Transfer students: How did you make friends??

[Henry]

This is maybe not academic but it's affecting my academics so I'm posting here.

I transferred to my current university at the start of this year (junior year). I'm now halfway through spring semester and I have... basically no friends. Like, I talk to people in class, I'm polite, but no one invites me to stuff. No study groups, no hangouts, no "hey wanna grab coffee."

I eat lunch alone most days. I study alone in the library. I go back to my apartment and stare at the wall. It's starting to really get to me.

Things I've tried:

• Joined a club: Went to two meetings of the Philosophy club. People were nice but they all already knew each other. I felt like an outsider.
• Sat next to different people in class: I do this! We chat before class starts. But it never goes beyond that.
• Asked people to study: Did this for a midterm. We studied, it was fine, then... nothing.
• Went to a campus event: Stood in the corner, ate a free pizza, left.

What I think the problem is:

Everyone already has their groups. They figured it out freshman year. Dorms, orientation, all that. I missed the window. Now I'm just... the quiet guy who shows up.

How it's affecting my schoolwork:

• No one to ask about confusing assignments
• No study partners for exams
• No one to vent to about stress
• I'm just alone with my thoughts all day and they're not always nice thoughts

For other transfer students:

• How did you break into existing friend groups?
• Is it too late to join more clubs this late in the semester?
• Should I just accept that I'll be alone until senior year??

For non-transfer students:

• Would you be friends with a transfer student? Like if one asked to hang out, would that be weird?
• Am I overthinking this?? (Probably yes.)

I'm not depressed or anything (I don't think). Just... lonely. And lonely makes it hard to focus on school.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks for reading.