As an online undergraduate student I’ve had to get creative, intentional and a lot more courageous when learning how to make friends in online college.
Unlike traditional college where social moments happen naturally during class and on campus, online learning requires you to put yourself out there in different ways. It’s a bit more challenging but totally achievable with the right strategy.
If you’re not sure where to start or what’s appropriate in a virtual learning environment, this detailed guide will walk you through practical ways to make friends in online college and feel like part of a community – even from behind your screen.
How to Make Friends in Online College
This list may feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to online learning and not familiar with some of the platforms.
My advice is to take your time. You don’t have to be everywhere at once, so pick one or two ways to try first before moving onto to others.
1. Reach Out First
When it comes to making friends in general, I’ve found most people won’t initiate reaching out, so you’ll have to get comfortable sending the first message and starting the conversation.
Why is this? People feel reluctant to reach out for very human reasons, especially in a virtual environment. These can be:
- Fear of Rejection: No one likes the idea of putting themselves out there only to be ignored or dismissed. It’s uncomfortable and makes us feel vulnerable.
- Assuming Others Don’t Want to Talk: There’s a common misconception that everyone already has their own circle or isn’t interested in meeting new people.
- Not Knowing How: Making friends online takes a different kind of effort than in person. Some people genuinely don’t know where to start or what’s appropriate in a virtual environment.
- Being Busy or Distracted: Online students are often juggling study with work, family, or other responsibilities. Making friends might not be a priority, even if it would be beneficial.
Overcoming these barriers, even for yourself, will be hard at scary at first.
I’ve spent hours composing and sending “hello” messages, only to be greeted by crickets. Not everyone will reply, but don’t get discouraged. This is a normal part of trying to make new friends online. The more you practice sending messages, the easier it will become.
The irony is that so many people are in the same boat, hoping someone else will reach out first. So be the person brave enough to try and open the door to potential friendship and lifelong connections!
2. Be Active in Class Discussion Boards
In some classes, part of your grade will be participation in online discussion boards where you need to discuss particular course topics with your classmates.
Don’t just write a quick answer to fulfill the course requirement. Put some though into it so others have a reason to respond.
Also, don’t “post and ghost” – take the time to read and reply to others with a thoughtful response or follow-up question to something they’ve said. I’ve found that replying to someone’s post with genuine curiosity can lead to a private message that sparks the beginning of a friendship.
Some classes also have optional discussion boards, like introductions or student created threads. Read through these and reply to the ones meaningful to you. These are great opportunities to show your personality, share your interests and engage with your classmates.
3. Join Facebook Groups
Most colleges and universities have unofficial Facebook groups you can join to connect with others at your school.
There may be groups for general chat, alumni, majors or even certain classes. Join as many as you can!
These groups have a more casual vibe than official class discussion boards, making it easier to post freely. I’ve seen everything from selling textbooks to sharing study desk setup photos to general support and encouragement threads.
If you’re brand new to a group don’t be afraid to post an introduction or jump into a conversation. Being forward by communicating right away isn’t considered weird, and most people are happy to have another friendly face in the group.
4. Find and Join Discord Servers
Joining Discord servers can be a great way to connect with classmates. For me, joining a few servers as an undergraduate student was my first foray into the world of Discord, so it took me a while to get familiar with the platform.
Discord is a free app where people can chat with each other using text, voice, or video. It’s like a group chat but more organized, and it’s widely used by gamers and students.
A Discord server is a virtual community for shared topics or interests, like a club or study group. Each server can have different channels for different conversations. For example, a server for an online college might have one channel for study tips, another for specific majors and one for general chat.
Unlike official course discussion boards or apps at your school, Discord is run by students so it’s often where a lot of the real, unfiltered conversation happens.
To join, try searching your school’s name in the Discord directory. You may have to ask around in group discussion boards or Facebook groups if your college has one you can join.
5. Connect Through Social Networks
Social media is my favourite way to make friends in online college. I’ve made so many online and in-person friends on social media platforms over the years, and I’m grateful this is an option these days.
Platforms like Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube and even Reddit have large and active communities where students share their experiences, study tips and daily life.
Follow hashtags like #studygram to find others to follow. I’ve made so many friends from Instagram by liking and commenting on posts and stories. As a whole, I’ve found the studygram community to be extremely supportive, no matter your age or where you’re at in life.
You also have the option to join live study sessions on Instagram ad YouTube, which is great to meet others while getting some studying done!
6. Connect Via LinkedIn
Don’t underestimate LinkedIn because you’re a student. It’s not just for job hunting or seasoned professionals – it’s actually a powerful way to connect with classmates, professors, alumni, and people in your field.
Start by filling out your profile completely and adding a photo of yourself. Update the education section and fill out the about section with a short paragraph that highlights your professional background and any achievements, area of study and hobbies.
Then, connect with people from your school, join groups related to your major and engage with posts that are relevant to you, like commenting on someone’s project or congratulating them on a milestone.
I’ve found that as soon as you start connecting with others from your school connection requests start to flow in, so you don’t have to do all the work.
TOP TIP: Do the most important part of “connecting” that most people don’t: send a personal and thoughtful message to everyone you connect with, no matter who adds who. This is where friends are made on LinkedIn. A lot of people won’t respond, but you never know what kind of friendships you’ll make with those who do.
7. Use Nearpeer
If your school offers Nearpeer, definitely take advantage of it.
Nearpeer is a private, invite-only networking app designed to help students connect with each other based on shared interests, backgrounds, and academic goals. Your school will send you an invitation email, and once you sign up and complete your profile Nearpeer’s matching algorithms will suggest peers who align with your interests.
There are also group chats you can join: major related, class related, general chat and Q&As. It’s great for meeting other students at your school or finding a virtual (or in-person!) study buddy in your time zone.
I connected with as many people as I could, but I found that the app was still a pretty new concept at our school so people often forgot to check for new messages. Once I had a bit of a mutual connection with someone established through direct messaging, I asked if they had social media and if they wanted to connect on there, which worked quite well for me to help build my circle.
8. Join Groups on Reddit and Quora
Joining groups on Reddit and Quora can be a surprisingly good way to make friends in online college.
Both platforms are full of students sharing advice, asking questions, and venting about the same things you’re going through. Sometimes I just feel better reading these threads when I’m going through a tough time with my studies or just want a laugh or two.
Follow r/YourSchool on Reddit and Quora.
These two platforms are more of a low-pressure way to make new friends, while learning a lot about your school and from other’s experiences.
9. Attend Virtual Events Hosted by Your College
When I first enrolled I thought these would be a waste of my time, but once I attended a few I learned it’s actually a great way to meet new people and feel more connected to your school community.
Whether it’s a guest speaker, career workshop or casual coffee chat, these events are designed to bring students together. I’ve ended up chatting with people in my program, and showing up regularly can help you start recognizing familiar names and faces.
You never know what kind of fun or useful conversations might happen.
10. Fill Out Your Online Learning Platform Profile
Filling out your profile on your online learning platform (like Brightspace, Blackboard or Moodle) is something most students overlook, or don’t even know exists.
As an online student, having a completed profile with a real photo shows your instructor and other students you’re an actual human – not just a bust in silhouette with a name beside it.
It’s much easier to make friends with someone who’s profile serves as an introduction, and much easier for people to respond to “hello” messages if they already know a bit about you.
Even as a writer and content creator myself, I still struggle with this sometimes. It’s hard to lay out your life in condensed boxes, but practice makes perfect. The part I love about online profiles is that they’re easy to update as you grow: whether that’s getting better at describing yourself, or by picking up inspiration from someone else’s bio.
So fill out your profile, send those hello messages and you’re well on your way to making new friends.
Next Steps
I’m glad you’ve found this post. I want to inspire our online student community to make more friends and increase their connections, on and off screen. I hope these tips help you feel a little less lonely and a lot more confident on how to put yourself out there.
REMINDER: If you want new friends, most of the time YOU have to make them. It takes effort, but the more effort you put in, the more friends and connections you’ll make.
If you’re an online student (or traditional college student!) follow me on my socials for study tips, student life and motivation. I would love to connect with you!
Also, sign up for my weekly emails below for actionable study tips and to hear about how my life as an undergraduate student is going – you don’t have to go through your study journey alone!
