making friends:

1. leave your door open. i know, for us introverts/quiet people, we'd prefer to close the door and have our privacy whenever we're in the room/dorm. however, leaving your door open invites people to come in and say hi in the first week or 2 of school (especially o-week). if you're not terribly inclined to go introduce yourself to others, inviting them in with an open door is a great alternative. (obviously don't leave it open all the time, like when you really need privacy or whatever, just don't keep it closed)

2. hang out in public spaces. most college dorms (at least here in the us) have common spaces like kitchens or common rooms. it's a lot easier to meet people if you leave yourself more "accessible". when you spend time in these spaces, i wouldn't do anything that looks like you're concentrating really hard/don't want to be disturbed because that kinda defeats the purpose... maybe try just playing on your phone or doing some sort of hobby that might spark conversation.

3. attend events. generally, schools organize a bunch of events for the freshmen to meet each other. going to these will help you put yourself on people's "radar", so to speak. it's unlikely you'll form a really deep bond (or any bond at all) during these events, but if you put yourself out there, after following up with some people you really think are cool, you might just form a lasting friendship

>>>disclaimer: it's very often said that the friends you make during o-week (which is generally when these events occur) will not be your friends forever. and this is potentially true. a lot of times you only hang out because you know each other's names and are somewhat familiar, not because you have similar interests. don't stress if your o-week group starts to drift apart. it happens to a lot of us.

>>>but also: i met one of my closest friends now during o-week (through a mutual acquaintance). so don't write o-week off just because you think the friendships won't last. you might just find someone you really click with :)

4. don't isolate yourself/sit at the very back. again, this might be the move that most introverts (like myself) would go for, but it really doesn't help with making friends. you don't have to sit at the front if that isn't for you. a lot of studyblrs promote this, (no hate i promise i love you all) but sometimes the people who sit in the front are not the people you want to surround yourself with (cough competitive premeds cough). maybe try a seat in the middle of the room where you'll be able to sit next to someone and maybe strike up conversation. leave your options open.

5. approach other people in class. this is so hard for me. i don't usually like approaching people at all. depending on your personal opinion/comfort zone, you might try gently inserting yourself into a conversation among classmates (try for one that involves a bunch of people so you don't inject into something really private or anything). sometimes approaching people after lecture or even after exams is the best way to do it, because you might be able to start the conversation discussing the material you just went over. i hope this isn't as hard for you as it is for me, but if it is, you'll be ok :)

6. participate!!!! no i don't mean in class (though you can if you like). once you've gotten yourself some sort of group of friends, participate in the things they're doing! otherwise you'll find yourself slowly drifting out to the edge and eventually basically losing the group altogether. granted, this is especially hard when you're in 2 different groups (i speak from experience), but try to strike some sort of balance.

>>> to tie in with this, reply to people's texts/messages. ignoring them is a surefire way to lose potential friends. sometimes it's tempting if you're busy or tired, but try to avoid this (at least until you've established solid friendship lol)

mental health:

1. grades aren't everything. don't let them consume you. especially as someone (like you) who went into college with stellar grades, it was a little hard to let go. i've never been the type of person to constantly go for 100% (that's a little much for me), but my goal was to keep getting a's (even if they were a-'s) for as long as possible. i got a b+ my second semester. it definitely hurt and took a while to recover from, but don't let this be the end. get back up. it really doesn't matter. (maybe it kinda does if you're premed but still, you can recover)

>>>something i tell myself is that future employers are not going to look at the letter grade you got in every individual class. it will likely just be a glance at your overall gpa (if they even care about your grades. a lot of other things are more important). one bad grade will not ruin your gpa.

2. when your mind/body tells you to take some time, take it. i'm not saying to listen to your brain when it says to check your phone every five seconds, that would be terrible advice. what i mean is if you feel overwhelmed or on the verge of burn out, do something about it. don't "just keep swimming". there are times when you can push through, but when you're on the verge of taking a nosedive of the cliff of mental health, stop. people have different ways of self-care and restoring mental health, so do whatever works for you. maybe take a nap, eat your favorite snack, watch a good movie or whatever it is.

>>> if you need to cry, just cry. honestly it takes so much energy to trick yourself into thinking you're ok to stop the tears. i find crying almost expedites the emotional release/reset process so i can get back on track faster rather than moping for days

3. don't give in to pressure. this applies to everything. do things (extracurricular/nonacademic things, that is) because you want to. not because everyone else is doing it. you don't have to go out 9 nights a week just because your roommate does. you don't have to join 10 clubs to keep up with your new friend. do things for you. if you want to try something once or your friend just needs a friend in some situations, then you might have to step out of what you want to do. but don't let others/social norms dictate your life. you can be happy and successful and normal even if you don't do the things that everyone else does.

>>> sometimes it gets hard for me (in a college setting) because i don't drink and don't like going out. unlike (seemingly) every other student ever. but i'm still ok. i have my friends that understand and even share the same views. instead of going to parties we bake cakes or walk around town or get popsicles. you will find your people, just be patient.I