Tips for Making a Great First Impression and Making New Friends Your First Week on Campus

People form an impression of you in class
Your professor and your fellow students will respond to you and perhaps judge you by how you act in your classes. If you're late all the time or if you don't go to class, they notice. They also notice if you come prepared for class, or slink to the back of the room to sit, pay attention, ask thoughtful questions or doze off or spend the class texting.  In high school slack behavior might have been cool; in college it will get you ostracized. Each class has a different set of “rules of engagement,” so be aware of the size, structure, and instructors preferences for behavior.  Learn your classmates’ names and use the formal title to address your professor, for example, “Dr. MacEnulty.”  Last impressions are critical as well so occasionally stay after class and attend your instructor’s office hours and ask questions and initiate discussions around the class topic. It is easier to set a positive impression at the beginning of the semester than try to erase a bad one.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Tips for Making a Great First Impression and Making New Friends Your First Week on Campus

 Volunteer, go to activities and be a joiner

      If there is a movie night on campus, a student union game night or dorm room function, go! The first week of my freshman year I joined the fencing club, went to a freshman dance though I had been the girl no one ever asked to dance, went to the dorm watermelon eating contest and volunteered to referee the impromptu volley ball game on the campus green. I met great new friends with each activity. 

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Tips for Creating a Great First Impression and Making New Friends Your First Week on Campus

Mix it up when choosing who to talk to
Whether you’re at college in your home country or an international student beginning school in a brand new one, make friends with people from other countries, cultures or backgrounds International students who came from another country to attend college will especially appreciate your friendliness and including them in activities. Ask them about their home countries and try out their favorite foods.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Tips for Creating a Great First Impression and Making New Friends Your First Week on Campus

Be open
You have the rare opportunity for a fresh start at your impression. Smile as you walk across campus, walk down your dorm or class hallway or enter any room. Take the initiative to make eye contact, say hello and introduce yourself. Keep your body language open.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Tips for Creating a Great First Impression and Making New Friends Your First Week on Campus

Be helpful and considerate
Having roommates and being in a new living situation can often be stressful at first, even if you click as friends.  Before settling into your new space, offer to help your roommates carry in their belongings or bring some snacks to share.  Ask them about their interests.  Introduce yourself to their families.  Invite them to dinner with your family if they’ve arrived by themselves.  Laying the groundwork for a positive relationship with your roommates can go a long way to help things go smoothly

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Tips for Creating a Great First Impression and Making New Friends Your First Week on Campus

    Know a rebuff is seldom about you

      If not every single person says hi back or takes you up on your offers for plans remember college is stressful, most freshmen feel a bit insecure at times and if they seem distant, don't take it personally. Most body language rebuffs such as lack of eye contact and scowls are motivated by what is going on inside the person and not really about you.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Tips for Creating a Great First Impression and Making New Friends Your First Week on Campus

     Start new habits

      If you always texted your friends in high school to see what they were doing because they lived far away, now you can initiate face-to-face.  Knock on a dorm room door or catch people at the student union and invite them to do something with you. You be the one that says, “Hey you want to go get a coffee after class, hang together to study tonight or meet at the cafeteria for dinner?” If you use to study in your room with the door closed try studying in the college library or outside. If you watched a lot of TV downloads of videos before, don’t bring your TV with you or spend hours watching Hulu or Netflix when you get to campus. People make lifelong friends in their first week of college.  Put yourself out there to meet as many people as possible as soon as you step on campus.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.