it really a necessity? No, but it would be nice, I understand that.

Here's how I have come to figure this out. Take on college like you normally would. Unless important homework is in the way, don't pass up on a social opportunity (clubs you're interested in, campus events, invitations from others) except ones you find morally against your nature. You'll find more and more people and though you won't be instantly close to any of them, take the time to hang with them. I remember yesterday I was talking to someone from the honor's program that I'm in and we walked across campus. I had to split an opposite direction from him but he said he didn't mind to walk a little extra and came along with me to my destination. Little things like that will make others fond of you. Talk to people you're interested in even when you're not in the social environment you usually meet them at. It will transcend boundaries.

Besides, you've already said you like who you are at the moment. I do too. What needs changing? NOTHING! Just be yourself. The people worth knowing will be interested, you just have to acknowledge them and give a tiny bit of effort (something as simple as accepting an invitation or walking with them when you don't have to).

You may not be getting the stereotypical college experience, but that doesn't mean you won't have one at all. You can definitely shape this experience to how you see fit; it's a shame it took a year of self-loathing for me to realize that.